Asia-Pacific Population Journal - Volume 1, Issue 4, 1986

Population growth rates in the Pacific subregion vary more widely than elsewhere in the ESCAP region. During the period 1976-1983, the annual growth rate was about 4.4 per cent in Wallis and Futuna Islands but 3.2 per cent for Niue during the 1976-1980 period (ESCAP 1985).

Poor health hampers economic, growth in the South Pacific and is reflected in the relatively high mortality rates and short life expectancy found in the subregion.

Elderly people (those 65 years of age or older) comprise one of the largest and most rapidly expanding minorities in New Zealand. Since 1945, their number has more than doubled, from 147,219 to 316,197 (de facto definition) in 1981.

Most countries in the Asia-Pacific region have experienced a rapid decline in mortality accompanied by a decline in fertility during the past three decades. Thus, in quite a few of those countries, there has been a change in the population structure resulting in a substantial increase in the number and proportion of the aged population.

Over the past three or four decades, most countries in the Asia-Pacific region have achieved steady decreases in mortality, but many problem areas remain (see vol. 1, No. 2 of this Journal, pp. 57-59). Mortality rates in rural or certain geographical areas are much higher than the national averages. Death rates for infants, children and women of child-bearing age frequently remain unacceptably high. In some countries, the pace of mortality decline has slowed long before low rates of mortality have been achieved.