Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on May 4, 2026, and republished with updates on November 13, 2026.
MANILA, Philippines – All eyes are on the Philippines as it takes on the role of chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.
This places Manila at the forefront of coordinating priorities across Southeast Asia’s leading multilateral bloc, guiding discussions on regional cooperation, stability, and integration.
Established in 1967, ASEAN was formed to promote regional peace, political stability, and economic cooperation among Southeast Asian countries. The Philippines is one of the five founding members, along with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.
Who are the members of ASEAN today? Here are some basic information about the 11 countries.
Philippines
Year of ASEAN membership: 1967
Head of state and government: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Capital: Manila
Land area: 299,764 square kilometers
Population: 112.7 million (2024)
GDP per capita: $3,984.8 (2024)
Currency: Philippine peso
Indonesia
Year of ASEAN membership: 1967
Head of state and government: President Prabowo Subianto
Capital: Jakarta (Nusantara is currently under transition)
Land area: 1,811,569 square kilometers
Population: 288.3 million (2025)
GDP per capita: $4,925.4 (2024)
Currency: Indonesian rupiah
Singapore
Year of ASEAN membership: 1967
Head of state: President Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence Wong
Capital: Singapore
Land area: 744.3 square kilometers
