Population Dynamics

ESCAP’s focus on population dynamics reflects the changing landscape of the region. Asia-Pacific, with over 4.2 billion people, is home to 61 per cent of the world’s population. It is a diverse region, with seven of the world’s ten most populous countries, but also many of the world’s smallest countries, several of which are located in the Pacific.  Each country finds itself at a particular stage of the demographic transition, ranging from those experiencing high to low rates of fertility and mortality and presenting its own challenges and opportunities.  In those countries in which fertility rates and population growth rates remain high, adolescent fertility also tends to be high and can represent a threat to the lives of both mother and child.  On the other hand, countries where fertility rates have steadily declined, often to below replacement levels, experience declining numbers of young persons entering the labour force and rapidly increasing proportions of older persons.  In many contexts, economic development and internal migration are driving the proliferation of megacities.  International migration is also an expanding feature of population and development dynamics in most countries in the region.