100% of Vulnerable Singaporeans Received Cash Assistance During the Pandemic: How Does Indonesia Compare?

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) reported that 16.5% of Indonesia's vulnerable population received cash social assistance in 2020. This figure is relatively low compared to other Southeast Asian countries.

Singapore's vulnerable population receiving social assistance reached 100% during the pandemic, the highest in Southeast Asia. Thailand followed with 54.3% of its vulnerable population receiving cash social assistance.

Timor-Leste was third with 54.3%. Vietnam's vulnerable population receiving cash social assistance amounted to 24.6%, and the Philippines' to 22.4%.

Brunei Darussalam ranked seventh in Southeast Asia, with 14.7% of its vulnerable population receiving cash social assistance. Laos followed with 7.7%.

Meanwhile, three Southeast Asian countries provided the least cash social assistance during the pandemic. Cambodia provided assistance to 4.3% of its vulnerable population, Malaysia to 2.1%, and Myanmar to only 1.1%.

For information, governments worldwide provided social safety nets during the pandemic, including cash social assistance. The aim was to protect the poor and vulnerable from the Covid-19 pandemic crisis.