Local languages emerge as the most pivotal elements in forging a sense of profound "belonging" to a nation. In many parts of the world, including Southeast Asia, speaking the most commonly used language in a country is considered more important than one's birthplace, customs, or even the dominant religion.
These findings come from a global survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, involving more than 65,000 respondents across 36 countries during 2023–2024, and published in 2025. The survey offers a revealing picture of how national identity is perceived in a highly diverse region such as Southeast Asia.
Local Language as the Strongest Marker of Identity
In nearly all Southeast Asian countries surveyed, speaking the local language ranks as the most important factor of national identity. Indonesia recorded the highest figure, with 83% of respondents stating that speaking the common national language is very important to truly be part of the nation. Thailand (78%), the Philippines (80%), and Malaysia (79%) show broadly similar patterns.
Singapore, however, stands out as the most notable exception. Only about 23% of respondents there consider the ability to speak Mandarin to be very important for being a “true Singaporean.”
This low figure is closely tied to Singapore’s reality as a multilingual state, with four official languages—English, Mandarin, Malay, and Tamil. In this context, national identity is not strongly anchored to a single dominant language.
Traditions and Customs: Important, but Not Always Absolute
Beyond language, adherence to local customs and traditions is also considered important by a majority of people in Southeast Asia, although the degree of importance varies. Indonesia again ranks at the top, with 79% of respondents saying that following local customs and traditions is very important, followed by Thailand (66%), the Philippines (59%), and Malaysia (58%).
These figures suggest that in countries with strong cultural roots that remain actively practiced in daily life, tradition continues to be seen as a key element in fostering a sense of national belonging. However, not all countries treat it as an absolute requirement.
Singapore once again displays a distinct pattern. Only 39% of respondents consider following customs and traditions to be very important, while another 40% regard it as somewhat important. This pattern reflects a more inclusive and pragmatic approach to national identity, in line with the country’s urban and multicultural social structure.
Being Born Here Matters, Just Not the Most
Being born in the country is also still regarded as an important factor, but it ranks below language and tradition. The Philippines records the highest figure, with 77% of respondents viewing birthplace as very important to national identity, followed by Indonesia (73%), Thailand (71%), and Malaysia (64%).
Notably, the data show that this view tends to be stronger among groups with lower levels of education. Thailand provides the clearest example, where differences in perspective between educational groups are particularly pronounced.
Singapore again ranks lowest on this measure. Only 37% of respondents consider being born in the country to be very important.
This reflects Singapore’s reality as a country with a large immigrant population, where citizenship status and social participation are often prioritized over place of birth.
Dominant Religion: The Weakest Factor
Among all the factors examined, belonging to the historically dominant religion in a country is considered the least important in defining national identity. Nevertheless, in several Southeast Asian countries, this factor still carries relatively significant weight.
Indonesia records the highest figure, with 80% of respondents viewing the dominant religion as important to national identity, followed by the Philippines (73%), Malaysia (62%), and Thailand (61%). These figures indicate that religion continues to play a meaningful role in social life, even though, at a global level, its influence is weaker than that of language and tradition.
By contrast, Singapore once again stands out as an anomaly, with only 8% of respondents considering the dominant religion to be an important factor. This aligns with the country’s secular policies and its strong commitment to maintaining religious diversity in the public sphere.
Overall Patterns and the Regional Picture
Taken as a whole, Southeast Asia displays a consistent pattern: local language forms the primary foundation of national identity, followed by customs and place of birth, while religion tends to occupy the final position.
Differences among countries are largely shaped by levels of ethnic diversity, histories of migration, and national policies toward multiculturalism.
Singapore emerges as an exception across nearly all indicators, reinforcing its position as a country with a more fluid and inclusive definition of national identity. Meanwhile, countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand reflect identity frameworks that are more strongly rooted in culture and tradition.
