In developing Asia, the number of people living in extreme poverty declined from 1.1 billion in 2002 to 264 million in 2015. The vital data within Key Indicators are now accessible in a digitized format, with the new Key Indicators Database.

The Key Indicators for Asia and the Pacific 2019, the 50th edition of this series, presents the latest statistics on a comprehensive set of economic, financial, social, environmental, and SDG indicators for the 49 regional members of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It is designed to serve as a resource for information on development issues across the region for a wide audience, including policy makers, development practitioners, government officials, researchers, students, and the general public. The new Key Indicators Database allows interactivity with the data in a user-friendly manner. The database's advanced functionality includes a categorized search facility for data, various download options, and customized data visualization.

This year's Key Indicators publication is accompanied by a special supplement focusing on The CAPI Effect: Boosting Survey Data through Mobile Technology. It discusses the role computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) can play in transforming survey data collection to allow better monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals.