[andi999]

Define western nations. Looking at the hdi (and experience), I think both countries qualify (of course they dont top it) . https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index

[fulafel]

Click saver: on https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_D... has Thailand on 79th place between Peru and Armenia. Malaysia is on place 62 between Costa Rica and Kuwait. The list is 189 entries long so both of these countries are still in the upper half, but there aren't western countries nearby, unless east european countries like Albania and Bulgaria count.