Reports, working papers, policy briefs and other publications

The focus of this issue of the Asia Pacific Sustainable Development Journal (APSDJ, Vol. 32, Issue 1) is the demographic transition in Asia-Pacific countries and its intergenerational implications. The theme is very timely as countries in Asia and the Pacific – home to close to 60 per cent of the world’s population – are experiencing a rapid demographic transition.

The population in Asia and the Pacific continues to grow, but at a declining rate. In 2024, there were 4.8 billion people living in the region, representing about 60 per cent of the total global population. Projections for 2050 indicate a rise to 5.2 billion people. Subregional trends reveal diverse dynamics: substantial growth in South and South-West Asia, stagnation and decline in East and North-East Asia, moderate growth in South-East Asia and North and Central Asia, and steady, low growth in the Pacific. Population stagnation and decline pose challenges and opportunities for countries which should be addressed from a people-centered and human rights perspective.

Universal health coverage (UHC) is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and leaving no one behind. It is one of the targets of SDG 3. Moreover, it underscores the need for equity, health-care accessibility and a full continuum of health services to progress toward UHC.