SørøstAsia

SørøstAsia, commonly referred to as Southeast Asia, is a geographic and cultural region of Asia located between the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Indian Ocean to the south and west. It includes two principal subregions: Mainland Southeast Asia (the Indochina Peninsula) and Maritime Southeast Asia (the Malay Archipelago). The area is characterized by tropical climates, monsoon systems, extensive coastlines, and rich biodiversity.

The region comprises 11 sovereign states: Brunei, Cambodia, East Timor (Timor-Leste), Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a key regional organization that includes ten of these states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. East Timor has sought membership in ASEAN and is not a full member as of now.

Economy and development vary widely. Indonesia is the region’s largest country by population and GDP. Singapore functions as a global financial hub with a highly developed services sector. Brunei derives substantial revenue from petroleum and gas. The Philippines and Vietnam have become prominent manufacturing and export economies, while Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar face ongoing development challenges related to infrastructure and governance.

Languages are diverse; official languages include Bahasa Indonesia, Malay, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino (Tagalog/Filipino), Burmese, Khmer, Lao, and English is widely used in business and education. The region also features deep cultural and religious diversity, including Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, and indigenous beliefs.