|Population (millions) by sub-region: Asia
and the Pacific
Asia and the Pacific's huge population is dominated
by just three sub-regions. Overall, growth has now slowed to the
world average of 1.3 per cent a year
Source: compiled from United Nations Population
The region's population grew from 2 173 million in
1972 to 3 514 million in 2000 (United Nations Population Division 2001).
Population growth rates had declined from 2.3 per cent in 1972 to 1.3
per cent (the same as the world average) by 2000 - although there are
significant sub-regional variations. This can be partly attributed to
declining fertility levels which have fallen from 5.1 to 2.1 children
per woman over the past three decades (United Nations Population Division
Nevertheless, the region includes some of the most populous countries
in the world, with China and India accounting for 38 per cent of the world
population. It also contains five of the six countries which account for
one-half of global annual population growth - Bangladesh, China, India,
Indonesia and Pakistan (United Nations Population Division 2001).
High population growth is reflected in the region's population structures.
Most countries have youthful populations, with 30 per cent of Asia's population
less than 15 years old (United Nations Population Division 2001). While
this could be seen as a positive characteristic in terms of the large
number of young workers available, in some sub-regions, especially the
Pacific Islands, it also has significant negative socio-economic implications,
particularly in terms of high unemployment. In addition, large numbers
of young people entering their reproductive years compound the pressures
of population growth.
Despite gains in life expectancy, an estimated 7.1 million people live
with HIV/AIDS (almost 18 per cent of the world total) in Asia and the
Pacific. There were about 435 000 deaths and more than 1 million new cases
in 2001 (UNAIDS 2001).