Asia, the most populous continent, is home to over half of the world's population, encompassing a diverse range of demographic landscapes. On one end of the spectrum, countries like Japan and South Korea are experiencing rapid ageing, with a shrinking workforce and increasing dependency ratios putting pressure on economic growth and social welfare systems.
In contrast, nations such as India, Indonesia, and the Philippines have young, expanding populations, where a large percentage of youth able to drive economic growth, innovation, and labour force expansion.
Currently, the percentage of people aged 15–64 in South Asia stands at 66%, compared to the global average of 65% in 2023. Yet, while this demographic window presents immense potential, how can these nations overcome the challenges that stand in the way of fully harnessing it?