SEA Games All-Time Medal Standings: Thailand on Top Since 1959

Since its first staging in 1959, the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) have served as the premier arena for sporting competition among Southeast Asian nations. The biennial multi-sport event, held under the auspices of the Southeast Asian Games Federation, features 11 ASEAN member countries and consistently delivers intense rivalry for the overall championship title.

Throughout the long history of the SEA Games, Thailand and Indonesia have emerged as the two most consistent sporting powers, while several other nations have also experienced periods at the pinnacle of success.

Thailand is recorded as the most successful nation in SEA Games history. The “Land of Smiles” has claimed 13 overall championship titles, ahead of Indonesia, which ranks second with 10 overall titles. These records highlight how the balance of sporting power in Southeast Asia has been shaped and evolved over time.

All-Time Medal Standings

Looking at the All-Time SEA Games Medal Table from 1959 to 2023, Thailand also stands firmly at the top of the all-time medal rankings. The country has accumulated more than 6,700 total medals, comprising thousands of gold, silver, and bronze medals.

Indonesia occupies second place with more than 5,800 total medals, followed by Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines to complete the top five.

Host nation advantage has often played a significant role. Thailand holds the record for hosting the SEA Games most frequently, having done so seven times. Malaysia follows with six editions, while Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore have each hosted the Games four times.

Notably, in many editions, host nation status has frequently correlated with success in securing the overall championship title.

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SEA Games Overall Champions: A Historical Record

The SEA Games were first held in 1959 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the host nation immediately emerging as the overall champion. From the inaugural edition, Thailand demonstrated its dominance and established itself as the leading sporting power in Southeast Asia, particularly during the 1960s through the mid-1970s.

The competitive landscape began to shift when Indonesia entered its golden era at the 1977 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. From that point onward, Indonesia consistently emerged as Thailand’s main challenger.
Between 1977 and 1997, Indonesia repeatedly claimed overall champion status, both when hosting the Games and when competing abroad. This dominance was later reaffirmed at the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta and Palembang.

Beyond Thailand and Indonesia, several other nations have also made history. Myanmar (formerly Burma) claimed overall titles in 1961 and 1969.
Malaysia achieved the same feat in 2001 and 2017. The Philippines topped the medal table in 2005 and 2019, while Vietnam demonstrated a strong resurgence by becoming overall champion in 2003, 2021, and 2023.

Overall, since 1959, Thailand has been the most successful nation with 13 overall championship titles. Indonesia follows in second place with 10 titles. Vietnam has secured three overall championships, while the Philippines, Myanmar, and Malaysia have each claimed the top spot twice.

Looking ahead, the SEA Games calendar has already been outlined. Following Thailand’s hosting of the Games in 2025, Malaysia will host in 2027, followed by Singapore in 2029.

For the 2031 edition, the host nation remains tentative between Laos and Indonesia, while the Philippines is scheduled to host the SEA Games in 2033.