19 Marvellous Southeast Asia Facts You Should Know About

South East Asia or commonly known as SEA is the southeastern region of Asia.

This geographical region contains China, the Indian subcontinent, and north west Australia. The name 'Southeast Asia' was first used by American pastor Howard Malcolm in his book 'Travels in South-Eastern Asia.'

Since then, the name has been attached to this geographical location. This region is one of the cheapest in the world, where an average person can survive with 30-40 USD a day.

Climate Of Southeast Asia

The climate enjoyed by the people of South Asia and Southeast Asia is majorly tropical. Here, an average temperature of about 77 F (25 C) can be experienced throughout the year.

Scientists have predicted that the temperature of Southeast Asia would increase in the order of 32.5-34 F (0.3-1.3 C) by 2030.

The four major climatic zones in Southeast Asia are alpine, desert, savanna, and tropical.

The desert climatic zone covers up the lower Indus Valley, parts of western India, and southern Pakistan.

Apart from the tropical heat, the region also experiences an adequate amount of rainfall caused due to the Asian monsoons.

The summer monsoons are caused by the air coming from the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Tourist Attractions Of Southeast Asia

The geographic regions that form famous tourist spots are usually the mountain ranges and the amazing beaches. Countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Burma have seen major developments due to the large number of tourists coming down to these Southeast Asian countries.

Southeast Asian countries generated an amount of 197.3 billion US dollars in 2010 only from the tourism sector.

On an average the countries of Southeast Asia generate a GDP of 340 billion US dollars every year from tourism.

Cambodia is known to have generated around 15% of its GDP from tourism since 2000.

Foreign investments have made Vietnam a rising power in terms of the tourism sector.

Thailand is the largest contributor to the GDP in terms of tourism. It contributes around 40 billion US dollars every year on average.

Economy Of Southeast Asians

When we talk about the economy of the entire region of Southeast Asia, the economic structure has changed over the years due to the colonization of several areas. The area was influenced by the Portuguese and the Dutch followed by the British and the French.

Apart from Singapore and Brunei, agriculture is the major economic activity in most of the countries in East Asia.

The regional trade value of the SEA countries is almost 0ne-third of the trade value of America.

Indonesia has the largest economy and is the only member of the G-20 major economies.

In 2020, the GDP of Indonesia was approximately 1,088.8 billion US dollars, which was the highest among the SEA countries.

The average per capita income in the Southeast Asian countries is estimated to be around 4,685 US dollars.

Population & Culture Of Southeast Asia

When we talk about the population and the culture of this region, we must notice that this entire area is extremely rich in culture and ethnicity. Vast majority of population in the northern region of Southeast Asia like northern Vietnam or northern Burma follow Buddhism, while the southern and eastern regions follow Hinduism and Islam.

About 1000 official languages are known to be spoken by the people of the Southeast Asia area.

Hinduism is the most followed religion followed by Buddhism.

The population of this area is about 655,298,044.

Southeast Asia is home to more than 350 ethnic groups.

The Maldives is the least populated region with about 345,000 local people residing in the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean.

FAQs

How is the weather in Southeast Asia?

The weather in Southeast Asia is majorly tropical. But few regions have zones like savanna, desert, and alpine conditions.

Is Southeast Asia cheap to live in?

We can say that Southeast Asia is cheaper than Europe and other parts of America to live in.

Is Southeast Asia safe to live in?

According to a 2022 updated version of a travel article, Southeast Asia is considered to be very safe for tourists as well as local people.

Is Southeast Asia poor?

During the 1950s, the region was considered to be lagging behind in terms of GDP, but from 2000 the situation has improved. However, a few countries such as East Timor and Cambodia have an average GDP per capita of less than 2000 USD, and falls in the below average income category.

What is unique to Southeast Asia?

The unity in diversity is a unique characteristic of Southeast Asia.

What are five interesting facts about Southeast Asia?

One of the five interesting facts is that there are 11 countries in SEA. Secondly, some of the cheapest tourism places in the world lie in Southeastern Asia .

Thirdly, the climate is tropical throughout the year. Fourthly, this region is a perfect combination of sun, sea, and culture. Lastly, the Yangtze River is the longest river in this area.

What is a fun fact about Southeast Asia?

Before the name Southeast Asia, this region was known as the Malay Peninsula.

What is Southeast Asia best known for?

It is best known for its tourist spots.