Singapore currently records the highest depression rate in Southeast Asia, with 4.6% of its population living with the condition. This figure, sourced from the World Population Review, indicates that approximately 46 out of every 1,000 residents in the city-state are affected.
Following closely are Thailand at 4.4% and Viet Nam at 4.0%, highlighting a significant mental health challenge across the region’s most developed and rapidly developing economies.
The high ranking of Singapore is often attributed to the intense, fast-paced nature of urban life and the high levels of academic and professional stress. However, experts also point out that Singapore possesses some of the most robust mental health screening and reporting systems in the region.
This suggests that the higher percentage may partly reflect better detection and a gradual reduction in the social stigma associated with seeking help, compared to countries where many cases might remain undiagnosed.
Across the rest of the region, the data shows a downward trend in reported rates. Malaysia sits at 3.8%, while Myanmar and Indonesia both report a rate of 3.7%. Further down the list, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Laos show rates between 3.2% and 3.4%, with Timor-Leste recording the lowest rate in the study at 3.0%.
