Southeast Asians have lived in the United Kingdom for several centuries, arriving from Southeast Asia and primarily originating from countries and territories such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Burma, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Southeast Asian is not a category used in official statistics in the United Kingdom,[3] but has been considered as a particular ethnic identity,[4][5][6] including by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office,[7] and Southeast Asians have been studied academically as a distinct group.

[8][9] The country had a small population of Filipinos, Singaporeans and Malaysians until the late 20th century.

[citation needed] The 2001 UK census recorded 9,924 Burmese-born people residing in the United Kingdom.

[10] The figures below represent data collected for the 2021 United Kingdom census with the country as a reported birthplace recorded (i.e. does not include British born people of Southeast Asian origin).