The line charts compare the number of people living in cities across four Southeast Asian countries between 1970 and 2020, with projections for 2030 and 2040. All countries exhibit a continuous upward trend, with Malaysia projected to have the highest percentage of urban residents by 2040.
Initially, in 1970, approximately 31% of the population in the Philippines lived in cities, a narrow margin higher than Malaysia at 30%. Thailand and Indonesia had significantly lower percentages, with around 20% and 15% of their populations living in urban areas, respectively.
Throughout the 30-year period from 1970 to 2000, the number of people living in cities rose significantly across all four countries. By 2000, Malaysia had reached a 60% urbanization rate, while only roughly 45% of Filipinos lived in cities. Thailand and Indonesia saw their urban populations reach approximately 30% by 2000.
The trend continued, with the number of urban dwellers continuing to grow. By 2010, around two-fifths of both Filipinos and Indonesians lived in cities. In contrast, Malaysia and Thailand had significantly higher urbanization rates, with 70% and 30% of their populations living in cities, respectively.
The projections for 2030 and 2040 indicate that the percentage of people living in cities is expected to keep rising. By 2040, Malaysia is projected to have the highest urbanization rate, with a peak of around 85%. Indonesia is expected to reach 62%, followed by the Philippines at 55%, and Thailand at 49%.