Southeast Asia Map
Southeast Asia is a diverse region located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, comprising both mainland and maritime nations. The region includes 11 countries with varied geography from tropical rainforests and volcanic islands to river deltas and mountain ranges. Learn to identify each country by its shape and position on the map.
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Study the Countries
Myanmar Myanmar
Borders: Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, Thailand
Area: 676,578 km² · Coastline: 1,930 km
Myanmar is the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia, located in the northwest of the region. It is bordered by Bangladesh and India to the west, China to the north, and Laos and Thailand to the east. The country features central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands and the Irrawaddy River running through its center.
Shape: A large, kite-shaped country on the western edge of Southeast Asia, with a long thin tail extending southward along the coast.
Fun Facts
- Myanmar is the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia by area.
- The Irrawaddy River flows nearly the entire length of the country from north to south.
- Myanmar shares borders with five countries: Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand.
Thailand Thailand
Borders: Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia
Area: 513,120 km² · Coastline: 3,219 km
Thailand is located at the center of mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar to the west and north, Laos to the north and east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Malaysia to the south. The country features mountainous terrain in the north, a central fertile plain, and a long southern peninsula between the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
Shape: Often compared to an elephant's head in profile, with the trunk being the long southern peninsula extending toward Malaysia.
Fun Facts
- Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country that was never colonized by a European power.
- The country has coastlines on both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
- Thailand's shape is often compared to an axe or an elephant's head.
Laos Laos
Borders: Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand
Area: 236,800 km² · Landlocked
Laos is a landlocked country in the heart of mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar and China to the north, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. The Mekong River forms most of its western border with Thailand. The terrain is predominantly rugged mountains with some plains and plateaus.
Shape: A long, narrow landlocked country running north to south, widening in the southern half, positioned between Thailand and Vietnam.
Fun Facts
- Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia.
- The Mekong River forms most of Laos's border with Thailand.
- Laos borders five countries, making it one of the most connected nations in the region.
Cambodia Cambodia
Borders: Thailand, Laos, Vietnam
Area: 181,035 km² · Coastline: 443 km
Cambodia is located in the southern part of mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand to the west and north, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east. The country is dominated by a central low-lying plain around Tonle Sap lake, with mountains along the northern and southwestern borders and a coastline on the Gulf of Thailand.
Shape: A roughly square-shaped country in the southern mainland, tucked between Thailand to the west and Vietnam to the east.
Fun Facts
- Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and reverses its flow seasonally.
- Cambodia is home to Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world.
- The Mekong River flows through Cambodia before forming its delta in Vietnam.
Vietnam Vietnam
Borders: China, Laos, Cambodia
Area: 331,212 km² · Coastline: 3,444 km
Vietnam is a long, narrow country on the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, stretching over 1,600 km from north to south. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the west, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea to the east. The country features two major river deltas: the Red River Delta in the north and the Mekong Delta in the south.
Shape: A very long, narrow S-shaped country running along the eastern coast of mainland Southeast Asia, wider at both ends.
Fun Facts
- Vietnam stretches over 1,600 km from north to south but is only 50 km wide at its narrowest point.
- The Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam is one of the world's most productive rice-growing regions.
- Vietnam has one of the longest coastlines in Southeast Asia at over 3,400 km.
Malaysia Malaysia
Borders: Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei
Area: 330,803 km² · Coastline: 4,675 km
Malaysia consists of two separate regions: Peninsular Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula south of Thailand, and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) on the northern part of Borneo island. Peninsular Malaysia is separated from East Malaysia by the South China Sea. The terrain includes coastal plains, hills, and mountains covered in dense tropical rainforest.
Shape: Split into two parts: a peninsula hanging south from Thailand, and the northern coast of Borneo island to the east, separated by the South China Sea.
Fun Facts
- Malaysia is split into two non-contiguous regions separated by about 640 km of the South China Sea.
- Malaysian Borneo (East Malaysia) shares the island with Indonesia and Brunei.
- The country has the 29th-longest coastline in the world at over 4,600 km.
Singapore Singapore
Borders: Malaysia
Area: 733 km² · Coastline: 193 km
Singapore is a city-state island nation located at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, separated from Malaysia by the narrow Strait of Johor. It consists of one main island and over 60 smaller islets. Despite its tiny size, it is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
Shape: A tiny diamond-shaped island at the very tip of the Malay Peninsula, barely visible on most maps.
Fun Facts
- Singapore is one of only three surviving city-states in the world.
- The country is so small that you can drive across it in about an hour.
- Singapore is connected to Malaysia by two causeways across the Strait of Johor.
Brunei Brunei
Borders: Malaysia
Area: 5,765 km² · Coastline: 161 km
Brunei is a small country on the northern coast of the island of Borneo, completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak except for its coastline on the South China Sea. The country is split into two separate parts by a strip of Sarawak territory. The terrain is mostly flat coastal plains rising to mountains in the east.
Shape: A very small country on the northern coast of Borneo, split into two disconnected pieces by Malaysian territory.
Fun Facts
- Brunei is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak on its land borders.
- The country is divided into two unconnected parts by a strip of Malaysian territory.
- Despite its small size, Brunei is one of the wealthiest nations per capita due to oil and gas reserves.
Indonesia Indonesia
Borders: Malaysia, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea
Area: 1,904,569 km² · Coastline: 54,716 km
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, stretching over 5,000 km across the equator between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It comprises over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Borneo (Kalimantan), Sulawesi, and Papua. The country is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire and has more active volcanoes than any other country.
Shape: A massive archipelago stretching east-west along the equator, like a string of islands between mainland Southeast Asia and Australia.
Fun Facts
- Indonesia has over 17,000 islands, making it the world's largest archipelago.
- The country stretches across three time zones and spans over 5,000 km from west to east.
- Indonesia has more active volcanoes than any other country in the world.
Philippines Philippines
Area: 300,000 km² · Coastline: 36,289 km
The Philippines is an archipelago of over 7,600 islands located in the western Pacific Ocean, east of Vietnam and northeast of Borneo. The country is bounded by the Philippine Sea to the east, the South China Sea to the west, and the Celebes Sea to the south. The terrain is mostly mountainous with coastal lowlands on the larger islands.
Shape: An archipelago of scattered islands in the western Pacific, east of Vietnam, with two large islands (Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south) being the most prominent.
Fun Facts
- The Philippines has over 7,600 islands but only about 2,000 are inhabited.
- The country has the fifth-longest coastline in the world.
- The Philippines is the only Southeast Asian country with no land borders.
Timor-Leste Timor-Leste
Borders: Indonesia
Area: 14,874 km² · Coastline: 706 km
Timor-Leste (East Timor) occupies the eastern half of Timor island in Maritime Southeast Asia, plus the Oecusse exclave on the northwestern coast of Timor. It is bordered by Indonesia to the west and surrounded by the Timor Sea to the south and the Banda Sea to the north. The terrain is mostly mountainous with a narrow coastal plain.
Shape: A small country occupying the eastern half of Timor island, which lies north of Australia, shaped like a pointed leaf.
Fun Facts
- Timor-Leste became independent in 2002, making it one of the youngest countries in the world.
- The country occupies the eastern half of Timor island, with Indonesia controlling the western half.
- Timor-Leste has an exclave called Oecusse surrounded by Indonesian territory.
Quick Reference
Test Your Knowledge
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About Southeast Asia Geography
Southeast Asia spans a vast area between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, comprising both mainland and maritime nations. The region is home to some of the world's largest archipelagos, longest rivers, and most biodiverse tropical rainforests. Its strategic location along major shipping lanes has made it a crossroads of trade and culture for millennia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many countries are in Southeast Asia?
There are 11 countries in Southeast Asia: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Which is the largest country in Southeast Asia?
Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia by area, covering approximately 1,904,569 km² across over 17,000 islands.
Which Southeast Asian country is landlocked?
Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand.