Fertility transition and population ageing in the Asian and Pacific region.

This paper provides a general overview of population ageing in the context of fertility transition in Asia and the Pacific. Focusing on low-fertility countries it highlights the implications of low fertility for the ageing process. Indicators of population ageing such as changes in age structure potential support ratio and the feminization of the elderly population are presented to provide a better understanding of the overall situation. As the region is home to over 60 per cent of the global population and has been experiencing a rapid decline in fertility the absolute size of the older population is a cause for major concern. While the overall population growth rate has been declining over time the number of older persons is increasing at a faster rate. In addition to the increase in the number of older persons gender disparity in improvements in life expectancy at birth is likely to result in a much higher percent age of females in the older age groups particularly in the age group 80 years and older. It is therefore important for countries in the region to recognize the significance of ageing problems and to start formulating policies for the elderly given that it takes several decades for Government old-age pension schemes to mature and to operate at full scale.