286

Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2013

Transport, Electricity, and Communications

Snapshots

Road networks have expanded rapidly in most economies in the Asia and Pacific region since 1990.
The latest data show that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and India account for almost twothirds of the regions road network.

Vehicle ownership has surged. Thirteen economies have at least 100 vehicles per thousand people.
Deaths from road accidents are high in some developing member economies.
As demand and production for electricity expanded, several major power producing economies have
increased their reliance on coal to generate electricity since 1990.
Cellular phone subscriptions showed huge growth, while fixed-line phones increased more moderately
and fell in some economies.
Many developing economies in the region still have low rates of penetration of fixed broadband
internet subscriptions.

Key trends
Road networks have expanded rapidly since 1990.
Roads provide access to employment, markets,
education, and health services, and thus are crucial
for economic development. Road networks have been
growing at an average annual rate of about 1%6%
since the 1990s in many of the economies with data
for this period (Figure 5.1). Afghanistan and the Lao
Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) extended their
road networks significantly in the latest year for which
data are availableby 12% for Afghanistan in 2006 and
13% for the Lao PDR in 2009.

Figure 5.1 Average annual percentage increase

in road networks, 1990 to latest year
Bhutan
Brunei Darussalam

6.2

Nepal

6.1
5.9

Thailand

5.6

Lao PDR
4.5

Afghanistan

4.1

India

4.0

Taipei,China

3.5

Kyrgyz Rep.
Korea, Rep. of

3.3

Malaysia

3.3
3.0

Viet Nam

2.7

Indonesia

2.3

Pakistan

1.9

Bangladesh

The PRC and India account for almost two-thirds

of the length of Asias road networks (Figure 5.2).
Both economies have expanded their road networks
significantly since 1990by an average of about
6% annually for the PRC and 4% for India.
Vehicle ownership surged as economies and incomes
expanded. In 1990, only two developing member
economies recorded ownership of 100 or more motor
vehicles per thousand people. The latest data show
that 13 developing member economies had more than
100 vehicles per thousand population (Figure 5.3), with
the highest rate of ownership in Brunei Darussalam
at 510, followed by the Republic of Korea (363) and
Malaysia (361). Still, this remains below vehicle
ownership in developed member economiesabout
700 vehicles per thousand people in Australia and New

Hong Kong, China

1.7

Philippines

1.7

Solomon Islands

1.3

Mongolia

1.3

Fiji

1.1

Turkmenistan

1.1

Uzbekistan

1.1

Singapore

1.0

Papua New Guinea

0.5

Myanmar

0.5

Cambodia

0.5

Japan

0.4
0.3

Sri Lanka

0.1

New Zealand
Azerbaijan

0.1

Australia

0.0
0.0

Armenia
0.4

Georgia

0.7

Tajikistan
Kazakhstan

10.0

6.4

China, People's Rep. of

2.6
4

Lao PDR =Lao Peoples Democratic Republic.

Source: Table 5.1.

10

Transport, Electricity, and Communications

Japan
10

China, People's Rep. of

31

India
33

Australia
7
Indonesia
4
Pakistan
2
Bangladesh
2
Philippines
2
Thailand
1
Viet Nam
1
Others
8

Source: Table 5.1.

Figure 5.3 Motor vehicles per 1,000 population, 1990

or earliest year and 2010 or latest year

The number of vehicles on the PRCs roads rose

steeply from about 13 million in 1998 to more than
77 million in 2010. Even this large total represents only
58 vehicles per thousand people, suggesting that vehicle
numbers will likely rise further.
The increase in motor vehicles was accompanied by
high levels of road accidents. Figure 5.4 shows deaths
caused by road accidents per 100,000 population
in 2000 and 2010 or the latest year. Seventeen of
41 economies had fatality rates exceeding 10 deaths
Figure 5.4 Road accident deaths per 100,000 population,
2000 and 2010 or nearest year
Malaysia
Mongolia
Kyrgyz Rep.
Kazakhstan
Bhutan
Georgia
Turkmenistan
Viet Nam
Cambodia
Fiji
Lao PDR
Samoa
Sri Lanka
Korea, Rep. of
India
Thailand
Azerbaijan
Armenia
Taipei,China
New Zealand
Indonesia
Tonga
Kiribati
Tajikistan
Brunei Darussalam
Afghanistan
Australia
Myanmar
China, People's Rep. of
Japan
Singapore
Solomon Islands
Papua New Guinea
Vanuatu
Nepal
Pakistan
Maldives
Bangladesh
Micronesia, Fed. States of
Hong Kong, China
Philippines

New Zealand
Australia
Japan
Brunei Darussalam
Korea, Rep. of
Malaysia
Taipei,China
Kazakhstan
Fiji
Thailand
Georgia
Singapore
Kiribati
Turkmenistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Indonesia
Hong Kong, China
Samoa
Mongolia
Kyrgyz Rep.
China, People's Rep. of
Bhutan
Sri Lanka
Tajikistan
Micronesia, Fed. States of
Philippines
Afghanistan
Maldives
Cambodia
Lao PDR
Pakistan
India
Viet Nam
Papua New Guinea
Myanmar
Nepal
Bangladesh
0

100

200

300

400

1990
Lao PDR = Lao Peoples Democratic Republic.
Source: Table 5.2.

500

600

700

800

10
2000

Latest year
Lao PDR = Lao Peoples Democratic Republic.
Source: Table 5.3.

15

20
2010

25

30

Regional Trends and Tables

Zealand and 600 in Japan. In Singapore, which imposes

high costs on vehicle ownership, the rate per thousand
population in 2010 was 149, barely changed from 1990.

Figure 5.2 Distribution of road network in

Asia and the Pacific, latest year (%)

287

Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2013

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Road Safety

Action Plan 2012 notes that the high fatality rate is the
result of underdeveloped road networks, mixed traffic,
limited availability of traffic engineering expertise,
governance issues, and rapid increases in motorcycles
and the rest of the vehicle fleet. Moreover, road deaths
are concentrated among poorer households, which
have fewer resources to draw on in times of emergency
or income loss. The ADB plan quoted estimates that
the cost to developing member economies from road
accidents in 2007 was about 2% of their total gross
domestic product, or $96 billion each year.
Measures including safer road construction,
better protection for pedestrians, stricter enforcement
of traffic regulations, and road safety education
can sharply reduce road deaths. Nearly half the
32 economies with data have reduced fatalities per
100,000 population since 2000, often sharply. For
example, three economiesthe Republic of Korea;
Taipei,China; and Thailandlowered their fatality rates
by at least 40% between 2000 and 2010.

more than half and Thailand also extended its network

significantly, by 14.7% in this period. India, with the
second biggest network, added to its rail route by 2.6%.
Rail networks declined in several economies, including
Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Viet Nam.
Japan had the highest rail density in 2011, with
55 kilometers of railway per thousand square kilometers
of land area (Table 5.4).
Expansion of industry and electrification of households
spurred huge demand for electricity. Output of
electricity in the PRC rose by 210% to 4,208 billion
kilowatt hours between 2000 and 2010 and power
production there exceeds the combined total of the next
nine biggest regional producers (Figure 5.6). Viet Nam
boosted power output by 257% over the 10 years, but,
as in some other economies, it still faces shortages.

Figure 5.6 Top 10 electricity producers, Asia and the Pacific, 2010
4,500
4,000
3,500
3,000
Billion kWh

per 100,000 population in the latest year, with Malaysia

and Mongolia recording more than 20. By contrast, the
number of fatalities in developed member economies
averaged about 6 (Table 5.3).

2,500
2,000
1,500
1,000
500

am

ia
ys

Vie

tN

d
an

ala

ail
Th

ia

es

ali

on

str

Ind

Au

ina
Ch

Ta
ipe
i,

ia

.o
ep

Ko
re
a,
R

Ind

pa

.o
ep
sR
ple
'
,P
eo

Ja

ina

Rail networks are concentrated in three economies

in Asia and the Pacificthe PRC, India, and Japan
(Figure 5.5). The PRC invested heavily in railways,
extending its total rail route by 24.1% between 1990
and 2011. Taipei,China expanded its rail system by

Ch

288

Figure 5.5 Percentage of rail networks in

Asia and the Pacific, latest year
Indonesia
2
Korea, Rep. of
2
Uzbekistan
2
Thailand
2
Pakistan
4
Australia
4

Source: Table 5.4.

2010

Others
10
China, People's
Rep. of
30

Kazakhstan
6
Japan
9

2000

kWh = kilowatt-hour.
Source: World Development Indicators Online (World Bank 2013).

India
29

Per capita electricity consumption rose by at least

200% in 11 economies between 1990 and 2010
(Figure 5.7). Consumption levels in higher-income
economies such as the Republic of Korea still far
outstrip those for lower-income economies, suggesting
that the latter will continue to experience rapid growth
in demand. Large price increases for power in some
Central and West Asian economies led to a reduction in
per capita consumption since 1990.

Transport, Electricity, and Communications

Kazakhstan
Turkmenistan
Tajikistan
Georgia
Uzbekistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Kyrgyz Rep.
Pakistan
Taipei,China
Korea, Rep. of

Burning coal contributes to air pollution,

which the OECD Environmental Outlook to 2050: The
Consequences of Inaction predicted will become the
main environmental cause of mortality worldwide by
2050, ahead of dirty water and lack of sanitation (OECD
2012). It expects that premature deaths from exposure
to air pollutants could double to 3.6 million a year, with
most occurring in the PRC and India.

Hong Kong, China

China, People's Rep. of
Mongolia
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Nepal
Brunei Darussalam

Figure 5.8 Sources of electricity (top producers), 2010

Singapore
Malaysia

China, People's Rep. of

Thailand

Japan

Viet Nam
Philippines

India

Indonesia
Korea, Rep. of

Cambodia
Myanmar

Australia

Lao PDR

Indonesia

Cook Islands

Thailand

Marshall Islands
Fiji

Malaysia

Samoa
Viet Nam

Papua New Guinea

Tonga

20

Tuvalu

40

60

80

100

Percent

Vanuatu
Kiribati
Solomon Islands
a

Coal

Natural gas

Oil

Nuclear

Renewable

Othera

Computed as a residual that includes combustible renewables and waste; and

geothermal, solar, wind, and other sources.
Source: World Development Indicators Online (World Bank 2013).

Timor-Leste
Australia
New Zealand
Japan
0

5,000
1990

10,000
2010

kWh = kilowatt-hour, Lao PDR = Lao Peoples Democratic Republic.

Source: Table 5.6.

15,000

Regional Trends and Tables

Several major power producing economies became

more reliant on coal to generate electricity.
Figure 5.8 shows the sources of electricity production for
the biggest producers, excluding Taipei,China where a
breakdown of sources was not available. Five of the nine
economiesAustralia, the PRC, India, Indonesia, and the
Republic of Koreause coal, the most polluting carbon
fuel, as their biggest single source of power generation.
Moreover, coal increased its share of power generation
in the PRC, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
and Malaysia between 1990 and 2010 (Table 5.5).

Figure 5.7 Per capita electric power consumption (kWh),

1990 to latest year

289

Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2013

28,731

Uzbekistan

20,274

Afghanistan

18,000
10,125
6,798

Tajikistan

6,528

Georgia

4,699

Turkmenistan

3,953

Armenia

3,323
1,100,000

China, People's Rep. of

Korea, Rep. of

16,403
3,375

India

864,720

Bangladesh

97,180

Sri Lanka

20,324

Nepal

16,380

Bhutan

561

Maldives

561

Indonesia

281,964

Viet Nam

134,066

Philippines

103,000

Thailand

84,075

Malaysia

41,325
19,105

Singapore

8,063

Lao PDR

6,492

2,709
859

Timor-Leste

621

Solomon Islands

302
137
56

Micronesia, Fed. States of

28

Palau

17

Kiribati

16

Nauru

Tuvalu

Samoa

Marshall Islands

00

0,

0
00

00
0,

00

0
00

Lao PDR = Lao Peoples Democratic Republic.

Source: International Telecommunication Union.

4,922

1,

New Zealand

138,363
24,338

Japan
Australia

0,

Tonga

00

Vanuatu

80

Fiji

Papua New Guinea

5,440
470

0,

Myanmar
Brunei Darussalam

60

Cambodia

00

Mongolia

20

Hong Kong, China

53,624
29,455

0,

Taipei,China

1,

Azerbaijan
Kyrgyz Rep.

40

Fixed broadband internet subscription rates have

increased but remains low in many economies
(Figure 5.10). Although the number of fixed broadband
internet subscriptions has soared since 2000 (Table 5.7),
the regions average penetration levelthe number of
subscriptions per 100 inhabitantsis 6.7, below the
global average of 11.2, according to the International
Telecommunication Union. Higher income economies
have penetration levels above 25 per 100 inhabitants,
but for 74% of economies in Asia and the Pacific the
penetration level is below 5.

120,151

Pakistan
Kazakhstan

0,

By comparison, growth in fixed telephone lines was

moderate, and the number fell in some economies.
Between 2000 and 2012, the number of fixed-line
phones at least doubled in some developing member
economies, such as Georgia, Nepal, and Papua New
Guinea. The fixed-line phones showed small increases
in higher-income economies, including Singapore
and Japan, but the number fell in Afghanistan, Brunei
Darussalam, India, Malaysia, the Maldives, the
Federated States of Micronesia, and Vanuatu.

Figure 5.9 Mobile cellular telephone subscriptions, 2012 (000)

20

Cellular telephone subscriptions rose at very rapid

rates. Figure 5.9 shows that economies with the largest
number of cellular phones in 2012 were the PRC
(where the number soared from 85.3 million in 2000 to
1.1 billion in 2012), India (up from just 3.6 million in
2000 to 864.7 million in 2012), and Indonesia (up from
3.7 million to 282.0 million over 12 years). All economies
recorded rapid increases in cellular phone subscriptions
over this period.

290

Transport, Electricity, and Communications

Recent and complete data for all types of road indicators

are scarce. Consequently, it is possible to describe but
not draw analytical results that may be needed to
convince policymakers to adopt corrective measures.
The most recent data are usually 23 years lagged. Some
subregions, especially the Pacific, have incomplete
or no data. The problems with the data organization,
collection, compilation, and dissemination pose a
continuing challenge and affect the availability, quality,
and timeliness of road statistics.

13.8

Azerbaijan
9.7

Kazakhstan

9.1

Georgia
6.6

Armenia
2.6

Kyrgyz Rep.

0.7

Uzbekistan
Pakistan

0.5

Tajikistan

0.1

Turkmenistan

0.0

Afghanistan

0.0

Data issues and comparability

37.6
Korea, Rep. of
31.6

Hong Kong, China

Data for the indicator on the household

electrification rate are lacking. Rather than having data
for one starting and one ending year, data for each are
posted over a different range of years depending on
data availability; thus, the data may not be comparable.
This could indicate infrequent or irregular timing in
the submission of data, making data inconsistent and
limiting possibilities for analysis.

23.9

Taipei,China
13.0

China, People's Rep. of

3.6

Mongolia

5.5

Maldives
Bhutan

2.2

Sri Lanka

2.0
1.1

India
Nepal

0.4

Bangladesh

0.3

Similarly, data on the sources of electricity are

incomplete. The Pacific island economies, which have
limited resources for power generation, provide no data
on the source of their electricity generated.

26.1

Singapore
8.4

Malaysia

6.2

Thailand

5.0

Viet Nam

Most data on telephone and internet subscription

come from questionnaires the International
Telecommunications Union sent to participating
countries. Other information and reports are sourced
from the ministries in charge of telecommunication and
staff estimates.

4.8

Brunei Darussalam
2.2

Philippines
Lao PDR

1.5

Indonesia

1.2

Cambodia

0.2

Myanmar

0.0

5.6

Tuvalu
3.0

Palau
Fiji

1.5

Tonga

1.4

Vanuatu

1.0

Kiribati

1.0

Solomon Islands

0.4

Papua New Guinea

0.1

Timor-Leste

0.1

Japan

27.9

New Zealand

27.8
25.1

Australia
0

10

Lao PDR = Lao Peoples Democratic Republic.

Source: International Telecommunication Union.

20

30

40

Regional Trends and Tables

Figure 5.10 Fixed broadband subscription per 100 inhabitants, 2012

291

292

Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2013

Transport
Table 5.1 Road Indicators: Network
Regional Member
Developing Member Economies
Central and West Asia
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

Roads, Total Network

(thousand kilometers)
1990 Latest Year

Road Density
(kilometers of road per thousand
square kilometers of land area)
1990
Latest Year

21.0
7.7
52.4
21.6
158.3
18.9
169.2
29.9
21.3
72.5

42.2 (2006)
7.7 (2010)
52.9 (2006)
20.3 (2007)
96.8 (2009)
34.0 (2007)
258.4 (2009)
27.8 (2001)
24.0 (2001)
81.6 (2001)

...
270.0
...
310.8
...
...
219.5
213.4
45.3
170.4

64.6 (2006)
270.5 (2010)
640.7 (2006)
292.5 (2007)
35.9 (2009)
177.3 (2007)
335.1 (2009)
198.4 (2000)
51.1 (2000)
191.8 (2000)

East Asia
China, Peoples Rep. of
Hong Kong, China
Korea, Rep. of
Mongolia
Taipei,China

1181.0
1.5
56.7
42.4
20.0

3860.8 (2009)
2.1 (2009)
105.0 (2009)
49.3 (2002)
40.3 (2008)

...
1424.2
574.4
27.3
553.9

413.9 (2009)
1967.4 (2009)
1081.2 (2009)
31.7 (2002)
1120.0 (2008)

South Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka

188.0
2.3
2000.0
...
6.8
93.0

239.2 (2003)
8.1 (2003)
4109.6 (2008)
0.1 (2005)
19.9 (2008)
97.3 (2003)

1444.3
...
672.7
...
...
1483.0

1837.8 (2003)
200.9 (2003)
1382.2 (2008)
293.3 (2005)
138.6 (2008)
1551.4 (2003)

1.0
35.8
288.7
14.0
54.0
25.0
160.6
2.8
72.2
96.1

3.0 (2008)
38.3 (2004)
476.3 (2009)
39.6 (2009)
90.1 (2006)
27.0 (2005)
200.0 (2003)
3.4 (2009)
180.1 (2006)
160.1 (2007)

...
202.8
159.4
...
...
38.3
538.5
4176.1
141.3
295.2

...
3.1
...
...
...
...
...
18.5
...
1.2
...
...
...
...

...
3.4 (2001)
0.7 (2001)
...
0.2 (2001)
...
...
19.6 (2001)
2.3 (2001)
1.4 (2001)
...
0.7 (2001)
...
1.1 (2001)

810.3
1114.7
92.7

817.1 (2009)
1207.9 (2009)
94.3 (2010)

Southeast Asia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam
The Pacific
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Fed. States of
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Developed Member Economies
Australia
Japan
New Zealand

Paved Roads
(% of total roads)
1990
Latest Year
13.3
99.2
93.9 (1994)
93.8
55.1
90.0
54.0
71.6
73.5
79.0

Access to an AllSeason Road

(% of rural population)
Latest Year

29.3 (2006)
93.6 (2009)
50.6 (2006)
94.1 (2007)
88.5 (2009)
91.1 (2001)
65.4 (2006)
82.7 (1995)
81.2 (2001)
87.3 (2001)

...
...
67.0 (2002)
...
...
75.6 (1998)
61.3 (2004)
73.7 (2003)
...
57.0 (2000)

53.5 (2008)
100.0 (2010)
79.3 (2009)
3.5 (2002)
...

...
...
...
36.0 (2003)
...

7.2 (1991)
77.1
47.3 (1991)
...
37.5
32.0 (1991)

9.5 (2003)
62.0 (2003)
49.5 (2008)
100.0 (2005)
53.9 (2008)
81.0 (2003)

37.0 (2000)
47.0 (2003)
60.0 (2001)
...
17.2 (2003)
...

564.0 (2008)
216.7 (2004)
262.9 (2009)
171.4 (2009)
300.5 (2004)
41.3 (2005)
670.9 (2003)
4794.3 (2009)
352.4 (2006)
516.3 (2007)

31.4
7.5
45.1
24.0
70.0
10.9
16.6 (1994)
97.1
55.3
23.5

81.1 (2008)
6.3 (2004)
56.9 (2009)
13.7 (2009)
82.8 (2006)
11.9 (2005)
9.9 (2003)
100.0 (2009)
98.5 (2000)
47.6 (2007)

...
80.7 (2003)
...
64.4 (2002)
...
...
...
...
...
83.5 (2004)

...
166.9
...
...
...
...
...
40.9
...
43.2
...
...
...
...

...
188.3 (2000)
827.2 (2000)
...
342.9 (2000)
...
...
43.3 (2000)
279.2 (1998)
49.7 (2000)
...
944.4 (2000)
...
87.8 (2000)

...
44.5
...
...
15.9
...
...
3.2
42.0 (1995)
2.1
...
27.0 (1995)
...
21.6

...
49.2 (2001)
...
...
17.5 (2001)
...
...
3.5 (2001)
14.2 (2001)
2.4 (2001)
...
27.0 (2001)
...
23.9 (2001)

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
68.0 (1997)
...
...
89.5 (2001)
...
...
...

105.5
3057.3
352.0

106.4 (2009)
3313.8 (2009)
358.0 (2010)

35.0
69.2
57.0

43.5 (2009)
80.1 (2009)
66.2 (2010)

72.1
100.0
71.5
10.2
...

...
...
...

= Data not available at cutoff date.

Sources: For Taipei,China: Council for Economic Planning and Development; World Road Statistics (International Road Federation 1995 and 2012); World Development
Indicators Online (World Bank 2013).

Transport, Electricity, and Communications

293

Transport

Regional Member
Developing Member Economies
Central and West Asia
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

Total Motor Vehicles

(thousands)
1990
2010

Motor Vehicles
(per 1,000 people)
1990
2010

Motor Vehicles
(per kilometer of road)
1990
2010

...
17
374
331 (1998)
1368
...
554
18
...
...

962
315 (2007)
913
690
3579
309 (2007)
3045
257 (2007)
534 (2008)
...

...
5
52
74 (1998)
82 (1998)
...
5
3
...
...

28
103 (2007)
101
155
219
59 (2007)
18
38 (2007)
106 (2008)
...

...
2
11
16 (1998)
11 (1998)
...
3
1
...
...

19 (2008)
42 (2007)
13 (2007)
28 (2007)
37
9 (2007)
12
9 (2008)
22 (2008)
...

12827 (1998)
375
3395
68 (1998)
...

77217
544
17941
190 (2008)
6719 (2009)

10 (1998)
64
79
29 (1998)
...

58
77
363
72 (2008)
291 (2009)

10 (1998)
253
60
1 (1998)
...

19
254 (2009)
165 (2009)
4 (2008)
166 (2008)

South Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka

122 (1993)
...
3664
...
...
337

466
40 (2009)
21200 (2009)
9
148 (2009)
1000

1 (1993)
...
5
...
...
20

3
57 (2009)
18 (2009)
28
5 (2007)
48

5 (1993)
...
3 (1993)
...
...
4

22
7 (2009)
5 (2008)
79 (2008)
8 (2007)
13 (2008)

Southeast Asia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam

120
5
2806
36
2253
...
604
396
2579
...

200 (2008)
285 (2005)
15829
122 (2007)
10253
344
2835
755
10846
1146 (2007)

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
154
14 (2008)
...
4 (2007)
...
...
56 (2007)
14 (2007)
...
...
...
...
...

East Asia
China, Peoples Rep. of
Hong Kong, China
Korea, Rep. of
Mongolia
Taipei,China

The Pacific
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Fed. States of
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Developed Member Economies
Australia
Japan
New Zealand

9052
57702
1800

15496
75299
3108

120
0
16
9
...
...
9
147
46
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
59 (2005)
...
...
...
...
...
530
467
527

= Data not available at cutoff date, 0 = Magnitude is less than half of unit employed.
Source: World Road Statistics (International Road Federation 2012).

510 (2008)
21 (2005)
79 (2009)
20 (2007)
361
7
30
149
157
13 (2007)

90
0
12
3
46
...
3
142
49
...

67 (2008)
6 (2005)
38 (2009)
3 (2007)
71
13 (2008)
14 (2007)
223
50 (2006)
7 (2007)

...
179
146 (2008)
...
37 (2007)
...
...
9 (2008)
77 (2007)
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
43 (2008)
...
...
...
...
...
...
5 (2005)
...
...
...
...
...

695
591
712

12 (1991)
52
20

19
63 (2008)
33

Regional Trends and Tables

Table 5.2 Road Indicators: Vehicles

294

Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2013

Transport
Table 5.3 Road Indicators: Safety
Regional Member
Developing Member Economies
Central and West Asia
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

Number of Injury Accidents

(per 100,000 population)
1990
2000
2010
...
...
23.7
...
34.6
...
12.5
79.0
...
...

...
30.4
24.7
36.2
76.0
54.3
6.5 (2002)
21.6
41.1 (2002)
...

Number of Persons Killed in Road Accidents

(per 100,000 population)
1990
2000
2010

7.0
63.8
30.1
114.5
73.6
80.8
6.0
23.9 (2009)
...
...

...
...
17.6
...
11.9
...
4.4
15.3
...
...

...
6.9
7.4
10.6
13.8
12.4
3.8 (1998)
6.6
10.9 (1998)
...

6.5 (2007)
9.5
10.2
15.4
17.1
18.1
2.9
6.9 (2009)
13.2 (2006)
...

East Asia
China, Peoples Rep. of
Hong Kong, China
Korea, Rep. of
Mongolia
Taipei,China

...
267.4
595.5
...
30.6

48.9
222.7
617.9
249.8
238.7

16.4
211.4
475.9 (2009)
...
800.8 (2009)

...
5.6
28.8
...
19.3

7.4
3.3
21.8
14.1
15.3

4.9
1.7
11.1
21.5 (2007)
9.1 (2009)

South Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka

1.4 (1993)
...
33.8
...
...
213.0

4.9
33.0
38.5
...
...
280.2

...
...
35.2
...
...
159.9 (2007)

1.0 (1993)
...
6.5
...
...
11.0

2.9
...
7.8
0.6 (2003)
...
11.1

2.0 (2006)
16.4 (2007)
10.9
2.7 (2007)
3.4 (2007)
11.2 (2009)

Southeast Asia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam

...
2.7
...
22.4
486.2
...
...
225.5
72.5
...

858.0
23.2
...
82.1
1088.9
10.2
18.7
179.9
120.0
28.6

709.5 (2006)
27.8 (2003)
27.7
93.6
1380.9 (2008)
18.8
4.5 (2009)
170.5 (2009)
175.0 (2006)
14.3 (2009)

...
0.9
...
3.3
22.4
...
...
7.7
12.5
...

12.3
3.2
4.6 (2003)
6.8
26.2
2.7
1.1
5.3
19.5
9.6

6.5
12.8
8.3
12.5
24.2
5.1
1.4
3.8
10.5
13.2 (2009)

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
315.8 (2002)
...
...

...
99.2 (2005)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
6.4 (2009)
...
329.0 (2004)
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
9.5 (2004)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
9.0 (2002)
...
...

...
12.8
7.4 (2007)
...
1.8 (2007)
...
...
3.7 (2007)
11.2 (2007)
3.8 (2007)
...
7.8 (2007)
...
3.5 (2007)

...
734.6
203.0

5.5
569.5
249.2

The Pacific
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Fed. States of
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Developed Member Economies
Australia
Japan
New Zealand

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
129.4
520.8
385.0

= Data not available at cutoff date.

Source: World Road Statistics (International Road Federation 2012).

13.7
9.1
21.9

9.5
7.2
12.0

6.1
4.5
8.6

Transport, Electricity, and Communications

295

Transport

1990

Rail Lines
(total route, kilometers)
2000

...
845
...
1583
14465
...
8775
...
...
...

...
842
2116
1562
13545
...
7791
...
2529 (2005)
3645

...
826
2079
1566
14202
417
7791
621
3115
4227

...
29.7
...
22.8
5.4
...
11.4
...
...
...

...
29.7
25.6
22.7
5.0
...
10.1
...
5.4 (2005)
8.6

...
29.0
25.2
22.5
5.3
2.2
10.1
4.4
6.6
9.9

East Asia
China, Peoples Rep. of
Hong Kong, China
Korea, Rep. of
Mongolia
Taipei,China

53378
...
3091
1920
1105

58656
...
3123
1810
1190

66239
...
3379
1814
1741

5.7
...
31.7
1.2
30.6

6.2
...
31.6
1.2
32.9

7.1
...
34.8
1.2
48.2

South Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka

2746
...
62367
...
...
1453

2768
...
62759
...
...
1449 (2004)

2835
...
63974
...
...
1463 (2008)

21.1
...
20.9
...
...
23.2

21.3
...
21.1
...
...
23.1

21.8
...
21.5
...
...
23.3 (2009)

...
650 (2005)
3370 (2008)
...
1665
...
479 (2008)
...
4429
2347

...
3.4
...
...
5.1
4.9
1.6
...
7.3
8.7

...
3.4
...
...
4.9
...
1.6
...
7.9
8.7

...
3.7 (2006)
1.9 (2009)
...
5.1
...
1.6 (2009)
...
8.7
7.6

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

0.9
55.8
15.3

1.2
55.3
14.9

Regional Member
Developing Member Economies
Central and West Asia
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

Southeast Asia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam
The Pacific
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Fed. States of
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Developed Member Economies
Australia
Japan
New Zealand

...
600
...
...
1668
3336
479
...
3861
2832

...
601
3370
...
1622
...
491
...
4103
3142

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

6612
20254
4029

9499
20165
3913

2011

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
8615
20035
3913 (1999)

Rail Network, Length per Land Area

(kilometers per thousand square kilometers)
1990
2000
2011

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
1.1
55.0
14.9 (1999)

= Data not available at cutoff date.

Sources: World Development Indicators Online (World Bank 2013); ADB staff estimates; for Taipei,China: Council for Economic Planning and Development.

Regional Trends and Tables

Table 5.4 Rail Indicators

296

Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2013

Electricity
Table 5.5 Electricity Production and Sources
Regional Member
Developing Member Economies
Central and West Asia
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan

Total Electricity
Production (billion kWh)
1990
2010
1.1
10.4
23.2
13.7
87.4
15.7
37.7
18.1
14.6
56.3

0.6 (2011)
6.5
18.7
10.1
82.6
11.4
94.5
16.4
16.7
51.7

East Asia
China, Peoples Rep. of
Hong Kong, China
Korea, Rep. of
Mongolia
Taipei,China

621.2
28.9
105.4
3.5
51.0

4208.3
38.3
496.7
4.5
250.4 (2012)

South Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka

7.7
1.6
289.4
0.0
0.9
3.2

42.3
6.8 (2012)
959.9
0.3 (2011)
3.2
10.8

Southeast Asia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam
The Pacific
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Fed. States of
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

1.2
3.9
0.2 (1995)
1.0
32.7
169.8
0.8
12.8 (2012)
23.0
125.3
2.5
7.5
26.3
67.7
15.7
45.4
44.2
159.5
8.7
94.9
0.0
0.4
0.0
0.0
0.1 (1995)
0.0
0.2 (1992)
1.8
0.1
0.0
0.1 (2006)
0.0
...
0.0

Developed Member Economies

154.3
Australia
Japan
835.5
New Zealand
32.3

0.0 (2012)
0.8 (2011)
0.0
0.1 (2006)
0.1 (2011)
0.0 (2007)
0.2 (2009)
3.0 (2008)
0.1 (2011)
0.1 (2012)
0.1 (2011)
0.1 (2012)
...
0.1 (2012)
241.5
1110.8
44.8

Coal
1990
2010
...
...

71.1 80.7
13.1 2.3
0.1 0.1

7.4 4.1
71.3
98.2
16.8
92.4
...

Natural Gas
1990
2010
...
16.4

15.6
10.5
23.5
33.6
9.1
95.2
76.4

...
22.2
81.4
7.2
8.9
6.7
27.4
3.4
100.0
73.5

Sources of Electricity (% of total)

Oil
Hydropower
1990
2010
1990
2010

1990

Othersa
2010

...
...
68.6

97.0 0.2
29.2 0.3
10.0 0.8

20.6 35.2

4.4 1.5

...
15.0
3.0
55.2
8.4
63.5
44.9
90.9
4.8
11.8

...
39.4
18.4
92.5
9.7
91.0
33.7
96.6
0.0
21.0

...

0.8

...
38.5

3.6

7.8
1.8
17.9
7.6
...

0.3
0.3
3.8
4.0
...

20.4

6.0

...

17.2

0.7

...

50.2

...

3.1

30.5

...

4.3 4.6
...
...
3.5 2.8
...
...
0.1 0.1
0.2 47.5

11.4
...
24.8
...
99.9
99.8

3.9
...
11.9
...
99.9
52.3

...
2.1
...

...
5.0
...

0.2

77.8
62.1
44.1
96.0
...

0.4 1.6
37.6
9.1 20.8

...
...

1.5
...
...
66.2 68.0
...
...

84.3 89.9
...
...
3.4 12.3
...
...

29.9
...
12.7
1.6
7.3

25.0
23.1

3.1
40.1
...
34.4
8.9
34.4

18.8
20.7

99.1

2.2
...
21.7
39.3

40.2
0.1

99.0

23.6
...
56.5
23.0
28.8
78.7
74.8
45.9

0.9
100.0
46.9
...
48.3
10.9
47.2
98.9
23.5
15.0

1.0
92.0
20.3
...
2.9
0.4
10.5
18.7
0.7
4.2

...
17.5
...
17.3
48.1
23.0

11.3
61.8

2.6
10.4
...
5.2
67.7
11.5

3.5
29.0

...
3.4
...

22.4
1.1

2.3
5.6
...
1.0

14.8
2.6
2.1
0.1

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...

9.3 15.0
20.0 27.4
17.7 22.0

2.3
18.5
0.0

1.3
7.0
0.0

9.2
10.7
71.9

5.2
7.4
55.1

0.5
36.8
8.4

3.7
30.8
18.3

78.7 74.8
14.0 27.4
2.1 4.6

= Data not available at cutoff date, 0.0 = Magnitude is less than half of unit employed, = Magnitude equals zero, kWh = kilowatt-hour.
a Computed as residual that includes combustible renewables and waste; and geothermal, solar, wind, and other sources.
Sources: World Development Indicators Online (World Bank 2013); Economy sources for Afghanistan; Bhutan; the Cook Islands; Fiji; Kiribati; the Lao PDR; the Maldives; the Marshall Islands;
the Federated States of Micronesia; Nauru; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Taipei,China; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; and Vanuatu.

Transport, Electricity, and Communications

297

Electricity

Regional Member
Developing Member Economies
Central and West Asia
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
East Asia
China, Peoples Rep. of
Hong Kong, China
Korea, Rep. of
Mongolia
Taipei,China
South Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Southeast Asia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam
The Pacific
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Fed. States of
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Developed Member Economies
Australia
Japan
New Zealand

Electric Power Consumption

(per capita kWh)
1990
2010
20 (2001)
2718
2584
3039
5905
2331
267
3346
2293
2383

Household Electrification Rate

(% of households)
Earliest Year
Latest Year

64 (2011)
1606
1603
1743
4728
1375
457
2004
2403
1648

...
98.9 (2000)
97.0 (1999)

99.9 (1995)
99.8 (1997)
59.6 (1990)
97.0 (1999)

99.6 (1996)

25.0 (2005)
99.8 (2005)
99.5 (2006)
99.9 (2002)
97.0 (1999)
100.0 (2002)
89.2 (2006)
99.3 (2003)
99.6 (2000)
99.7 (2002)

511
4178
2373
1540
4159

2944
5923
9744
1530
10356 (2012)

...
...
...
67.3 (2000)
...

...
...
...
86.2 (2005)
...

49
254
268
113
35
154

279
977 (2005)
616
521 (2011)
93
449

17.8 (1993)
41.1 (2003)
50.9 (1992)
83.8 (2000)
17.9 (1996)
...

46.5 (2007)
72.0 (2007)
67.9 (2005)
99.8 (2009)
76.3 (2011)
80.7 (2002)

8759
146
641
103 (1997)
4117
131
643
8307
2243
1035

...
16.6 (2000)
48.9 (1991)
...
...
...
71.3 (1998)
...
...
78.4 (1997)

...
31.1 (2010)
91.1 (2007)
46.3 (2002)
...
47.0 (2002)
83.3 (2008)
...
...
96.1 (2005)

1713 (2012)
867 (2011)
171
1502 (2006)
...
...
...
470 (2008)
521 (2011)
100 (2012)
79 (2011)
436 (2012)
406 (2006)
236 (2012)

...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
78.8 (1991)
...
27.0 (2002)
...
...
18.0 (1994)

...
...
...
63.4 (1999)
...
...
...
11.0 (1996)
80.0 (1994)
15.7 (1999)
38.0 (2009)
80.0 (1994)
...
19.1 (1999)

4438
13 (1995)
160
64
1146
46
363
4983
703
98
775
607
109
961
...
...
...
485
312
102

250
124
177
8527
6486
8972

10286
8394
9566

...
...
...

...
...
...

= Data not available at cutoff date, kWh = kilowatt-hour.

Sources: World Development Indicators Online (World Bank 2013); Demographic and Health Surveys Online (ICF Macro 2012); Results Measurement System Online
(International Development Association 2013); PRISM website (www.spc.int/prism/country/mh/stats/Utility/Lighting.pdf); Economy sources for Afghanistan; Bhutan;
Cook Islands; Fiji; Kiribati; the Lao PDR; the Maldives; the Marshall Islands; the Federated States of Micronesia; Nauru; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Samoa;
Solomon Islands; Taipei,China; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Tuvalu; and Vanuatu.

Regional Trends and Tables

Table 5.6 Electric Power Consumption and Electrification

298

Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2013

Communications
Table 5.7 Telephone and Internet Subscriptions
Regional Member
Developing Member Economies
Central and West Asia
Afghanistan
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Georgia
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyz Republic
Pakistan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
East Asia
China, Peoples Rep. of
Hong Kong, China
Korea, Rep. of
Mongolia
Taipei,China
South Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Sri Lanka
Southeast Asia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Lao PDR
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Viet Nam
The Pacific
Cook Islands
Fiji
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Micronesia, Fed. States of
Nauru
Palau
Papua New Guinea
Samoa
Solomon Islands
Timor-Leste
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
Developed Member Economies
Australia
Japan
New Zealand

Fixed Telephone Lines

(thousands)
2000
2012

Mobile Cellular Telephone

(thousands)
2000
2012

Fixed Broadband Internet

(thousands)
2000
2012

29.0
533.4
801.2
508.8
1834.2
376.1
3053.5
218.5
364.4
1655.0

13.5
584.2
1733.6
1276.1
4340.3
488.9
5803.3
393.0
575.0
1963.4

0.0
17.5
420.4
194.7
197.3
9.0
306.5
1.2
7.5
53.1

18000.0
3322.8
10125.2
4698.6
28731.4
6797.9
120151.2
6528.0
3953.0
20274.1

0.2 (2004)
0.0 (2001)
1.0 (2002)
0.4 (2001)
1.0 (2003)
0.0 (2002)
14.6 (2005)
0.0 (2003)
0.1 (2008)
2.8 (2003)

144829.0
3925.8
25863.0
117.5
12642.2

278858.6
4361.7
30099.2
176.7
15997.6

85260.0
5447.3
26816.4
154.6
17873.8

1100000.0
16403.1
53624.4
3375.2
29455.2

22.7
444.5
3870.0
0.0 (2001)
229.0

175624.8
2270.7
18252.2
104.3
5561.7

491.3
14.1
32436.1
24.4
266.9
767.4

961.6
27.0
31080.0
23.1
845.0
3449.4

279.0
0.0
3577.1
7.6
10.2
430.2

97180.0
560.9
864720.0
560.5
16380.0
20324.1

43.7 (2007)
2.1 (2008)
50.0 (2001)
0.2 (2002)
1.0 (2006)
0.3 (2001)

516.6
16.8
14306.0
17.9
124.0
423.2

80.5
30.9
6662.6
40.9
4628.0
271.4
3061.4
1946.0
5591.1
2542.7

70.9
584.5
37982.9
112.0
4588.9
556.0
3939.0
1989.5
6391.0
10191.0

95.0
130.5
3669.3
12.7
5121.7
13.4
6454.4
2747.4
3056.0
788.6

469.7
19105.1
281963.7
6492.0
41324.7
5440.0
103000.0
8063.0
84075.0
134066.0

1.9 (2001)
0.1 (2002)
4.0
0.0 (2003)
4.0 (2001)
0.2 (2005)
10.0 (2001)
69.0
1.6 (2001)
1.1 (2002)

19.8
29.7
2983.0
93.2
2459.9
5.4
2146.6
1371.0
4357.4
4446.6

...
86.4
3.4
4.0
9.6
1.8
6.9 (2002)
64.8
8.5
7.7
2.0 (2003)
9.7
0.7
6.6
10050.0
61957.1
1831.0

...
88.4
9.0
5.5 (2004)
8.4
1.9 (2009)
7.3
139.0
19.5 (2005)
8.1
3.0
30.0
1.5
5.8
10471.0
64273.1
1880.0

...
55.1
0.3
0.4
0.0
1.2
2.5 (2002)
8.6
2.5
1.2
20.1 (2003)
0.2
0.0
0.4
8562.0
66784.4
1542.0

...
858.8
16.0
0.7 (2005)
27.6
6.8
17.2
2709.0
86.0 (2007)
302.1
621.0
56.0
2.8
137.0
24338.0
138362.8
4922.0

...
7.0 (2005)
0.0
0.0
0.0 (2003)
0.0
0.1 (2004)
3.0 (2008)
0.0 (2004)
0.2 (2004)
0.0 (2003)
0.0 (2002)
0.1 (2004)
0.0 (2003)
122.8 (2001)
854.7
4.7

= Data not available at cutoff date, 0.0 = Magnitude is less than half of unit employed.
Sources: International Telecommunication Union World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Database (International Telecommunication Union 2013).

1.5 (2010)
206.4
1300.0
392.1
1592.1
142.9
926.9
5.4
1.4
202.7

...
13.5
1.0
0.0
1.0 (2010)
0.4 (2010)
0.6
9.2
0.2 (2010)
2.1
0.6
1.5
0.6
2.6
5743.0
35295.5
1240.0