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The People and Economy of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia’s population spans across different ethnicities, religions, and languages.

Southeast Asia’s population spans across different ethnicities, religions, and languages. Due to the region’s long-standing position as a bustling sea trade route, it became a hub for different cultures to come together and find their strength in their diversity. To celebrate the people of Southeast Asia, their similarities and differences, we’re analyzing the demographics of this vibrant land.

Sources: World Atlas 2021 Report, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2021 Report, World Bank, Trading Economics

Population

sea demographics chart

Economy

  • GDP for the Region: 3,157,434 USD
  • GDP Annual Growth Rate: 4.2%
  • GDP per capita: 4,769.5 USD
  • International Trade Exports: 1,373,587 USD
  • International Trade Imports: 1,252,458 USD
  • International Trade Balance: 121,129 USD

Employment

  • Employment in Agriculture: 29.8 %
  • Employment in Industry: 22.9%
  • Employment in Services 47.3%
  • Unemployment: 3.1%

Social Indicators

  • Life Expectancy: Women: 75.5 years / Men: 69.5 years
  • Fertility rate (live births per woman): 2.2
  • Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births): 19.5
  • Individuals Using the Internet (per 100 inhabitants): 51.8

Religion

  • Muslim: 240 million
  • Buddhist: 205 million
  • Christian: 156 million

Facts: Indonesia is the most populous Muslim-majority country in the world. 40% of all Muslims in the world live in Southeast Asia. 38% of all Buddhists in the world reside in Southeast Asia. The Philippines has the highest number of Christians in the region, accounting for about 97 million worshippers.

Education

  • Primary Education Gross Enrollment Ratio (per 100 pop.) Female: 105.0 / Male: 107.7
  • Secondary Education Gross Enrollment Ratio (per 100 pop.) Female: 83.5 / Male: 81.2
  • Upper Secondary Education Gross Enrollment Ratio (per 100 pop.) Female: 67.8 / Male 65.3

Environment

  • Forested Area: 47.6% (trending downward by roughly 2% every 5 years)
  • Population Using Safely Managed Sanitation: Urban 44.0% / Rural 50.3%
  • The coral reefs of Southeast Asia host the most diverse marine life in the world. The marine life recorded in Raja Ampat, Indonesia has the highest biodiversity ever recorded on earth.

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