A healthy, educated, and productive population is essential to the growth of all countries. While the Lao PDR has one of the youngest populations in Asia, it also has one of the highest malnutrition rates, meaning that it may not be able to put this “demographic dividend” to its advantage.
Human capital is the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate throughout their lives, enabling them to reach their potential as productive members of society. Nutrition is a cornerstone of human capital development and the basis of a strong and resilient economy. While the Lao PDR has taken remarkable strides in the battle against malnutrition, progress has recently slowed or reversed for some indicators.
A third of Lao children under five are stunted, meaning they have impaired growth and development due to chronic malnutrition. Additionally, over 10% are wasted, meaning they are too thin for their height. Without proper diets, services, and care, children's brains and bodies do not develop properly. This hampers their school performance and reduces their lifetime earnings. These children are also more prone to illness and death. In fact, children suffering from severe wasting are over 11 times more likely to die than well-nourished children.
The Second Lao Human Capital Summit will seek agreement on how the country can advance on its current efforts to reduce malnutrition and thereby contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth.