Demographics
93.9% of respondents are aged 35 or under. Design as a profession is still young in Southeast Asia, and its workforce reads that way too.
Chart proof
Geographic distribution of respondents
Geographic distribution of survey respondents across five Southeast Asian markets.
Indonesia dominates at 79%, followed by Singapore (9.7%), Malaysia (5.1%), Vietnam (2.9%), and Thailand (2.4%).
View data table
| Country | Respondents (n) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 1,419 | 79.0% |
| Singapore | 174 | 9.7% |
| Malaysia | 92 | 5.1% |
| Vietnam | 53 | 2.9% |
| Thailand | 44 | 2.4% |
Chart proof
Country and city breakdown (top 3 cities per country)
Urban concentration of respondents across key Southeast Asian cities.
Jakarta accounts for 48.4% of respondents (870 of 1,797), the largest single city in the sample.
View data table
| City | Respondents (n) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Jakarta | 870 | 48.4% |
| Singapore | 174 | 9.7% |
| Bandung | 113 | 6.3% |
| Kuala Lumpur | 81 | 4.5% |
| Surabaya | 69 | 3.8% |
| Yogyakarta | 61 | 3.4% |
| Bangkok | 41 | 2.3% |
| Tangerang | 35 | 1.9% |
| Other | 353 | 19.7% |
Chart proof
Gender distribution by market
Gender distribution comparing regional aggregate to Singapore.
Singapore shows 65.5% female vs 39.8% regional, with males at 34.5% vs 59.3% regional.
View data table
| Gender | Respondents (n) | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Female (Regional) | 716 | 39.8% |
| Male (Regional) | 1,065 | 59.3% |
| Female (Singapore) | 114 | 65.5% |
| Male (Singapore) | 60 | 34.5% |
Same profession, different rooms: Singapore skews female, the region male.
Chart proof
Respondents by age group
Age distribution across all survey respondents.
80.2% of respondents are under 30. The 25–30 bracket alone is 57.0% of the sample.
View data table
| Age group | Respondents (n) | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| 18–24 years | 417 | 23.2% |
| 25–30 years | 1,024 | 57.0% |
| 31–35 years | 246 | 13.7% |
| 36+ years | 108 | 6.0% |
Chart proof
Gender distribution by age group
Cross-analysis of gender and age groups across the full respondent set.
Women are 41.7% of the 18–24 cohort, and their share falls with each older band to 31.5% at 36–50.
View data table
| Age group | Respondents (n) | Female proportion |
|---|---|---|
| 18–24 | 417 | 41.7% |
| 25–30 | 1,024 | 41.3% |
| 31–35 | 246 | 37.3% |
| 36–50 | 108 | 31.5% |
Indonesia's size in the sample sets the regional aggregate. Singapore's gender split sits apart from that picture and is worth reading on its own terms.
One market from 2023 is largely missing here: the Philippines. Eight designers took part last year; this year too few responded to clear our ten-response reporting floor, so the Philippines doesn't appear in the charts above. Our reach there hasn't grown alongside the rest of the region. We thank UXPH, one of this report's community partners, for supporting this effort.
What this means for you
If you're a designer
- Location does more than set a cost of living. It shapes the career opportunities and pay a designer can expect too.
If you're leading a team or organisation
- Remote work has widened the hiring map; teams that mirror the wider market are the ones using it. A workforce this young also raises the stakes for how leaders grow talent.
Evidence and further reading
Evidence used in this section
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Respondent geographic distribution heavily concentrated in Indonesia
Indonesia accounts for 79.0% (1,419) of respondents, followed by Singapore 9.7% (174), Malaysia 5.1% (92), Vietnam 2.9% (53), and Thailand 2.4% (44). Urban concentration is strong with Jakarta alone at 48.4%.
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Regional demographics: young workforce with improving gender balance
80% of respondents are under 35, concentrated in the 25-30 age bracket (57%). Gender split is 59% male and 40% female regionally, with stronger gender balance in early-career groups. Strong urban concentration across all markets.
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Singapore demographics: 65.5% female, older workforce, higher education
Singapore shows a distinct demographic profile vs the region. Gender: 65.52% female vs 39.84% regional. Age: 25-30 bracket 43.1% (vs 57% regional), 31-35 at 29.3% (vs 13.8%), and 36-45 at 20.7% combined (vs 6.0%). Education: 71.8% Bachelor's, 13.8% Master's (vs 5.2% regional), 77.6% design-related education. Overseas working experience at 27.0% (vs 14.2% regional).
Further reading and context
- Gender balance varies by country: OECD study on gender equality in Southeast Asia
- Most designers live in cities: ERIA study on digital economy in ASEAN
- Singapore remains important as a talent centre: World Investment Report 2024 by UNCTAD
- Rise of distributed teams and remote work: BCG report on closing the gender gap in technology in Southeast Asia
- Impact of young designers on workplace culture: M Moser Associates survey on remote working in Asia
- Regional and cultural factors influencing gender representation: UN Women and ASEAN Cambodia report on gender equality
Questions worth exploring
How can we better capture design industry data from underrepresented Southeast Asian markets, particularly addressing language and accessibility barriers?
Worth exploring next
- What impact will the rise of distributed teams and remote work have on traditional design hubs like Singapore and Jakarta?
- How is the concentration of young designers (80% under 35) shaping workplace culture and expectations across different Southeast Asian markets?
- With significant variation in gender representation across countries, what regional and cultural factors are influencing these differences?
Where this sits in the conversation
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Overview
2024 report -
Landscape
Demographics you are here -
Landscape
Roles & experiences -
Landscape
Compensation -
Landscape
Company landscape -
Sentiments
Offer & negotiation -
Sentiments
Career progression -
Sentiments
Value of design -
Sentiments
Job market -
Singapore deep dive
Singapore deep dive -
Close
The conversation continues
Commentary
Most designers work in major tech cities, but we might be missing voices from places like the Philippines and Thailand, perhaps due to language barriers and survey reach.