Part III: Regional Tables

Introduction

Download the full Part III

This issue of Key Indicators contains 112 regional tables illustrating economic, social, and environmental developments in the Asia and Pacific region. These regional tables are grouped into seven themes containing a number of subtopics. Each theme has a short commentary highlighting important recent developments. These commentaries are illustrated by charts or figures that compare variables for member countries for the latest year available, e.g., 2005 or later; and often, the latest year is compared with an earlier year such as 1995 or 2000. When data are not available for all countries for the earlier year (and/or for the latest year), the title of the figure is indicated as, for example, “1995 or nearest year (and/or 2005 or latest year).” The tables cited as sources for each figure give the actual years used in such cases.

The seven themes are as follows:

People

Commentary for People

Population growth rates in most economies of Asia and the Pacific are declining, and the United Nations' latest population projections indicate that the share of Asia and the Pacific in the global population will decline to 50% in 2050 from its present share of 56%. In most economies of the region, populations are still quite young with less than 15% aged 65 or over. But with the fall in birth rates, more than a fifth of the population could be 65 or over by 2050 in several economies. Measured by the Human Development Index, seven economies from the region including Australia, Japan, and New Zealand were among the "Very High Human Development" group, while another five were in the bottom group of "Low Human Development.

Economy and Output

Commentary for Economy and Output

Asia and the Pacific generated one-third of the global GDP (in purchasing power parity terms) in 2009, with the People's Republic of China, Japan, and India, respectively the second, third, and fourth largest of the world's economies. Since 2000, there has been considerable convergence of per capita GDP in Asia and the Pacific, although there are still some striking disparities across economies. In 2010, per capita GDP of Singapore—the richest country—was 45 times that of Nepal— the poorest. The year 2010 also saw a strong recovery in GDP growth throughout the region as developing Asian economies proved their resilience after the 2008–2009 crisis. In only four economies was growth of GDP slower in 2010 than in 2009. The unweighted average growth for 36 economies went up from 1.5% in 2009 to 5.9% in 2010.

Money, Finance, and Prices

Commentary for Money, Finance, and Prices

Consumer prices edged up in 2010. In 2009, the simple average inflation rate for 43 countries was 4.1% and this rose to 4.8% in 2010. Overall, food prices continued to rise faster than those of other consumer items, affecting consumer purchasing power, especially that of the poor. Most Asian currencies appreciated sharply against the United States dollar in 2010, with an appreciation in excess of 5% in the currencies of more than 20 countries. This was in contrast to an equally sharp depreciation for most currencies in 2009.

Globalization

Commentary for Globalization

Intra-Asian exports accounted for nearly 54% of total exports of Asia and the Pacific in 2010. The 18% fall in the dollar value of all exports in 2009 was replaced by 30% growth in 2010 and all major exporters benefitted. Migrant workers' remittances recovered in countries where they were affected by the economic crisis in 2009 and international tourist arrivals and tourism receipts have also rebounded.

Transport, Electricity, and Communications

Commentary for Transport, Electricity, and Communications

Vehicle ownership is growing rapidly together with expansion of road networks in the region. Higher vehicle use comes with a cost and road accident deaths are rising in many countries, calling for action to make roads safer. Increasing industrialization and household electrification rates are leading to large increases in per capita electricity consumption, though wide disparities exist in per capita consumption between the rich and poor economies in the region.

Energy and Environment

Commentary for Energy and Environment

With one-third share in global GDP, Asia and the Pacific also uses over one-third of the world's energy. In 2008, the People's Republic of China consumed nearly half of Asia's energy. Energy productivity continues to rise, and by 2008, most economies in the region were generating more GDP from a given input of energy than in 2000. Asia's economic progress brings rising emissions of greenhouse gases. Since 2000, per capita emissions have risen in 16 of the 20 countries for which data are available.

Government and Governance

Commentary for Government and Governance

Fiscal balances improved in 2010 as economies throughout the region recovered from the financial crisis. Government spending on social security and welfare as a ratio to GDP has been rising in many countries, although in these countries, the ratios are still mostly below 3% and well short of the 8%–14% ratios in the developed countries of Australia, Japan, and New Zealand. The days needed to register a new business vary enormously within the region—from 1 day to more than 100 days. But in the last 5 years, most countries have managed to improve their business environment by shortening the registration process.