Creating more jobs and sustaining growth will require ambitious reforms.
THE WORLD BANK GROUP IN EAST ASIA & PACIFIC
Regional Economic Update: October 2025
Over the past two decades, EAP has sustained strong growth, lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and transforming economies and lives. Many countries have reached upper‑middle‑income status and are aiming for high‑income status. Poverty rates continue to fall, with 24 million people in the region projected to escape poverty between 2024 and 2025 (based on the upper‑middle‑income poverty line).
Despite this progress, major challenges remain. About 320 million people will reach working age over the next decade, while only around 110 million new jobs are projected—making job creation an urgent priority. Widening inequality within and across countries underscores the need to expand access to education, healthcare, and social safety nets, particularly for the urban poor and rural communities. Rapid urbanization increases demand for transport connectivity, water and sanitation, and pollution management. Meeting rising electricity needs at affordable cost—without sharply increasing greenhouse gas emissions—requires accelerating the energy transition. Adaptation and resilience to extreme weather and natural disasters are critical in a region that includes 13 of the world’s 30 most climate‑vulnerable countries. Since 2000, EAP has experienced 70 percent of the world’s natural disasters, affecting more than 1.6 billion people.
In fiscal year 2025, the World Bank Group approved $7.7 billion for 47 operations in the region, including $6.4 billion in IBRD commitments and $1.3 billion in IDA commitments. This support focuses on:
- Promoting long‑term growth and jobs by partnering with governments and other stakeholders to shape policies, enable innovation, finance investments, and catalyze private capital
- Building human capital and strengthening pandemic preparedness through investments that expand access to education and healthcare
- Building resilience by addressing climate risks, reducing pollution, supporting climate‑smart agriculture, and transitioning to clean and renewable energy
Results (as reported in the WBG Scorecard as of June 30, 2024):
- People: 142 million people with access to quality health, nutrition, and population services; over 18 million people benefiting from social safety net programs; 17 million students supported with better education
- Prosperity: Over 36 million people and businesses with access to financial services; about 19.5 million people, including women and youth, benefiting from actions to expand economic opportunities
- Planet: 15 million people with better water, sanitation, and/or hygiene; 21 million people with strengthened food and nutrition security; enhanced resilience to climate risks for almost 13 million people
- Infrastructure: Around 40 million people benefiting from expanded sustainable transport infrastructure and services; over 13 million people with access to electricity; 2.55 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity enabled
- Digital: 54 million people using digitally enabled services; 1.5 million people able to access broadband internet
BY THE NUMBERS: EAST ASIA & PACIFIC
Job Creation
Jobs are the surest path out of poverty. Over two decades, East Asia and Pacific created 131 million jobs, shifting from traditional farming to services and manufacturing.
Energy Transition
EAP’s transition to low‑carbon energy is critical to global climate mitigation and adaptation goals.
Digital Transformation
Digitalization is a transformative force that drives productivity-led growth and enhances the efficiency of critical services.
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