TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Southeast Asia is a region situated on the Asian continent that spans over 4.8 million square kilometers of land and 5 million square kilometers of water. This region encompasses eleven sovereign states, including Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Timor Leste, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Out of these 11 countries, there are five smallest countries in terms of land area. The list is as follows:
1. Singapore
The smallest country in Southeast Asia is Singapore, occupying a mere 734.3 square kilometers of land area. To expand its territory, the city-state carried out reclamation using land obtained from the seabed, hills, and other sources.
Singapore borders Malaysia, which is separated by the Johor Strait, also known as the Tebrau Strait. Despite its tiny size, the lion country boasts a fairly advanced economy.
2. Brunei Darussalam
The second-smallest country in Southeast Asia is Brunei Darussalam, covering a total area of 5,765 square kilometers, bordering East Malaysia and the South China Sea. This country, known as the Abode of Peace, has accumulated extensive wealth from natural gas and oil and is considered a developed country.
3. Timor Leste
Timor Leste ranks third with an area of 14,874 square kilometers. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the remote islands of Jaco and Atauro, and the enclave of Oecusse. The western half of Timor Island is administered by Indonesia.
Bordered directly by the Wetar Strait and Indonesia, it gained sovereignty in 2002. Along with the Philippines, Timor Leste is the only country in Southeast Asia with a majority Christian population.
4. Cambodia
Cambodia is a country where most of the territory consists of land and large rivers. It boasts an area of 181,035 square kilometers, stretching 450 kilometers from north to south and 580 kilometers from east to west.
Geographically, Cambodia borders Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam and is strategically located as a link between China's trade routes to India and Southeast Asia. Therefore, the country is culturally influenced by these two regions.
5. Laos
The fifth-smallest country in Southeast Asia in terms of land area is Laos, covering a total land area of 236,800 square kilometers without water areas. It is the only landlocked country in the region. Most of its citizens work in the agricultural sector given the country’s geologically diverse landscape of mountains, forests, highlands, and lowlands.
In terms of territorial boundaries, Laos has direct borders with Myanmar, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
AULIA ULVA