The Most Stressed Cities in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is home to some of the world’s fastest-growing and most dynamic cities, but rapid urbanisation, pollution, financial pressures, and crowded living conditions can also contribute to higher levels of stress.

According to William Russell’s 2023 study of the world’s most stressed cities, several major Southeast Asian cities appear among the global rankings. The study assessed cities using factors including pollution, green spaces, cleanliness, financial stress, cost of living, safety, and suicide rates, combining these factors into an overall stress score out of 10.

Leading the Southeast Asian ranking is Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with a stress score of 5.77, placing it 13th globally. The city is followed by Hanoi, also in Vietnam, which scores 5.64 and ranks 18th worldwide. The two Vietnamese cities therefore occupy the highest positions among Southeast Asian cities in the study.

Manila, Philippines, comes next, scoring 5.61 and ranking 19th globally. As one of the region’s largest metropolitan areas, Manila faces challenges associated with congestion, pollution, population density, and the cost of urban living. These environmental and socioeconomic conditions can contribute to the pressures experienced by residents.

Further down the list is Bangkok, Thailand, with a score of 4.75, ranking 40th worldwide. Jakarta, Indonesia, follows closely, scoring 4.72 and ranking 41st globally. Both cities are major economic centres with large populations, extensive transportation networks, and significant levels of urban activity.

Phuket, Thailand, records a lower stress score of 4.31, placing 46th globally. Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has the lowest stress score among the seven Southeast Asian cities listed, at 3.99, ranking 51st worldwide. Its lower score suggests comparatively fewer stress-related pressures according to the factors measured by the study.

Overall, the rankings show considerable differences in stress levels across Southeast Asia. Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Manila stand out as the region’s three highest-ranked cities, while Kuala Lumpur records the lowest score among the seven.

However, these rankings should not be interpreted as a direct measurement of residents’ personal happiness or mental health. Instead, they reflect a combination of environmental, economic, social, and safety-related indicators used by William Russell to compare cities internationally.