SHAPING THE FUTURE HOW CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS CAN POWER HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

THE COMING DEMOGRAPHIC
WINDOW
Most Asia-Pacific countries today have entered
or are on the verge of demographic transition.
The next few decades will bring a unique opportunity
to foster human development, including
through the demographic dividend. But a rise in
the working-age population does not guarantee
this. Countries need to provide enough decent
work, stimulate their economies so that growth
is inclusive, and ensure people have capabilities,
opportunities and freedom to progress in their
lives, including through protection of their
rights as workers.
Although much of the responsibility for
reaping the demographic dividend lies with
governments, as they can steer the process, many
more actors need to be involved. Governments
will need to work with private actors to support
the creation of businesses and employment,
with financial institutions on productive uses of
savings that contribute to human development
and the Sustainable Development Goals, and
with individuals and firms to build skills and
productivity.
The next chapter looks at countries in
Asia-Pacific that are still relatively young and
at an early stage of demographic transition. If
countries adequately prepare their children
and youth, especially in terms of health care
and education, they will effectively enlarge
opportunities to capture the demographic divided.
More than ever before, youth deserve
the highest priority, since the opportunities of
demographic transition are historic—and may
never come again.
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