# SEA Games

The Southeast Asian Games, commonly known as SEA Games is a biennial multi-sport event involving participants from the current 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The games are under the regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia.
The SEA Games is one of the five subregional Games of the Olympic Council of Asia, the others being South Asian Games, West Asian Games, East Asian Games, and Central Asian Games.

## History

The SEA Games owes its origins to the South East Asian Peninsular Games or SEAP Games (abbreviated as SEAPG). On 22 May 1958, delegates from the countries in Southeast Asian Peninsula attending the Asian Games in Tokyo, Japan had a meeting and agreed to establish a sports organization. The SEAP Games was conceptualized by Luang Sukhum Nayapradit, then vice-president of the Thailand Olympic Committee. The proposed rationale was that a regional sports event will help promote co-operation, understanding, and relations among countries in the Southeast Asian region.
Six countries, Burma (now Myanmar), Cambodia, Laos, Malaya (now Malaysia), Thailand and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) were the founding members. These countries agreed to hold the Games biennially in June 1959 and the SEAP Games Federation Committee was formed thereafter.
The first SEAP Games were held in Bangkok from 12 to 17 December 1959, with more than 527 athletes and officials from 6 countries; Burma (now Myanmar), Laos, Malaya, Singapore, South Vietnam and Thailand participated in 12 sports.
At the 8th SEAP Games in 1975, while South Vietnam was fallen and no longer existed, the SEAP Federation considered the inclusion of Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines. These countries were formally admitted in 1977, the same year when SEAP Federation changed their name to the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF), and the games were known as the Southeast Asian Games. The unified Vietnam (Socialist Republic of Vietnam) returned to the games' 15th edition in 1989. East Timor, one year after gaining independence from Indonesia, was admitted at the 22nd SEA Games in 2003.
The 2009 SEA Games was the first time Laos has ever hosted a SEA Games (Laos had previously declined to host the 1965 SEAP Games citing financial difficulties). Running from 9–18 December, it has also commemorated the 50 years of the SEA Games, held in Vientiane, Laos. The 2023 SEA Games, held from 5–17 May, was the first time Cambodia has ever hosted a SEA Games (Cambodia was awarded the 1963 SEAP Games, which was cancelled due to domestic political situation).

## Symbol

The Southeast Asian Games symbol was introduced during the 1959 SEAP Games in Bangkok, depicting six rings that represent the six founding members and was used until the 1997 edition in Jakarta. The number of rings increased to 10 during the 1999 edition in Brunei to reflect the inclusion of Singapore, which was admitted into the Southeast Asian Games Federation in 1961, and Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines, which joined the organization in 1977. The number of rings was again increased to 11 during the 2011 Games in Indonesia to reflect the federation's newest member, East Timor, which was admitted in 2003.

## Participating NOCs

| Nation | Code | National Olympic Committee | Created | Debuted |
| Brunei | BRU | Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council | 1984 | 1977 |
| Cambodia | CAM | National Olympic Committee of Cambodia | 1983 | 1961 |
| Indonesia | INA | Indonesian Olympic Committee | 1946 | 1977 |
| Laos | LAO | National Olympic Committee of Laos | 1975 | 1959 |
| Malaysia | MAS | Olympic Council of Malaysia | 1953 | 1959 |
| Myanmar | MYA | Myanmar Olympic Committee | 1947 | 1959 |
| Philippines | PHI | Philippine Olympic Committee | 1911 | 1977 |
| Singapore | SGP | Singapore National Olympic Council | 1947 | 1959 |
| Thailand | THA | National Olympic Committee of Thailand | 1948 | 1959 |
| East Timor | TLS | National Olympic Committee of Timor-Leste | 2003 | 2003 |
| Vietnam | VIE | Vietnam Olympic Committee | 1952 | 1959 |
* ↑ Debuted as South Vietnam, which competed from 1959–1973. North Vietnam never competed. Unified Vietnam has competed since 1989.

### Timelines

| Nation | Code | as SEAP Games | as SEAP Games | as SEAP Games | as SEAP Games | as SEAP Games | as SEAP Games | as SEAP Games | as SEAP Games | as SEAP Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | as SEA Games | Total |
| Nation | Code | 59 | 61 | 63 | 65 | 67 | 69 | 71 | 73 | 75 | 77 | 79 | 81 | 83 | 85 | 87 | 89 | 91 | 93 | 95 | 97 | 99 | 01 | 03 | 05 | 07 | 09 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 25 | Total |
| Brunei | BRU | | | Cancelled | | | | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 |
| Cambodia | CAM | | • | Cancelled | • | | | • | • | | | | | • | • | • | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 23 |
| Indonesia | INA | | | Cancelled | | | | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 |
| Laos | LAO | • | • | Cancelled | • | • | • | • | • | | | | | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 |
| Malaysia | MAS | • | • | Cancelled | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 33 |
| Myanmar | MYA | • | • | Cancelled | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 33 |
| Philippines | PHI | | | Cancelled | | | | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 |
| Singapore | SGP | • | • | Cancelled | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 33 |
| Thailand | THA | • | • | Cancelled | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 33 |
| East Timor | TLS | | | Cancelled | | | | | | | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | part of Indonesia | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 12 |
| Vietnam | VIE | • | • | Cancelled | • | • | • | • | • | | | | | | | | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 26 |
| Total | Total | 6 | 7 | Cancelled | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 297 |
* ↑ Participate as Khmer Republic (KHM) in 1971 – 1973, as People's Republic of Kampuchea (CAM) in 1983 – 1987, Never competed as Democratic Kampuchea (CAM) and State of Cambodia (CAM)
* ↑ Participate as Kingdom of Laos (LAO) in 1959 – 1973.
* ↑ Participate as Malaya (MAL) in 1959 – 1961.
* ↑ Participate as Burma (BIR) in 1959 – 1987.
* ↑ Participate as South Vietnam (VNM) in 1959 – 1973. North Vietnam never competed. Unified Vietnam has competed since 1989.

## Editions

List of SEA Games :
| Games | Year | Host cities | Opened by | Date | Sports | Events | Nations | Competitors | Top-ranked team | Ref |
| SEAP Games |||||||||||
| 1 | 1959 | Bangkok, Thailand | King Bhumibol Adulyadej | 12–17 December 1959 | 12 | 67 | 6 | 518 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 2 | 1961 | Yangon, Burma | President Win Maung | 11–16 December 1961 | 13 | 86 | 7 | 623 | Burma (BIR) | |
| 3 | 1965 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong Ismail Nasiruddin | 14–21 December 1965 | 14 | 134 | 7 | 963 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 4 | 1967 | Bangkok, Thailand | King Bhumibol Adulyadej | 9–16 December 1967 | 16 | 144 | 6 | 984 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 5 | 1969 | Yangon, Burma | Prime Minister Ne Win | 6–13 December 1969 | 15 | 145 | 6 | 920 | Burma (BIR) | |
| 6 | 1971 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong Abdul Halim | 6–13 December 1971 | 15 | 156 | 7 | 957 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 7 | 1973 | Singapore | President Benjamin Sheares | 1–8 September 1973 | 16 | 161 | 7 | 1,632 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 8 | 1975 | Bangkok, Thailand | King Bhumibol Adulyadej | 9–16 December 1975 | 18 | 172 | 4 | 1,142 | Thailand (THA) | |
| SEA Games |||||||||||
| 9 | 1977 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong Yahya Petra | 19–26 November 1977 | 18 | 188 | 7 | N/A | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 10 | 1979 | Jakarta, Indonesia | President Soeharto | 21–30 September 1979 | 18 | 226 | 7 | N/A | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 11 | 1981 | Manila, Philippines | President Ferdinand Marcos | 6–15 December 1981 | 18 | 245 | 7 | ≈1,800 | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 12 | 1983 | Singapore | President Devan Nair | 28 May – 6 June 1983 | 18 | 233 | 8 | N/A | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 13 | 1985 | Bangkok, Thailand | King Bhumibol Adulyadej | 8–17 December 1985 | 18 | 251 | 8 | N/A | Thailand (THA) | |
| 14 | 1987 | Jakarta, Indonesia | President Soeharto | 9–20 September 1987 | 26 | 372 | 8 | N/A | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 15 | 1989 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong Azlan Shah | 20–31 August 1989 | 24 | 302 | 9 | ≈2,800 | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 16 | 1991 | Manila, Philippines | President Corazon Aquino | 24 November – 3 December 1991 | 28 | 327 | 9 | N/A | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 17 | 1993 | Singapore | President Wee Kim Wee | 12–20 June 1993 | 29 | 318 | 9 | ≈3,000 | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 18 | 1995 | Chiang Mai, Thailand | Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn | 9–17 December 1995 | 28 | 335 | 10 | 3,262 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 19 | 1997 | Jakarta, Indonesia | President Soeharto | 11–19 October 1997 | 36 | 490 | 10 | 5,179 | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 20 | 1999 | Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah | 7–15 August 1999 | 21 | 233 | 10 | 2,365 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 21 | 2001 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong Salahuddin | 8–17 September 2001 | 32 | 391 | 10 | 4,165 | Malaysia (MAS) | |
| 22 | 2003 | Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam | Prime Minister Phan Văn Khải | 5–13 December 2003 | 32 | 442 | 11 | ≈5,000 | Vietnam (VIE) | |
| 23 | 2005 | Manila, Philippines | President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo | 27 November – 5 December 2005 | 40 | 443 | 11 | 5,336 | Philippines (PHI) | |
| 24 | 2007 | Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand | Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn | 6–15 December 2007 | 43 | 475 | 11 | 5,282 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 25 | 2009 | Vientiane, Laos | President Choummaly Sayasone | 9–18 December 2009 | 29 | 372 | 11 | 3,100 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 26 | 2011 | Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia | President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono | 11–22 November 2011 | 44 | 545 | 11 | 5,965 | Indonesia (INA) | |
| 27 | 2013 | Naypyidaw, Myanmar | Vice President Nyan Tun | 11–22 December 2013 | 37 | 460 | 11 | 4,730 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 28 | 2015 | Singapore | President Tony Tan | 5–16 June 2015 | 36 | 402 | 11 | 4,370 | Thailand (THA) | |
| 29 | 2017 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong Muhammad V | 19–30 August 2017 | 38 | 404 | 11 | 4,709 | Malaysia (MAS) | |
| 30 | 2019 | Philippines | President Rodrigo Duterte | 30 November – 11 December 2019 | 56 | 530 | 11 | 5,630 | Philippines (PHI) | |
| 31 | 2021 | Hanoi, Vietnam | President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc | 12–23 May 2022 | 40 | 523 | 11 | 5,467 | Vietnam (VIE) | |
| 32 | 2023 | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Prime Minister Hun Sen | 5–17 May 2023 | 37 | 580 | 11 | 6,210 | Vietnam (VIE) | |
| 33 | 2025 | Bangkok, Chonburi, and Songkhla, Thailand | King Vajiralongkorn (expected) | 9–20 December 2025 | 50 | 574 | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event |
| 34 | 2027 | Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Sarawak, Malaysia | Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar (expected) | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event |
| 35 | 2029 | Singapore | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event |
| 36 | 2031 | TBA, Laos | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event |
| 37 | 2033 | TBA, Philippines | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event | Future event |
* ↑ Names & offices in italics reflect an opener who was not head of state when opening the Games. If the office is partially italicized, the non-italicized portion is the office & name of the head of state being represented.
* 1 2 Representing his father, Bhumibol Adulyadej, King of Thailand.
* ↑ Representing Trần Đức Lương, President of Vietnam.
* ↑ Representing Thein Sein, President of Myanmar.
* ↑ The 2019 SEA Games was officially decentralized. Events were held in various cities around the Philippines, mostly in the Clark City, the Metro Manila region, and the Subic Bay areas, however there was no single designated host city. The games were known as "Philippines 2019".
* ↑ Many events were held in various cities over the country to give support to Hanoi, who was the main host of the event. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games were delayed to May 2022.
* ↑ Representing Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia.
* ↑ Apart from Kuala Lumpur, two Malaysian states – Penang and Sarawak – have agreed to co-host the 2027 SEA Games. Sabah had also planned to co-host, but they pulled out.
The 1963 SEAP Games were cancelled. As the designated host, Cambodia was unable to host the event due to instability in the country, along with a disagreement with the International Amateur Athletic Federation. The 3rd SEAP Games then passed to Laos as hosts, but they begged off the 1965 event citing financial difficulties. In 2023, Cambodia was finally able to host the sports event for the first time at its newly built sports complex.

## Sports

The SEAGF Charter and Rules mandate the minimum number of sports to be staged, with sports falling under numerous categories. Prior to 2023, a host nation must have staged a minimum of 22 sports: the two compulsory sports from Category 1 (athletics and aquatics), in addition to a minimum of 14 sports from Category 2 (Olympic and Asian Games core sports), and a maximum of 8 sports from Category 3. Each sport would not offer more than 5% of the total medal tally, except for athletics, aquatics and shooting (the shot was elevated for this category in 2013). For each sport and event to be included, a minimum of four countries must participate in it. Sports competed in the Olympic Games and Asian Games must be given priority.
This charter was modified in 2023, with the first games with this modification in effect will be the 2025 edition. Each edition will have a minimum of 36 sports, composed as follows: the compulsory Category 1 now comprises two subcategories: 1A, which consists of aquatics and athletics, and 1B, a minimum of 10 Olympic sports from the Summer Olympic Games. Under Category 2, the host must include a minimum of 10 other sports from the Olympic Games (summer/winter), Asian Games, and Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games or Beach Games. Category 3 is now capped at a maximum of four sports.
List of SEA Games sports :
| Category 1 | Category 1 | Category 2 | Category 2 | Category 3 | Category 3 |
| 1A | 1B | Olympic sports | Asian Games / AIMAG / ABG sports | Traditional | Other or ABG Sports |
| Athletics | Archery 1977–1997, 2001–2021, 2025 | Archery 1977–1997, 2001–2021, 2025 | Billiards and snooker Since 1987 | Arnis 1991, 2005, 2019, 2023 | Aquathlon since 2023 |
| Diving Since 1965 | Badminton | Badminton | Bowling 1977–1979, 1983–2001, 2005–2007, 2011, 2015–2021, 2025 | Bokator 2023 | Baseball5 2025 |
| Artistic swimming 2001, 2011, 2015–2017, 2025 | Baseball 2005–2007, 2011, 2019, 2025 | Baseball 2005–2007, 2011, 2019, 2025 | Chess 2003–2005, 2011–2013, since 2019 | Chinlone 2013 | Bodybuilding 1987–1993, 1997, 2003–2007, 2013, 2021 |
| Swimming | Basketball 1979–2003, 2007, since 2011 | Basketball 1979–2003, 2007, since 2011 | Cricket 2017, since 2023 | Muay Thai 2005–2009, 2013, 2019–2021, 2025 | Beach handball 2019–2021 |
| Water polo 1965–2019, since 2023 | Boxing | Boxing | Dancesport 2005–2009, since 2019 | Traditional boat race 1993, 1997–1999, 2003–2007, 2011–2015, since 2023 | Contract bridge 2011 |
| | Canoeing 1985, 1995, 2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2015, 2019–2021, 2025 | Canoeing 1985, 1995, 2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2015, 2019–2021, 2025 | Esports Since 2019 | Kenpō 2011–2013 | Duathlon Since 2019 |
| | Cycling 1959–1979, since 1983 | Cycling 1959–1979, since 1983 | Finswimming 2003, 2009–2011, 2021-2023 | Kun Khmer 2023 | Floorball 2015, 2019, since 2023 |
| | Equestrian 1983, 1995, 2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2017, 2025 | Equestrian 1983, 1995, 2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2017, 2025 | Futsal 2007, 2011–2013, 2017, 2021, 2025 | Vovinam 2011–2013, 2021-2023 | Lawn bowls 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2017–2019 |
| | Fencing 2003–2007, 2011, since 2015 | Fencing 2003–2007, 2011, since 2015 | Indoor hockey 2017–2019, since 2023 | | Obstacle racing 2019, 2023 |
| | Field hockey 1971–1979, 1983, 1987–1989, 1993–2001, 2007, 2013–2017, since 2023 | Field hockey 1971–1979, 1983, 1987–1989, 1993–2001, 2007, 2013–2017, since 2023 | Ju-jitsu Since 2019 | | Paragliding 2011, 2025 (as demonstration sport) |
| | Football | Football | Kickboxing Since 2019 | | Pétanque Since 2001 |
| | Golf 1985–1997, 2001, since 2005 | Golf 1985–1997, 2001, since 2005 | Kurash 2019–2021 | | Polo 2007, 2017–2019, 2025 |
| | Gymnastics 1979–1981, 1985–1997, 2001–2007, 2011, since 2015 | Gymnastics 1979–1981, 1985–1997, 2001–2007, 2011, since 2015 | Netball 2001, 2015–2019, 2025 | | Shuttle cock 2007–2009 |
| | Handball 2005–2007, 2021, 2025 | Handball 2005–2007, 2021, 2025 | Pencak silat 1987–1989, 1993–1997, since 2001 | | Soft tennis 2011, 2019, 2023 |
| | Judo 1967–1997, since 2001 | Judo 1967–1997, since 2001 | Roller sports 2011 | | Waterskiing 1987, 1997, 2011, 2015–2019, 2025 |
| | Karate 1985–1991, 1995–1997, 2001–2013, since 2017 | Karate 1985–1991, 1995–1997, 2001–2013, since 2017 | Rugby union 1969, 1977–1979, 1995, 2007 | | |
| | Modern pentathlon 2019, 2025 | Modern pentathlon 2019, 2025 | Sambo 2019 | | |
| | Rowing 1989–1991, 1997, 2001–2007, 2011–2015, since 2019 | Rowing 1989–1991, 1997, 2001–2007, 2011–2015, since 2019 | Sepak takraw 1967–1969, since 1973 | | |
| | Rugby sevens 2015–2019, 2025 | Rugby sevens 2015–2019, 2025 | Squash 1991–2001, 2005–2007, 2015–2019, 2025 | | |
| | Sailing 1961, 1967–1971, 1975–1977, 1983–1997, 2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2019, since 2023 | Sailing 1961, 1967–1971, 1975–1977, 1983–1997, 2001, 2005–2007, 2011–2019, since 2023 | Wushu 1991–1993, 1997, since 2001 | | |
| | Shooting 1959–2021, 2025 | Shooting 1959–2021, 2025 | Xiangqi Since 2021 | | |
| | Skateboarding 2019, 2025 | Skateboarding 2019, 2025 | | | |
| | | Figure skating 2017–2019, 2025 | | | |
| | | Ice hockey 2017–2019, 2025 | | | |
| | | Short track speed skating 2017–2019, 2025 | | | |
* ↑ Traditional or regional sports that are not part of Asian Games, Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games or Asian Beach Games.
* ↑ Sports that previously appeared in some SEA Games editions but are not an Olympic, Asian Games, nor Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games sport.

## All-time medal table

Corrected after balancing the data of the Olympic Council of Asia and other archived sites which had kept the previous Southeast Asian Games medal tables. Some information from the aforementioned sites are missing, incorrect and or not updated.
All-time Southeast Asian Games medal table :
| Rank | NOC | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Thailand (THA) | 2,453 | 2,127 | 2,204 | 6,784 |
| 2 | Indonesia (INA) | 1,980 | 1,876 | 1,970 | 5,826 |
| 3 | Malaysia (MAS) | 1,376 | 1,363 | 1,872 | 4,611 |
| 4 | Vietnam (VIE) | 1,269 | 1,097 | 1,221 | 3,587 |
| 5 | Philippines (PHI) | 1,180 | 1,346 | 1,702 | 4,228 |
| 6 | Singapore (SGP) | 1,045 | 1,090 | 1,500 | 3,635 |
| 7 | Myanmar (MYA) | 594 | 784 | 1,095 | 2,473 |
| 8 | Cambodia (CAM) | 159 | 202 | 425 | 786 |
| 9 | Laos (LAO) | 77 | 122 | 412 | 611 |
| 10 | Brunei (BRU) | 17 | 57 | 170 | 244 |
| 11 | Timor-Leste (TLS) | 3 | 9 | 39 | 51 |
| Totals (11 entries) | Totals (11 entries) | 10,153 | 10,073 | 12,610 | 32,836 |
* ^[1] Competed as Malaya in the inaugural games until 1961.
* ^[2] The Republic of Vietnam was dissolved in July 1976 when it merged with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) to become the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, also known as Vietnam. In the 1989 edition, a unified Vietnam rejoined the games with a new name and flag. Medals won by South Vietnam until 1975 and by Vietnam after 1989 are combined here.
* ^[3] Competed as Burma until 1987.
* ^[4] Competed as Kampuchea, and Khmer Republic.

## List of multiple Southeast Asian Games medalists

Various individuals have won multiple medals at the Games, including the preceding Southeast Asian Peninsular Games.
As of 2019, Singaporean swimmer Joscelin Yeo has won the most Southeast Asian Games medals with 55 (40 gold, 12 silver, 3 bronze). She reached this milestone during the 2005 Games, overtaking the previous record of 39 gold medals set by another Singaporean swimmer, Patricia Chan.

## Criticism

One unique characteristic of the event is that there are no official limits to the number of sports and events to be contested, and the range can be decided by the organizing host pending approval by the Southeast Asian Games Federation. This has seen as many as 50 to 56 sports for the 2025 and 2019 editions, respectively. Aside from mandatory sports, the host is free to drop or introduce other sports or events (See SEA Games sports). This leeway has resulted in hosts maximizing their medal hauls by dropping sports disadvantageous to themselves relative to their peers and the introduction of obscure sports, often at short notice, thus preventing most other nations from building credible opponents. Several nations have called for amending the charter of the games to address the issue. In 2023, the SEA Games charter was modified in an effort to make the number of sports in each edition more standardized, reducing the host's leeway to remove several sports, maximize medal hauls by introducing obscure local sports, and tamper with the competition's rules.