Life expectancy at birth continues to rise in the Asia/Pacific region, averaging about 72 years in 2011 up from 61 years in 1980 (, Panel A). At over 20 years on average across the population the largest increases in life expectancy since 1980 were recorded for Lao PDR, the Maldives and Sri Lanka. This rapid increase is related to a number of factors, including rising living standards, better nutrition, water and sanitation, increased education and greater access to health services. Nevertheless, despite the significant gains in the Asia/Pacific region, it still lags behind the other world regions except Africa (UN World Population Prospects data, 2010). On average in 2011, the population in OECD countries outlived the Asia/Pacific economies by eight years.

Infant mortality is a central indicator of infant health. It reflects the effect of economic and social conditions on the health of mothers and new-borns, as well as the effectiveness of health systems. Around two-thirds of the deaths that occur during the first year of life in the region are neonatal. Neonatal mortality is increasingly important because the proportion of neonatal death is increasing as under-five mortality declines (UNICEF, 2013, Child Mortality Report). Factors such as the health of mothers, maternal care and birth weight are important determinants of infant mortality. Diarrhoea, pneumonia and malnutrition in both mothers and babies are the causes of many deaths.

Birth weight is a strong indicator of maternal health care and nutritional status as well as new-born’s chances for survival, growth, long-term health and psychosocial development. Babies who are undernourished in the womb are in great risk of dying during their early months and years. Those who do survive are likely to have an increased risk of disease, an impaired immune system and remain undernourished throughout their lives. Children born underweight are also likely to have cognitive disabilities (Sutton and Darmstadt, 2013). Poor nutrition both before and during pregnancy is recognized as an important cause of low birth weight. Research has shown that improved food quality and quantity consumption during pregnancy effectively reduces low birth weight. Other factors such as infections, hypertension, smoking, poverty and poor socio-economic status also affect birth weight.

Financial resources for health are unevenly distributed geographically. Among low income countries in the Asia/Pacific region, health spending per capita ranged from USD 25 in Myanmar to USD 385 in Thailand in 2012 (, Panel A). There is a significant expenditure discrepancy between OECD and the Asia/Pacific economies and countries. On average, OECD countries on a per capita basis spend five times more than in the Asia/Pacific economies and countries – USD 3 514 versus USD 756.

Hospital bed availability varies across the Asia/Pacific region.Japan has about 13 beds for every 1 000 people, while in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar and Pakistan this is just over half a bed per 1 000 people. On average the Asia/Pacific region has four beds per 1 000 people, one less than in the OECD (, Panel A).