Age structural transition and demographic opportunity in selected Asian countries

Neelanjana Pandey, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

Change in population age structure has led most of the Asian countries to pass through a path known as window of opportunity or demographic bonus. The demographic bonus has been experienced to a greater or lesser extent in most of Asia, but the extent to which its potential to assist economic growth has been utilized varies enormously. The analysis clearly indicates the speed and timing of age structure transition in selected Asian countries and its linkages with their window of opportunity. It has been observed that duration of demographic opportunity is negatively linked with speed of fertility decline. Countries with rapid fertility transition may face sharp population ageing and will have to focus more on this section of people for social as well as economic benefit of the country.