## Infographic: ASEAN’s Digital Economy

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [Infographic: ASEAN’s Digital Economy](https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2018/09/asean-digital-economy-infographic-feng)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2018/09/asean-digital-economy-infographic-feng/index.md)
- [Structured JSON version](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2018/09/asean-digital-economy-infographic-feng/index.json)
- [Bundle manifest](/en/publications/fandd/issues/2018/09/asean-digital-economy-infographic-feng/bundle-manifest.json)

## Bibliographic details
- Authors: JIA FENG
- Published: September 1, 2018

---

### Overview
- ASEAN is poised to become digital-first economies but still faces five core challenges: affordable Internet, business competition, better education, stronger safety nets and financial inclusion.
- The region is young: "more than half of its 643 million people are under 30."
- ASEAN’s economy is "$2.8 trillion" and its membership comprises "10 members" moving toward greater economic integration.
- The Internet has reached most people in Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and Singapore, while "more than 70 percent of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao P.D.R., and Myanmar remains offline."

### Digital strengths and illustrative examples
- Indonesia’s digital ecosystem "boasts more than 1,700 start-ups—among the world’s largest clusters of new firms."
- GO-JEK evolved from a ride-hailing app to a platform for mobile payments and other digital services.
- Sea, described as "the most valuable start‑up in the region—worth several billion dollars—began as an online gaming company and branched out into mobile money and shopping."
- High-speed broadband is scarce across most of ASEAN; Singapore is "the sole exception."

### Core gaps and challenges
- Internet access inequality: significant offline populations in several member states ("more than 70 percent of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao P.D.R., and Myanmar remains offline").
- High costs of high-speed broadband relative to China, Japan, and Korea.
- Need for workforce reskilling as education systems must adapt to "new demands for a digital future."
- Social protection shortfalls: "Stronger safety nets are needed to protect those displaced by automation."
- Financial inclusion and fintech risks: "ASEAN nations should seek to improve financial inclusion through technology and adapt their regulatory frameworks to manage the risks associated with fintech."

### Five priorities to grow the digital economy
- Internet connectivity must be "universal and affordable."
- The business climate must "encourage competition, which spurs innovation."
- Education systems must "adapt workers’ skills to new demands for a digital future."
- Stronger safety nets are needed to "protect those displaced by automation."
- Improve financial inclusion through technology and "adapt their regulatory frameworks to manage the risks associated with fintech."

### Key statistics and regional role
- Population: "643 million" (with "more than half ... under 30").
- Economy size: "$2.8 trillion."
- Start-ups in Indonesia: "more than 1,700 start-ups."
- Offline share cited for specific countries: "more than 70 percent of Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao P.D.R., and Myanmar remains offline."
- ASEAN’s global rank by economy size: "fifth largest economy in the world."
- Membership: "10 members."

### Conclusion
- With hundreds of millions of young people and an economy of "$2.8 trillion," ASEAN has significant potential to lead a regional digital transformation, but realizing that potential depends on closing the digital divide through the five priorities above.

*F&D Magazine — On The Cusp — JIA FENG — September 2018.*

---

## Content in this bundle

- **Infographic: ASEAN’s Digital Economy – IMF Finance & Development Magazine | September 2018**
  - [Infographic: ASEAN’s Digital Economy – IMF Finance & Development Magazine | September 2018 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/asean-digital-economy-infographic-feng.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Infographic: ASEAN’s Digital Economy – IMF Finance & Development Magazine | September 2018 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/asean-digital-economy-infographic-feng.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- **Bajo la lupa: En el umbral ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Septiembre de 2018**
  - [Bajo la lupa: En el umbral ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Septiembre de 2018 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/es/picture.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Bajo la lupa: En el umbral ● Finanzas y Desarrollo ● Septiembre de 2018 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/es/picture.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- **Priorité au numérique**
  - [Priorité au numérique (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/fr/picture.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Priorité au numérique (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/fr/picture.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- **Представьте себе. На пороге перемен – Финансы и развитие – сентябрь 2018 года**
  - [Представьте себе. На пороге перемен – Финансы и развитие – сентябрь 2018 года (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/ru/picture.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [Представьте себе. На пороге перемен – Финансы и развитие – сентябрь 2018 года (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/ru/picture.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}
- **处于尖端位置 -《金融与发展》- 2018年9月号·第55卷·第3期 - 国际货币基金组织季刊**
  - [处于尖端位置 -《金融与发展》- 2018年9月号·第55卷·第3期 - 国际货币基金组织季刊 (Markdown version)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/zh/picture.pdf.md){rel="alternate" type="text/markdown"}
  - [处于尖端位置 -《金融与发展》- 2018年9月号·第55卷·第3期 - 国际货币基金组织季刊 (PDF)](/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2018/september/zh/picture.pdf){rel="external" type="application/pdf"}

---

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/fandd/issues/2018/09/asean-digital-economy-infographic-feng_