Key Indicators (KI) for Asia and the Pacific Series

Asia and the Pacific generated more than 40% of global GDP while the People's Republic of China and India accounted for nearly 70% of the region’s output.

Extreme poverty in Asia could fall to 1.4% by 2030. Risks include food costs, natural disasters, climate change, economic crises, and other shocks. About 1.75 billion people in Asia live in extreme poverty based on $1.51 per person per day.

The Asia and Pacific region accounts for over half of the global population, more than one-third of global GDP and about a third of world exports. Two years before the MDG deadline in 2015, the region continues to make progress.

From 1980 to 2010, Asia added more than a billion people to its cities with a further billion expected by 2040. Already, the three most densely populated cities in the world (Mumbai, Kolkata, and Karachi) are in Asia.

Throughout Asia and the Pacific, GDP growth in 2010 has recovered significantly after the economic downturn of 2008–2009. Employment grew and poverty was reduced but the quality of jobs in Asia remains inadequate.

Strong economic growth in Asia over the past two decades has been accompanied by the emergence of a sizable middle class and reduced poverty. Population growth slowed to less than 1.1% and more people moved to cities.

Asian enterprises have been hit hard by the global economic crisis. Many of the region’s most dynamic and export-oriented businesses have been forced to scale back operations, cutting production and laying off workers.

The People’s Republic of China and India dominate both the rail and road networks in Asia. Ownership of personal computers has increased sharply since 1990, but a clear divide still exists.

While the economies of developing countries in Asia continue to grow at some of the fastest rates in the world, concerns about widening inequalities in standards of living, and of the poor being bypassed by growth, are becoming widespread.

Several developing countries in Asia have made significant progress but there are indications that many will not attain the health and education MDGs by 2015. Some of the biggest deficiencies within countries occur among the poor.