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Southeast Asia Facts & Worksheets

Southeast Asia is made up of eleven nations with a remarkable diversity of religion, culture, and history.

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Southeast Asia is made up of eleven nations with a remarkable diversity of religion, culture, and history: Brunei, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Economically, it is also one of the most active regions, contributing significantly to its expanding global prominence.

See the fact file below for more information on Southeast Asia, or you can download our 29-page Southeast Asia worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • GMT+8 is the common time zone used in all countries.
  • Southeast Asia is one of the world’s best vacation spots, known for its gorgeous islands, endless beaches, variety of resorts, delectable cuisine, top-notch restaurants, and unique cultures.
  • Southeast Asia experiences warm weather all year round because of its proximity to the equator, with daily average noon temperatures of 30°C (86°F). There are typically two seasons: wet and dry.
  • Almost 20,000 islands in the Pacific and Indian Oceans are part of Southeast Asia. On its own, Indonesia is home to roughly 13,500 islands.

BRUNEI

  • On the Malaysian side (northeast) of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, between the states of Sarawak and Sabah, is the tiny, independent, and oil-rich Brunei.
  • With the nation’s higher standard of living and longer life expectancy (75.93 years on average as of 2020) than many of its neighbors in Southeast Asia, Brunei Darussalam’s name, meaning “abode of peace,” is generally accurate.
  • In Brunei, homosexuality is now a crime carrying a ten-year prison sentence. It was declared that the punishment would be death by stoning in 2019.
  • Although it differs from the Bahasa Malay spoken in Malaysia, Brunei’s official language is Malay. Brunei also has Chinese and English speakers. In business, English is extensively spoken and understood.

MYANMAR (BURMA)

  • The 39th largest country in the world, Myanmar is the largest on the continent of Southeast Asia. Bordered by Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand, and China, it has a shoreline along both the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.
  • Before 1989, the country was known as Burma.
  • Together with Liberia and the US, Myanmar is one of only three nations in the world that do not use the metric system.
  • More than 100 different ethnic groups can be found in Myanmar.

CAMBODIA

  • The center and soul of Cambodia, Angkor Wat, is the largest religious complex in the world and is on the World Heritage List.
  • Mid-April each year sees the conclusion of the harvest season and the celebration of Cambodia’s New Year, or Choul Chnam Thmey in Khmer. In Cambodia, this is the most important holiday of the year.
  • In Cambodia, a Buddhist nation, the feet are regarded as the least sacred portion of the body, and the top of the head the most sacred.
  • Southeast Asia’s largest saltwater lake is called Tonle Sap, which translates to “Great Lake.“
  • There are 212 species of mammals living in Cambodia’s naturally diverse jungles, including Asian elephants, tigers, tiger cats, sun bears, gibbons, and deer, among others.

TIMOR – LESTE (EAST TIMOR)

  • As “Timor” is derived from the Indonesian and Malay term “timur,” which means “east,” and “leste,” which is the Portuguese word for “east,” the country’s name translates as “Eastern-East.“
  • One of the earliest places of contemporary human activity in the area, according to the archeological evidence discovered in East Timor, the region has been inhabited for at least 42,000 years.
  • The most biodiverse waterways on earth can be found in East Timor.

INDONESIA

  • Southeast Asia’s Indonesia is situated between the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The capital city is Jakarta, and the archipelago is divided into 34 provinces.
  • Hardly a third of the more than 17,000 islands that make up the Indonesian archipelago are inhabited. The Indonesian islands cover a total area of over 5,000 km.
  • In Indonesia, Islam is the most prevalent religion. Yet religious practices differ from island to island. For instance, Hindus make up the majority of the population in Bali.
  • The Latin name “indus,” which denotes territory next to the Indus River, and the Greek word “nesos,” which means island, are combined to form the name “Indonesia.”

LAOS

  • Laos is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is thought to be the nation that has been bombed the most, with many of those bombs still lying unexploded in the countryside.
  • Lao and Thai’s speakers are able to understand each other because of their close linguistic ties.
  • Laos’ mountains are rich in minerals, and since the 11th century, the nation has been mined for its materials. Among the minerals discovered are gold, sapphires, amethyst, aquamarine, marble, slate, rock salt, and granite.
  • Lao silk differs from that of its neighbors in that it is entirely hand woven. These are truly one of a kind since both the weaving technique used and the patterns vary from family to family.

MALAYSIA

  • Nine ethnic Malay state leaders alternate as the king of Malaysia under the country’s unique rotating monarchy system, each lasting five years.
  • Aurea Chersonesus, one of Malaysia’s earlier names, translates to “peninsula of gold.” Ptolemy, a Greco-Roman geographer who lived around 150 CE, gave this term in his
    work “Geographia.”
  • The only nation in the world that has territory on both the Southeast Asian mainland and the islands that lie between Asia and Oceania is Malaysia.
  • One of the earliest sultanates in the world is the Sultanate of Kedah, which was founded in 1136 CE in the Malay Peninsula.
  • Malaysia has one of the largest king cobra populations in the world.

PHILIPPINES

  • The only mainly Christian country in Asia is the Philippines. While many of its neighbors in Southeast Asia are Buddhists, 86% of Filipinos identify as Roman Catholic.
  • Mangoes and coconuts are two of the most widely produced fruits in the Philippines. Bananas, papayas, pineapples, mangosteens, and watermelons are also plentiful.
  • The Philippines is home to three of the top ten biggest shopping centers in the world.
  • The Philippines exports the most nurses globally. Many citizens look for work abroad, in part as a result of the country’s restricted employment options.

SINGAPORE

  • One of the twenty smallest nations in the world is Singapore. The main island is only 683 square kilometers overall and is 42 kilometers long and 23 kilometers wide.
  • Singaporeans speak five languages, including the four official ones of English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, as well as Singlish, a regional dialect.
  • In Singapore, it is against the law to use a public restroom without flushing after use, and violators face an SGD 150 fine.
  • The Gardens by the Bay in Singapore is home to the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, which is 35 meters tall.
  • Singapore is the fifth-least corrupt city in the world and the least corrupt city in Asia.

THAILAND

  • The only nation in Southeast Asia that has never been colonized by a European nation is Thailand. In fact, the name of the nation is Prathet Thai, which translates to “land of the free” in Thai.
  • Both the smallest and the largest species can be found in Thailand. Thailand is home to the bumblebee bat, the tiniest animal on the planet. The whale shark, the largest fish, can also be found in Thai seas.
  • The orchid is Thailand’s national flower. Thailand is one of the world’s top exporters of orchids due to the 1,500 varieties of orchids that grow naturally in Thai forests.

VIETNAM

  • Vietnam exports more than 55% of the world’s cashew nuts and earns well over two billion dollars annually from the sector, making it the leading exporter in the world.
  • Vietnam has a long history of playing the sport known as sepak takraw, also referred to as “kick volleyball.“
  • In Vietnam, Snake Wine is legendary. It’s one of Southeast Asia’s more peculiar food options. There are wine bottles all over the country that have snakes coiled inside as though poised to strike.
  • In Vietnam, Nguyen is the most popular surname. According to reports, 40% of Vietnamese people are Nguyen, including Ho Chi Minh. Win is how the last name is pronounced.

SOUTHEAST ASIA: CULTURAL CUSTOMS

  • Taking off the shoes before entering homes and temples is one of the most typical Asian customs.
  • Sharing meals is another prevalent custom in Asia. The majority of Asian homes enjoy cooking a variety of dishes to share among everyone at a large table.
  • The head is regarded as the most sacred feature of the body in many Asian cultures. Even children or Buddha statues shouldn’t have their heads touched.
  • It is considered impolite for people of the opposite sex to kiss, hug, or hold hands in public in almost every Asian culture.

Southeast Asia Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Southeast Asia across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Southeast Asia. Southeast Asia is made up of eleven nations with a remarkable diversity of religion, culture, and history.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Southeast Asia Facts
  2. SEA Finds
  3. SEA the Truth
  4. Use it in a SEA-ntence
  5. Asia’s Eleven
  6. SEA-story
  7. Give me Five!
  8. SEA the Heritage
  9. In-between SEA
  10. Only in the Philippines
  11. Nicknames

Frequently Asked Questions

What countries are included in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia consists of 11 countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

What are some popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia?

Some popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia include Bali in Indonesia, Bangkok in Thailand, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Siem Reap in Cambodia (home of the Angkor Wat temple complex), and the beaches of Phuket in Thailand.

What religions are practiced in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia is a diverse region with a mix of religions. The most widely practiced religion is Buddhism, followed by Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, and traditional religions.

What are some common foods in Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asian cuisine is known for its spicy, flavorful dishes. Some common foods include rice, noodles, seafood, coconut milk, and various herbs and spices. Popular dishes include pad Thai from Thailand, nasi goreng from Indonesia, and pho from Vietnam.

What are some challenges facing Southeast Asia today?

Some challenges facing Southeast Asia today include political instability, economic inequality, environmental issues such as deforestation and pollution, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The region is also vulnerable to natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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