Rural Development and Poverty Eradication
Facts & Figures
As early as 1979, ASEAN has worked towards a stable, prosperous, and highly competitive region with equitable economic development as well as reduced poverty and socioeconomic disparities. While there are significant progress over the decades, poverty still lingers in rural areas within and across its ten Member States. Rural development is a key priority for ASEAN, as it seeks to address the disparities between urban and rural areas.
In Southeast Asia, as of 2015, around 75% of its population are still living in rural areas and largely dependent on agriculture as source of income.
Source: ASEAN Framework Action Plan on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication 2021-2025
UN Desa (2018) forecasted that the
urban population in AMS would increase up to almost 410.7 million in 2031.
Source: ASEAN Master Plan on Rural Development 2022 to 2026
Reason during migration (rural to urban)
Source: Urbanisation, People Mobility, and Inclusive Development across Urban-Rural Continuum in ASEAN, 2022. Data retrieved from UNESCO, 2019.
