Determining the Latin American country most similar to Southeast Asia requires considering various social, cultural, economic, and political factors.
One way to answer this complex question is by analyzing the data from the Country Similarity Index. The index attempts to quantify how similar countries are to each other relative to other countries, using a variety of statistics from five broad categories: demographics, culture, politics, infrastructure, and geography.
The data suggests that Peru is the most similar Latin American country to Southeast Asia. On the other end of the spectrum, Uruguay has the least amount of traits in common with countries in Southeast Asia.
(Southeast Asian countries are defined as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam)
Let’s analyze Peru with respect to these five categories: demographics, culture, politics, infrastructure, and geography to show why it could be considered the most similar Latin American country to Southeast Asia.
Demographics
A high percentage of people in Peru have indigenous ancestry, including the Quechua and the Aymara. These Native American people are distantly related to Southeast Asians. Therefore, many Peruvians share some phenotypic traits with them. On average, people from Southeast Asia tend to be relatively short. Peruvians tend to be shorter than people from other Latin American countries.
Culture
Peru is one of the most religious countries in South America. It has relatively few athiests. Most countries in Southeast Asia are also deeply religious, although most are not predominately Christian. Many Southeast Asian cultures, as well as Peruvian culture, place a strong emphasis on family and community ties. Extended family structures and communal support systems are often important aspects of social life in both regions.
Politics
Both Southeast Asia and Peru have relatively conservative laws. Abortion in Peru is illegal except in case of a threat to the life or health of the woman. Most countries in Southeast Asia have many restrictions on abortion as well. Furthermore, Peru is one of the few countries in South America that does not allow same-sex marriage. No countries in Southeast Asia allow it either.
Infrastructure
Peru’s electricity is created by hydropower and natural gas. In Southeast Asia, these energy sources are also common sources of electricity. Furthermore, most countries in Southeast Asia have 220 volt electrical current, just like Peru. In contrast, many Central American nations use a lower current, like the United States. Neither Peru nor the Southeast Asian region has especially advanced or especially poor infrastructure.
Geography
Like most countries in Southeast Asia, Peru is a mountainous nation with a lot of coastline on the Pacific Ocean. While Peru has some desert areas, the vast majority of the country has a tropical climate, like Southeast Asia. Both are located close to the equator and have dense rainforests. They are situated along the Pacific tectonic plate, so there is a lot of seismic activity in these areas.
The Most Similar Southeast Asian Country to Peru
The Country Similarity Index suggests that the Philippines is by far the most similar Southeast Asian country to Peru. It was once colonized by Spain, just like Peru. As a result, the Philippines is mostly Catholic, unlike most Southeast Asian countries. It also uses the Latin alphabet. Furthermore, the Philippines and Peru both drive on the right side of the road and have outlets that accept Type A, B, and C plugs.
The post The Latin American Country Most Similar to Southeast Asia appeared first on OBJECTIVE LISTS.