Southeast Asian Countries: Full List, Capitals, and Map

Southeast Asia is a geographic subregion of the Asian continent, located south of East Asia and east of South Asia, between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean.

For clarity and consistency, this page follows the United Nations (UN) geoscheme, which defines Southeast Asia as a distinct subregion used in international statistics and global datasets.

In UN statistical classifications, the subregion is formally referred to as “South-Eastern Asia”, though Southeast Asia is commonly used in general reference.

List of countries in Southeast Asia

According to the United Nations geoscheme, Southeast Asia consists of eleven sovereign countries:

• Brunei
• Cambodia
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Myanmar (Burma)
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Timor-Leste
• Vietnam

These countries are grouped together based on their shared location in the tropical and subtropical zone of Southeast Asia, spanning both mainland and island regions.

Southeast Asian countries map

Southeast Asian countries table

The table below lists Southeast Asian countries along with their capitals, population estimates, and land area, based on international data sources.

For broader context, you can also explore how these nations compare in size and population across the continent.

Mainland and Maritime Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is often divided into two broad geographic zones:

• Mainland Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam as well as Peninsular Malaysia.
• Maritime Southeast Asia: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Timor-Leste (East Timor).

This distinction reflects differences in geography, settlement patterns, and historical trade networks, though it is not part of the formal UN classification.

Southeast Asia and regional overlap

Southeast Asia borders several other Asian subregions, which can lead to overlap in non-UN definitions:

• Myanmar is sometimes linked historically to South Asia but is classified as Southeast Asia under the UN geoscheme.
• Indonesia is occasionally grouped with Oceania in cultural or environmental contexts but is classified as Southeast Asia.
• Papua New Guinea is sometimes associated with Southeast Asia but is classified as Melanesia (Oceania).

Despite these overlaps, the UN geoscheme treats Southeast Asia as a clearly defined geographic unit.

Southeast Asia and ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Southeast Asia currently include the same eleven countries.

However, ASEAN is a political and economic organization, while Southeast Asia is a geographic subregion defined by the UN geoscheme.

The terms refer to the same set of countries today, but they are used for different analytical purposes.

Geographic characteristics of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is characterized by:

• Extensive archipelagos and island chains, like the Malay and Philippine archipelagoes
• Long coastlines and major river deltas, like the Irrawaddy and Mekong rivers
• Tropical rainforests and monsoon climates
• Volcanic mountain systems and fertile lowlands

Its position between the Indian and Pacific Oceans has historically shaped trade routes, migration, and cultural exchange, forming part of wider Asia-Pacific economic and maritime networks.

Why Southeast Asia matters in global statistics

Southeast Asia is widely used as a regional category by:

• The United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD)
• International development and economic agencies
• Demographic, health, and environmental datasets

Using a fixed geographic definition ensures consistency across global comparisons and avoids ambiguity found in cultural or political labels.

UN geoscheme context

Under the UN geoscheme, Asia is divided into five subregions: Central Asia, Western Asia, Southern Asia, Eastern Asia and South-Eastern Asia.

The UN framework assigns every member state to a single geographic subregion, allowing standardized international reporting.

Antarctica is excluded, as the system applies only to UN member states.