How active are people in Southeast Asia? According to the latest global study on physical activity—published by The Lancet Global Health in 2024 and visualized using WHO data—many of us in the region are falling short of recommended exercise levels.
The World Health Organization advises adults to get at least 2.5 hours of moderate activity (such as walking or hiking), or 1.25 hours of vigorous activity (think running or high-intensity sports) every week. A good rule of thumb: if you can talk but not sing while moving, you’re hitting moderate intensity.
Southeast Asia: Room for Improvement
While some Southeast Asian nations perform better than the global average, others still face challenges. Based on the latest data:
Philippines tops the regional chart with 46% of its population not getting enough exercise—on par with West and South Asian countries where nearly half the population falls short.
Malaysia follows with 40%, reflecting the country’s highly urbanized lifestyle.
Indonesia fares better, with only 19% insufficiently active—a result that puts it among the more active countries in the region.
Cambodia and
Laos are the stars of Southeast Asia, with just 13% and 16% of their populations lacking sufficient activity.
The Global Picture
Zooming out, the United Arab Emirates leads globally—two-thirds of its population is not exercising enough, the highest rate recorded in the study. In contrast, Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa see much higher physical activity rates. For many in poorer countries, active lifestyles are often driven by necessity: farming, manual labor, and transport by foot remain common.
Interestingly, Japan, famous for longevity, technically underperforms in this metric too—yet its walkable cities and healthy diets still contribute to positive health outcomes.
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