Southeast Asia's Demographic Situation, Regional Variations, and National Challenges
Abstract
n Affairs 2017 âS DEMOGRAPHIC SITUATION, REGIONAL VARIATIONS, AND NATIONAL CHALLENGES Tey Nai Peng This chapter provides an overview of âs demographic situation over the first fifteen years of this century, and highlights variations across countries. It concludes with discussions of major demographic challenges facing each in the region. Data for this chapter are taken mainly from the United Nationsâ World Population Prospects â 2015 Revision database. By focusing on this period, this chapter updates and adds to the findings of an article by Gavin Jones1 that provides a comprehensive analysis of the population situation for from 1980 to 2010. The Socio-economic Context Demographic changes are closely interrelated with socio-economic development. Hence, a brief overview of the socio-economic conditions in the countries of will be useful in understanding the variations in demographics across the region. The Human Development Report (HDR) published annually by the United Nations Development Programme provides development indicators for nearly all countries/regions of the world.2 Some development indicators from the HDR are given in Table 1. Since 1990 the United Nations has been using the human development index (HDI) to rank countries in terms of human development. HDI is a composite index that combines economic,