Growth in demand for electricity is outstripping demand for other types of energy in the ESCAP region, as the region becomes increasingly electrified and per capita consumption rises. This trend is particularly strong in developing countries of the region. Several countries or areas in the ESCAP region attach high priority to electrification of rural communities as a means of increasing the living standards and productivity of the rural population. In order to increase the total electrification rate, the speed of electrification must outweigh the rate of growth in population. The proportion of the population with access to electricity varies widely throughout the ESCAP region. The per capita consumption of electricity also varies tremendously (see figure 4). For example, Australia is 100 per cent electrified and per capita electricity consumption is nearly 10 000 kWh/year, while Sri Lanka is only 68 per cent electrified and per capita electricity consumption is 280 kWh/year (more information is available in overview table 6 and main indicator table). Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Viet Nam are all carrying out electrification schemes and the share of rural population with access to electricity increased from 1999 to 2000 in all these countries. (table: rural population with access to electricity). Australia; Azerbaijan; Hong Kong, China; Japan; Macao, China; Mongolia; Singapore and Turkey are 100 per cent electrified.