The line graph shows the proportion of the urban population in four nations in Southeast Asia between 1970 and 2020, with projections until 2040.

Overall, there are projected increases in the population living in cities of all countries examined, with Malaysia dominating the chart for the vast majority of the period, and the Philippines are predicted to overtake Thailand and Indonesia to hold the second position in the second half of the timeframe.

Regarding Malaysia and Indonesia, precisely a third of the former’s population resided in urban areas in the first year, after which it is expected to increase continually to just over 80% in 2040, significantly higher than any other countries listed. Indonesia almost exactly mirrors this upward trend, albeit at a much lower rate. Despite starting at the lowest (at nearly 15%), the urban population rate for this country rose considerably, surpassing those of Thailand in 2000 and the Philippines in 2010 to become the second highest before being forecast to reach just above 60% in the final year.

Moving on to Thailand and the Philippines, the percentage of urban inhabitants in the latter was the highest initially, standing at slightly above 30%. After being exceeded by Malaysia in the first years, the Philippines witnessed a rise to nearly half of the population, regaining its dominant position in 1990. However, this dominance was short-lived, as its share had gradually dropped to approximately 41% by 2010, and it is then anticipated to have climbed by roughly 10% by 2040. Thailand follows a very similar pattern but ranks last from 2000 onwards. Its figure began at close to one-fifth of its population prior to being estimated to more than double by the end of the period.