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IMPORTANT: In view of the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East region, the eighty-second session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will be held in Bangkok.
The eighty-second session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will be held from 20 to 24 April 2026 in United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok. It?will bring together ministers from across Asia and the Pacific and other key stakeholders?to exchange views on?opportunities and solutions for a sustainable future.
Guided by the theme "Leaving no one behind: advancing a society for all ages in Asia and the Pacific" it will?also?provide a platform?to?discuss?current and emerging demographic?trends?and socioeconomic?priorities, including?decent?work,?full and productive employment across age groups,?healthy and active ageing, women’s economic empowerment, the future of care and?overall?social integration.
Asia and the Pacific, home to more than 60 per cent of the world’s population, is undergoing a profound demographic transition. Some countries are experiencing rapid population ageing, while others continue to have large youth populations. This transformation poses a critical policy challenge: how to create decent jobs, enhance labour productivity, and build cohesive and inclusive societies amid demographic shifts and the megatrends of climate change, urbanization, digitalization and artificial intelligence.
Ensuring that no one is left behind requires rethinking economic and social systems so that people of all ages can contribute to and benefit from sustainable development. This entails strengthening intergenerational equity, expanding lifelong learning and reskilling opportunities, and supporting women’s full and decent participation in the labour market, including through investments in the care economy as a public good. Promoting healthy and active ageing and age-friendly workplaces will also be central to achieving a society for all ages.
Demographic change is a defining 21st-century megatrend and a key gauge of human progress. The transition from high fertility and mortality to longer lives and smaller families has been particularly rapid in Asia and the Pacific. Although aggregate regional figures mask variation at national and subnational levels, the overall trend is clear: population growth is slowing and age structures are shifting towards a larger and growing share of older persons.
The theme study examines the demographic drivers reshaping the region, analyses the implications for labour markets and the future of work, and highlights the transformative potential of healthy and active ageing. It documents the substantial economic contributions of older persons — through labour, entrepreneurship, unpaid care and social capital — and makes the case for urgently realigning employment systems, social protection and health policies with demographic realities. The report also explores pathways to women’s economic empowerment, recognizing that gender inequality compounds the vulnerabilities of ageing across the life course.
This report underscores that demographic change is not a challenge to be feared, but a human success story to be embraced. With the right evidence-based and forward-looking policies, sustainable investments and regional cooperation, Asia and the Pacific can harness the opportunities of its rapid demographic change, including its ageing population, strengthen intergenerational solidarity and advance a society for all ages — leaving no one behind.
CREDENTIALS AND REGISTRATION
Each delegation is required to submit a letter of credentials, duly signed by the appropriate authority of the respective Government or organization by Friday, 17 April 2026 to oes.unescap@un.org.
All participants who appear in the letter of credentials are requested to register online at https://indico.un.org/event/1021067/ no later than Friday, 17 April 2026. Only the names of duly accredited and registered participants will be included in the list of participants.
