The demographic landscape in South Asia
19 June, 2012 by armando barrientos Recent changes in the demographic landscape of South Asia are producing handsome gains. Fertility and mortality are declining, survival chances are better and there is prolongation of later life. Demographers and public policy analysts attribute this to improved economic performance, the growing outreach of public healthcare services, and reductions in absolute poverty. Sri Lanka has secured notable achievements, especially in its socio-demographic and health indicators. Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh are not far behind. India has reduced its fertility and mortality levels significantly. More than half of its major states have already achieved replacementlevel fertility and it is fast shaping a bulge in favour of working age youths and older adults. Pakistan is projected to converge soon to joinothers. Afghanistan, unfortunately, remains the exception. A growing bulge in the region’s younger population has two...