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Sub-region of Asia · Country Index 2026

South-eastern Asia

How are the countries of South-eastern Asia doing?

Half of South-eastern Asia’s 11 placed countries sit at or above 86th of 183 in the Country Index 2026, which places the region 11th of 22 sub-regions. Singapore is placed highest, 25th; Myanmar lowest, 159th. 1 reaches the world’s top fifth.

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South-eastern AsiaUN M49 035

South-eastern Asia, shown in red on a map of the world

86th

median position of 183 · 11th of 22 sub-regions

Asia →median 91st

01Who is in it

The countries of South-eastern Asia

Alphabetical, with each country’s own banner photograph. The position is its place in the whole world ranking, never within the region.

02The region

About South-eastern Asia

The ASEAN belt, from Myanmar through the archipelagos to Timor-Leste.

South-eastern Asia lies between India, China and Australia. It is made up of a mainland — Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and western Malaysia — and the islands of Indonesia, the Philippines and their neighbours. Rivers such as the Mekong and the Irrawaddy water the mainland, and the islands hold active volcanoes and tropical rainforest.

Its place on the sea routes between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific made it a meeting point of trade, religions and empires, from Angkor and Srivijaya to the European colonies that followed. Thailand was the only country in the region never colonised. Most of its states became independent in the twentieth century, and Timor-Leste in 2002.

03Where

South-eastern Asia on the map

Each member shaded by its position in the Country Index 2026, darkest for the best placed; the countries across its land borders in grey. Hover a country for its position, or select it to open its profile.

Country Index position: 1st183rdMember, not placedAcross the border, another regionNot a country this site tracks

04Country Index 2026

Where South-eastern Asia’s countries place

Best placed first. Every position is a place in the whole world ranking of 183, never a second list within the region; “=” marks a position shared with another country. Hover the ⓘ for where a country would sit if any one key statistic were dropped.

The full Country Index 2026
South-eastern Asia’s 11 placed countries by their Country Index 2026 position, best placed first.
In regionCountryIn the world1st183rd
1Singapore25 / 183between 20th and 27th if any one key were dropped · standings on 15 of 16 topics
2Thailand51 / 183between 47th and 55th if any one key were dropped · standings on 15 of 16 topics
3Malaysia55 / 183between 51st and 58th if any one key were dropped · standings on 15 of 16 topics
4Vietnam65 / 183between 61st and 71st if any one key were dropped · standings on 15 of 16 topics
5Brunei76 / 183between 70th and 81st if any one key were dropped · standings on 15 of 16 topics
6Indonesia86 / 183between 81st and 92nd if any one key were dropped · standings on 15 of 16 topics
7Philippines101 / 183between 97th and 108th if any one key were dropped · standings on 16 of 16 topics
8Timor-Leste120 / 183between 115th and 124th if any one key were dropped · standings on 15 of 16 topics
9Laos122 / 183between 119th and 130th if any one key were dropped · standings on 15 of 16 topics
10Cambodia130 / 183between 125th and 134th if any one key were dropped · standings on 15 of 16 topics
11Myanmar159 / 183between 151st and 160th if any one key were dropped · standings on 16 of 16 topics

South-eastern Asia among the 22 sub-regions with a median

11th of 22. Nothing is weighted by population or size.

  1. Western Europe8thPlaced countries run from Switzerland 1st to France 19th.
  2. Northern Europe11thPlaced countries run from Denmark 2nd to Latvia 26th.
  3. Australia and New Zealand17thPlaced countries run from Australia 17th to New Zealand 19th.
  4. Northern America24thPlaced countries run from Canada 24th to United States 37th.
  5. Southern Europe31stPlaced countries run from Slovenia 14th to Bosnia and Herzegovina 62nd.
  6. Eastern Asia42ndPlaced countries run from South Korea 13th to Mongolia 75th.
  7. Eastern Europe43rdPlaced countries run from Czechia 10th to Russia 73rd.
  8. Central America80thPlaced countries run from Costa Rica 40th to Nicaragua 134th.
  9. Caribbean81stPlaced countries run from Barbados 67th to Haiti 173rd.
  10. South America83rdPlaced countries run from Uruguay 35th to Venezuela 133rd.
  11. South-eastern Asia86thPlaced countries run from Singapore 25th to Myanmar 159th.
  12. Polynesia89thPlaced countries run from Samoa 89th to Tonga 97th.
  13. Western Asia95thPlaced countries run from Cyprus 33rd to Yemen 181st.
  14. Central Asia102ndPlaced countries run from Kazakhstan 61st to Turkmenistan 158th.
  15. Southern Asia106thPlaced countries run from Bhutan 52nd to Afghanistan 175th.
  16. Melanesia107thPlaced countries run from Fiji 64th to Papua New Guinea 144th.
  17. Micronesia109thPlaced countries run from Kiribati 109th to Kiribati 109th.
  18. Northern Africa116thPlaced countries run from Tunisia 104th to Sudan 179th.
  19. Southern Africa121stPlaced countries run from South Africa 93rd to Eswatini 147th.
  20. Western Africa148thPlaced countries run from Cabo Verde 94th to Guinea-Bissau 171st.
  21. Eastern Africa153rdPlaced countries run from Mauritius 45th to South Sudan 183rd.
  22. Middle Africa166thPlaced countries run from São Tomé and Príncipe 115th to Chad 180th.
  23. Asia, the whole continent91st
  24. The world’s midpoint91st
1st183rdmedian

The square is each region’s median position; the grey bar runs from its best-placed to its lowest-placed country. Hover a row for their names.

05By subject

Topic by topic

Every country’s position on each topic, its shade darker the higher it sits in that topic’s field; select a cell for the country’s page on the topic. Strongest for South-eastern Asia: Mobility & Trade, 4th of 22 sub-regions. Weakest: Education & Knowledge, 18th of 22.

All topics
South-eastern Asia: each country’s position on each topic, with the region’s median and its place among sub-regions.
Mobility & TradeDigital & TechnologyGovernance & InstitutionsWork & LabourFood & AgriculturePeace & SecurityPoverty & InequalityEnvironment & SustainabilityGender & EqualityDemocracy & Civil LibertiesDevelopment & Human CapitalEconomy & InnovationEnergyHealth & WellbeingRisk & ResilienceEducation & KnowledgeMoney & Public FinancePeople & Population
Singapore1 of 1773 of 19812 of 19417 of 1828 of 18433 of 177No standing112 of 186106 of 18387 of 19812 of 19624 of 17691 of 16528 of 20013 of 19371 of 198No standingNo standing
Thailand10 of 17755 of 19868 of 19437 of 18295 of 184132 of 17727 of 159139 of 18695 of 183113 of 19871 of 19638 of 176No standing57 of 200133 of 19374 of 198No standingNo standing
Malaysia6 of 17741 of 19840 of 19463 of 18286 of 18462 of 17741 of 159158 of 186131 of 18395 of 19891 of 19640 of 176No standing99 of 20095 of 193131 of 198No standingNo standing
Vietnam29 of 17762 of 198112 of 19435 of 18259 of 18471 of 17762 of 159108 of 18678 of 183158 of 198105 of 19673 of 176No standing100 of 200114 of 19375 of 198No standingNo standing
Brunei96 of 177133 of 19849 of 19472 of 18273 of 18476 of 177No standing146 of 18697 of 183100 of 19888 of 19644 of 176140 of 16582 of 20024 of 193127 of 198No standingNo standing
Indonesia30 of 17733 of 19878 of 19434 of 18283 of 18498 of 177114 of 159131 of 186113 of 183114 of 198118 of 196110 of 176No standing137 of 200131 of 193117 of 198No standingNo standing
Philippines42 of 17771 of 19879 of 19458 of 18266 of 184112 of 177105 of 15981 of 18684 of 183119 of 198124 of 196107 of 176125 of 165134 of 200174 of 193135 of 198No standingNo standing
Timor-Leste111 of 177182 of 198114 of 19490 of 182164 of 18430 of 17777 of 15932 of 18651 of 18373 of 198147 of 196167 of 176No standing177 of 200146 of 193123 of 198No standingNo standing
LaosNo standing153 of 198134 of 19452 of 18299 of 18482 of 177119 of 15957 of 18690 of 183176 of 198147 of 196138 of 17630 of 165146 of 200104 of 193170 of 198No standingNo standing
Cambodia91 of 177131 of 198166 of 19426 of 182113 of 184135 of 177No standing44 of 18681 of 183175 of 198146 of 196138 of 176104 of 165116 of 200129 of 193160 of 198No standingNo standing
Myanmar136 of 177154 of 198173 of 194109 of 18291 of 184175 of 17766 of 15959 of 186136 of 183166 of 198162 of 196155 of 17694 of 165155 of 200157 of 193192 of 198No standingNo standing
Region median30th of 17771st of 19879th of 19452nd of 18286th of 18482nd of 17766th of 159108th of 18695th of 183114th of 198118th of 196107th of 17694th of 165116th of 200129th of 193127th of 198——
Among sub-regions4th of 228th of 228th of 228th of 2111th of 2212th of 2012th of 2113th of 2113th of 2114th of 2214th of 2215th of 2115th of 2115th of 2216th of 2218th of 22——

Columns run from the topic where South-eastern Asia places best among sub-regions to the one where it places lowest. A region’s median on a topic needs at least two members with a standing; a hatched cell has no standing.

06In numbers

South-eastern Asia in 6 numbers

Each line is every country in the world at its published value; South-eastern Asia’s countries are the red ticks, and the dashed line is the world median. There is no regional average: a region has countries, not a life expectancy of its own.

All statistics

  • Population

    people · log scale

    UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · 222 countries · no better end

    BruneiIndonesia496world median 6,541,4131,438,069,596

  • Land area

    km²

    FAO · 2024 · 221 countries · no better end

    SingaporeIndonesia0.4world median 87,58916,376,870

  • GDP per person

    international $, PPP · log scale

    World Bank Group · 2025 · 185 countries · higher is better

    Timor-LesteSingapore1,067world median 17,265139,593

  • Life expectancy

    years at birth

    UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · 222 countries · higher is better

    MyanmarSingapore54.46world median 74.6386.37

  • Human development

    HDI, 0–1

    UNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · 193 countries · higher is better

    CambodiaSingapore0.388world median 0.7620.972

  • Unemployment

    % of the labour force

    ILO · 2025 · 182 countries · lower is better

    CambodiaBrunei0.13world median 5.08434.2
Every value for South-eastern Asia’s countries
CountryPopulation 2023Land area 2024GDP per person 2025Life expectancy 2023Human development 2023Unemployment 2025
Brunei458,949rank 1745,270rank 16778,985rank 975.33rank 1040.837rank 605.277rank 87
Cambodia17,423,880rank 73176,520rank 897,300rank 13670.67rank 1510.606rank 1510.263rank 181
Indonesia281,190,067rank 41,892,410rank 1415,091rank 10371.15rank 1490.728rank 1133.237rank 135
Laos7,664,993rank 103230,800rank 808,873rank 12668.96rank 1640.617rank 1471.187rank 175
Malaysia35,126,298rank 44328,550rank 6635,461rank 5576.66rank 880.819rank 673.764rank 119
Myanmar54,133,798rank 27652,670rank 395,137rank 14866.89rank 1820.609rank 1503.047rank 140
Philippines114,891,199rank 13298,170rank 7210,748rank 12069.83rank 1580.72rank 1172.235rank 162
Singapore5,789,090rank 115724.8rank 182139,593rank 183.74rank 100.946rank 132.818rank 150
Thailand71,702,435rank 20510,890rank 5022,432rank 7676.41rank 900.798rank 760.781rank 179
Timor-Leste1,384,286rank 15614,870rank 1564,110rank 15667.69rank 1720.634rank 1421.592rank 169
Vietnam100,352,192rank 16313,429rank 6815,457rank 10274.59rank 1120.766rank 931.523rank 172

07In records

South-eastern Asia in records

The member at the extreme of each statistic, read from its newest edition. Where two members share the top, no record is named.

08Latest editions

Who rose and fell in the published ranks

The moves of South-eastern Asia’s countries between each report’s two newest editions, in the publisher’s own ranks. A report whose field changed by more than 5% is left out.

Ranks as published by UNDP Human Development Report Office in the Human Development Index: reference years 2022 (192 countries ranked) → 2023 (193 ranked), both from its 2025 report.

Improved most

rank before → after
  1. Brunei63 → 60+3
  2. Philippines120 → 117+3
  3. Thailand78 → 76+2

Declined most

rank before → after
  1. Vietnam91 → 93−2
  2. Myanmar149 → 150−1
Every country in the Human Development Index

09In context

Across the border

The countries outside South-eastern Asia that share a land border with one of its members, with their world positions, and the sub-regions they belong to. Land borders only, as drawn on the map.

Eastern Asia

The neighbouring sub-regions

10Places

Landmarks of South-eastern Asia

Two places from each member with a gallery on its profile.

  • Borobudur temple view from northwest plateau, Central Java, Indonesia.

    Borobudur

    Ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist temple in Central Java, the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

    Photo: Gunawan Kartapranata · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

  • Mount Bromo

    Mount Bromo

    Active volcano within the Tengger caldera in East Java.

    Photo: Hugo van den Bos · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

  • Banaue Rice Terraces

    Banaue Rice Terraces

    Rice terraces carved into the mountains of Ifugao by its indigenous people.

    Photo: User:Ori~ · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

  • Chocolate Hills, Bohol, Philippines

    Chocolate Hills

    Geological formation of grass-covered limestone hills on the island of Bohol.

    Photo: P199 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

11Keep reading

Explore further

All regions

The rest of Asia

12Method

Questions, method and sources

Which countries are in South-eastern Asia?

11 countries and territories: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Membership follows the United Nations’ M49 classification.

Which country in South-eastern Asia is placed highest?

Singapore, placed 25th of 183 in the Country Index 2026. Myanmar is placed lowest, 159th. 11 of the region’s 11 countries and territories are placed; the rest hold standings on too few topics.

How does South-eastern Asia compare with other regions?

Half of its 11 placed countries sit at or above 86th of 183, which places it 11th of 22 sub-regions. The median across Asia is 91st. The middle of the whole field is 91st. Nothing is weighted by population or size.

How many people live in South-eastern Asia?

690,117,187 in 2023, the sum of the UN DESA Population Division’s figures for its 11 countries and territories.

What is the largest country in South-eastern Asia?

By land area, Indonesia: 1,892,410 square kilometres (2024). By population, Indonesia: 281,190,067 people (2023).

How a region’s figure is made
  1. Membership. Countries belong to regions by the United Nations’ M49 classification; each country declares its sub-region, and a continent is the sum of its sub-regions.
  2. Positions. Each country’s position is its Country Index 2026 result, unchanged. This page slices the world ranking by place; it does not re-rank anyone.
  3. The median. A region’s figure is the median of its placed countries’ positions: half sit at or above it, half below. With an even number of placed countries it takes the better of the two middle positions, since there is no country at a half place. Countries the index does not place are named, never counted in.
  4. A place among peers. Continents are compared with continents and sub-regions with sub-regions, never a part with the whole that contains it; regions sharing a median share a place. Nothing is weighted by population or size, and population and land area are the only figures ever added up.

Where the regions come from

United Nations Statistics Division, Standard country or area codes for statistical use (M49). M49’s middle level (Sub-Saharan Africa; Latin America and the Caribbean) is left out, so every sub-region sits directly under its continent. Kosovo, Northern Cyprus and Somaliland are not in M49 and are placed by geography.

Where the positions come from

Every position is a country’s result in the Country Index 2026 or one of its topics, unchanged. The population and land-area figures are the UN DESA Population Division’s and the FAO’s, added up and shown with their year; every other statistic names its publisher beside its numbers.

Photographs

Each country’s own banner from its profile: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). South-eastern Asia: countries, population and rankings, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/regions/south-eastern-asia

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