Asia-Pacific


The Asia-Pacific, also known as the Indo-Pacific, is a major geopolitical and economic region of the world adjoining the western Pacific Ocean and comprising the part of the Old World located outside the EMEA region. The region's precise boundaries vary depending on context, but countries and territories in the Far East and Oceania are often included while countries in South Asia are also sometimes included. In a wider context, even countries and territories in Central Asia, West Asia and the Pacific-adjoining countries in the Americas can be included. For example, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation includes five economies in the New World. The term has become popular since the late 1980s in commerce, finance, and politics. Despite the heterogeneity of the regions' economies, most individual nations within the zone are emerging markets experiencing significant growth. Sometimes, the notion of "Asia-Pacific excluding Japan" is considered useful.

Related regions

  • Central and Eastern Asia
  • Eastern Asia – some companies separate their Eastern Asian business from the rest of Asia, and refer to the Oriental region separately from the Western/Central Asia region
  • Northern Asia
  • Oceania
  • Pacific Asia – specifically the Pacific-bordering regions of Asia
  • South-eastern Asia
  • Southern Asia
  • Western Asia

    List of countries and territories by subregion

In accordance with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, the Asia-Pacific region comprises a total of 51 countries and seven territories grouped into five subregions, including five transregional countries which can also be considered parts of the EMEA region.
In a wider context, the Asia-Pacific region can also comprise the following 31 countries and 12 territories, including two transregional countries which can be considered parts of the EMEA region too.
  • Asia
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  • North America
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  • Oceania
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  • South America
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    Economic overview

The World Bank's April 2024 update indicates that the growth rate for the Asia-Pacific region, excluding China, is expected to slightly increase to 4.6% in 2024, up from 4.4% in 2023. This underscores a diverse economic resilience against global pressures. Meanwhile, global trade growth, which was minimal at 0.2% in 2023, is projected to improve to 2.3% in 2024, crucial for the region's export-oriented economies. However, private investment remains below pre-pandemic levels due to higher debt levels and rising interest rates, signaling a cautious investment climate. The region faces significant challenges from both external factors, such as high core inflation and modest global trade recovery, and domestic issues like increased debt and political uncertainties, potentially hindering economic growth. Additionally, a hypothetical 1% decline in GDP growth in the US or China could reduce GDP growth in other developing Asia-Pacific economies by approximately 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively. The increase in trade-distorting measures, which have tripled since 2019 among G-20 countries, reflects a trend towards protective industrial policies, although other eastern Asia-Pacific countries, except for China and Indonesia, have been less involved in these measures.