Demographics in the Asia-Pacific region - statistics & facts
Encompassing over half of the global population, the Asia-Pacific region is comprised of diverse cultures and populations. The region boasts a significant number of the world's megacities, including Tokyo, Delhi, and Shanghai, which happen to be the most populous cities worldwide. While being home to the world's two most populated countries, China and India, the Asia-Pacific region is also made up of smaller populations, such as Brunei, the Maldives, and Bhutan. Being comprised of such a variety of countries and territories, demographics indicators across the Asia-Pacific region vary greatly from country to country.
Despite these disparities, certain deductions can be made when attempting to evaluate the region as a whole. The region is experiencing both lower fertility and mortality rates. As citizens have increasingly strayed from traditional norms, birth rates have declined. Alongside lower fertility rates, improved healthcare has ensured that people are living longer, the combination of which has created aging populations in many countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
Across the region, Japan has the highest median age, followed by East Asian neighbors Hong Kong and South Korea. Pakistan has the lowest median age in South Asia and across the APAC region, followed by Timor-Leste. Due to falling fertility rates, the share of children in the total populations of Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea amount to between 11 and 12 percent each. Correspondingly, many Asia-Pacific countries were forecasted to have significant shares of population older than 65 by 2035.
Aging population of the Asia-Pacific region
Life expectancies, fertility rates, and mortality rates all differ significantly throughout the region. Hong Kong has the highest life expectancy at birth, followed by Japan. In contrast, the life expectancy at birth for citizens of Myanmar is approximately 18 years lower than in Hong Kong.Despite these disparities, certain deductions can be made when attempting to evaluate the region as a whole. The region is experiencing both lower fertility and mortality rates. As citizens have increasingly strayed from traditional norms, birth rates have declined. Alongside lower fertility rates, improved healthcare has ensured that people are living longer, the combination of which has created aging populations in many countries across the Asia-Pacific region.
Across the region, Japan has the highest median age, followed by East Asian neighbors Hong Kong and South Korea. Pakistan has the lowest median age in South Asia and across the APAC region, followed by Timor-Leste. Due to falling fertility rates, the share of children in the total populations of Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea amount to between 11 and 12 percent each. Correspondingly, many Asia-Pacific countries were forecasted to have significant shares of population older than 65 by 2035.
