This $4.5 trillion problem could rattle Indonesia

 20-Apr-15, CNBC 

Indonesia­ emerged as Southeast Asia's largest economy thanks to a steady rise in gross national income per capita in the past decade, but robust progress threatens the country with a trillion-dollar burden.

Image: Himawan Listya Nugraha/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) could cost Indonesia as much as $4.5 trillion from 2012 to 2030, the World Economic Forum (WEF) warned in a new report on Monday. That's more than five times Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2012.

Two primary factors underlie the increase, WEF said: "First, the continuous drop in fertility and mortality has led to an ageing of the society. Second, the economic growth has been accompanied by rapid urbanization. This has led to a steady increase in the prevalence of risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, poor diet and sedentary lifestyles."

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