Hottest City in ASEAN to Record Temperatures Above 38 Degrees Celsius

Bangkok is predicted to become the hottest major city in Southeast Asia in 2050. Temperatures in Thailand’s capital are projected to rise above 38°C in line with climate change across the region.

According to a report in local media outlet The Nation, the warning about these high temperatures comes from the ASEAN Centre of Energy, which states that Bangkok faces a far more severe heat crisis in the coming decades.

In 2025, Bangkok will have around 45 “extreme hot days” per year, defined as days when temperatures exceed 35°C. By 2050, this figure is estimated to rise to 120 days per year, meaning residents will face almost three times as many days of extreme heat accumulation in just a few decades.

The report also projects that Bangkok’s average daily maximum temperature will rise to 38.1°C by mid-century, an increase of nearly 5°C from 33.3°C in 2000.

Compared to other major ASEAN cities, Bangkok is expected to record the highest temperatures in 2050, followed by Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam at 37.7°C, Manila in the Philippines at 37.2°C, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia at 36.9°C, and Jakarta in Indonesia and Singapore at 36.1°C.

Such conditions could push urban infrastructure, public health systems, and the economy to unprecedented limits.

The report identifies climate change and rapid urbanisation as the two main forces driving the worsening heat crisis in ASEAN. In Bangkok, the urban heat island effect is a key factor, as concrete and asphalt absorb heat during the day and release it at night.

Data from the Asia Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) shows that temperatures in densely populated central Bangkok could be 3°C hotter than in greener outskirts. Rising temperatures directly threaten public health by increasing risks of heat strokes, chronic fatigue, and sleep problems that impair quality of life.

Economically, severe heat can hit labour productivity, especially among more than 1.3 million outdoor workers in Bangkok.

Households also face higher electricity costs. Around 90% of survey respondents said their energy bills rose 10-50% during heatwaves. Low-income residents in densely populated communities are among the most affected, as many live in poorly ventilated buildings.

As heat levels rise, air conditioning becomes increasingly essential, widening the gap in access to cooling. At the same time, excessive air conditioning use releases more heat outdoors, creating a cycle that further exacerbates urban heat.