The Asia-Pacific (APAC) is a major geopolitical and economic region of the world adjoining the western Pacific Ocean, Indian 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 (East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania) are also sometimes included. In a wider context, even countries and territories in North Asia and Central Asia and the Pacific-adjoining countries in the Americas can be included. For example, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) includes five economies (Canada, Chile, Mexico, Peru, and the United States) in the New World (more standardly referred to as the Western Hemisphere). 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" (APEJ) is considered useful.
Contents
Related regions
Eastern Asia
Oceania
Pacific Asia – specifically the Pacific-bordering regions of Asia
South-eastern Asia
Southern Asia
List of countries and territories by subregion
In accordance with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), 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.
Traditional definition
East Asia
China (Mainland)
Hong Kong, China
Japan
North Korea
South Korea
Taiwan
Macau, China
Mongolia
South Asia
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Southeast Asia
Brunei
Cambodia
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Vietnam
Oceania
American Samoa (United States)
Additional countries and territories by continent
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
Abkhazia
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (United Kingdom)
Bahrain
Cyprus
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Lebanon
Northern Cyprus
Oman
Palestine
Gaza Strip
West Bank
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Ossetia (Alania)
Syria
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
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.