Asia’s future depends on hope, not birth rates: UNFPA

By Dr. Aleksandar (Sasha) Bodiroza

UNFPA Regional Director a.i. for Asia and the Pacific 

(UNFPA) - The future of Asia and the Pacific will be determined not by birth rates or population figures, but by whether young people have reason to hope, according to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

In a message marking World Population Day, UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific ad interim, Dr. Aleksandar (Sasha) Bodiroza, said public discussions on demographic change should focus less on statistics and more on the opportunities available to young people.

He said while many countries in the region are grappling with declining fertility rates and ageing populations, most young people still aspire to marriage and parenthood. However, rising living costs, housing insecurity, unstable employment and widening inequalities are making it increasingly difficult for them to build the futures they want.

Citing findings from UNFPA's Demographic Futures Survey, Dr. Bodiroza said financial security, stable jobs and a sense of readiness remain the key factors influencing decisions about starting a family.

He noted that many young people are not choosing between careers and family life, but are instead struggling to find conditions that allow them to pursue both. Women, in particular, continue to face unequal care responsibilities, limited access to decent work and greater vulnerability to economic insecurity and discrimination.

Dr. Bodiroza stressed that demographic challenges cannot be addressed by attempting to influence personal choices. Instead, governments should invest in quality education, decent employment, affordable housing, healthcare, social protection and gender equality to expand opportunities for young people.

He also highlighted climate change as an additional source of uncertainty, with increasing extreme weather events and environmental degradation affecting the outlook of younger generations across the region.

"Demographic futures are not predetermined. They are shaped by the choices societies make today," he said, adding that building resilient economies and thriving communities depends on ensuring young people have genuine opportunities and reason to hope.