The eleven countries of Southeast Asia – in alphabetical order, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam and Timor-Leste – have a combined population of 700 million.
This is about half of China's population, but it towers over that of the European Union with its 450 million and it is double the 350 million strong U.S. population.
The countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have a collective nominal GDP surpassing $4 trillion, which makes ASEAN the world's fifth-largest economy, after the U.S., China, Japan and Germany.
Southeast Asia is a pivotal hub in global supply chains, with over 60% of its exports integrated into these supply chains.
The region is benefiting from supply chain diversification away from China. This move also happens to strengthen ASEAN’s role in manufacturing, electronics and digital trade.
Indonesia is by far the largest economy in Southeast Asia, with a GDP that is significantly higher than its neighbors. It is a member of the G20, the world's the premier intergovernmental forum for international economic cooperation.
Indonesia is also a member of BRICS, an influential informal bloc of major emerging economies aimed at reforming global governance to better represent the Global South. Indonesia is also negotiating membership of the OECD, a group of 38 advanced industrial democracies.
China has become Southeast Asia’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $1.055 trillion by 2025, driven by the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (ACFTA).
Key trade areas includes electrical machinery, electronics and manufacturing components. The relationship is deepening, with ASEAN also becoming a top trading partner for China.
China has made significant foreign direct investment in the Southeast Asian economies, which are a key manufacturing hub for Chinese companies, particularly in electronics and clean energy. Over 90% of trade in 2025 comprise manufactured goods.
