BEIJING >> The World Bank says Asian countries are aging faster than has been seen anywhere else in the world, and they need to urgently reform pension systems and encourage more women to enter the labor force.

The report issued Wednesday says that by 2040 the aging populations could shrink the working-age population by more than 15 percent in South Korea and more than 10 percent in China, Japan and Thailand. In China, that would mean a net loss of 90 million workers.

The report covered aged richer countries like Japan and South Korea, rapidly aging middle-income countries such as China, Thailand and Vietnam, and younger, poorer ones like Cambodia and Lao which will start to age rapidly in 20 or 30 years.