Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Based on World Bank Atlas-method GNI per capita (latest available circa 2022–23), the ranking of Southeast Asian nations from lowest to highest income is:
| Rank | Country | GNI per Capita (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timor-Leste (East Timor) | ~$1,930 | Post-conflict, oil-dependent, high poverty |
| 2 | Myanmar | ~$2,560 | Conflict, sanctions, economic collapse since 2021 coup |
| 3 | Cambodia | ~$2,650 | Garments, tourism, agriculture; rapid growth pre-COVID |
| 4 | Laos | ~$3,490 | Landlocked, debt distress, hydropower/mining reliant |
| 5 | Vietnam | ~$3,690 | Manufacturing export powerhouse; lower-middle income |
| 6 | Philippines | ~$3,720 | Remittances, BPO, growing middle class |
| 7 | Indonesia | ~$4,000 | Largest economy, commodity exports, demographic dividend |
| 8 | Thailand | ~$6,000 | Upper-middle income; tourism, auto, electronics |
| 9 | Malaysia | ~$11,000 | High-income threshold; electronics, oil/gas, services |
| 10 | Singapore | ~$61,000 | High-income; finance, logistics, biotech hub |
Brunei (excluded from some "poorest" lists due to oil wealth) would rank ~$30k. Figures are Atlas-method GNI, not PPP; rankings shift slightly with PPP adjustment.