Children in the Asia-Pacific region - statistics & facts
Since its worldwide spread in early 2020, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic have annulled years of progress made in several socio-political causes. As policy-makers and individuals alike had to navigate the unprecedented situation, development and climate goals previously pursued often had to take a backseat. At the same time, the pandemic amplified existing social disparities and added new, lasting challenges. From disruptions in education to demanding domestic situations, children are by far the most vulnerable cohort, with the state of the world affecting both their current development and, thereby, their future.
Some efforts to tackle issues like birth registrations and child labor in the region have paid off and have led to positive projections for the next decade. Still, governments and humanitarian organizations face new challenges to protect children across APAC, particularly in the education sector.
Shifting perceptions of parenthood
Attitudes toward family and parenthood across the Asia-Pacific region are varied and shifting. Most of the countries with the highest shares of children in the population are located in South and Southeast Asia, with Singapore being a noteworthy exception. In contrast, children account for less than 20 percent of the population in most East Asian territories, Australia, and New Zealand. The low share of children coincides with birth rates across the region, with the lowest birth rate in South Asia being higher than most of the birth rates in East Asia. Beyond this subregional distribution, this also means that the countries classified as APAC's advanced economies display faster-aging societies with fewer children.Adjustment in the educational sector
The accessibility and level of education are among the leading indicators for the state of children's opportunities in a country or region. Schools, teachers, and children in primary and secondary education in APAC had to restructure their approaches to teaching and learning during the coronavirus. Between February 2020 and March 2022, schools across different Southeast Asian countries experienced on average more than 300 days of full and partial school closures. However, the means for them to react to the new situation differed across the region. The success of study models like learning from home or e-learning highly depends on a child's domestic situation and access to the internet and an electronic device. This has led to further inequities, with learning delays in APAC surpassing, on average, one year in South Asian countries.Perpetual problems faced by children in APAC
On top of the challenges brought along by the pandemic, longstanding burdens for children in the Asia-Pacific region remain. A high number of children, especially in South and Southwest Asia, are are not registered, which entails further risks, such as falling victim to abduction, human trafficking, or child labor. Over the past decade, the prevalence of child labor has decreased significantly and faster than in other world regions. Nevertheless, the number of children in child labor in APAC is still estimated at over 48 million. The risks children are exposed to are often gender related. While boys across the region are more likely to be involved in forced labor and hazardous work, many countries have a high share of female child marriage.Some efforts to tackle issues like birth registrations and child labor in the region have paid off and have led to positive projections for the next decade. Still, governments and humanitarian organizations face new challenges to protect children across APAC, particularly in the education sector.
