Imagine walking into a room and seeing a calm, well-dressed individual named Brunei. Polite, composed, and slightly understated, he’s the kind of person who always brings a small gift to the party. Now picture this: everyone else from Southeast Asia walks into the same room — and their size is measured relative to Brunei. In this hypothetical scenario, Brunei is our baseline — exactly one unit of population. And what follows is both mind-blowing and wildly entertaining.
Let’s start with the numbers. Brunei, with its estimated 450,000 people, is the smallest population-wise among ASEAN members. Now, using Brunei as “1”, we scale up the rest. Cambodia, for example, clocks in at 38 Bruneis — a modest leap, but still enough to start crowding the room. Laos is around 17 Bruneis, making it a calm presence in the middle. Singapore, though often labeled “tiny,” is surprisingly 13 Bruneis — a reminder that this city-state punches well above its weight.
But then comes the avalanche: Indonesia walks in. Not just a little taller — we’re talking 619 Bruneis bundled into one powerhouse archipelago. That’s not a person entering a room — that’s a stadium arriving. Closely following behind, the Philippines enters with the energy of 263 Bruneis, ready to sing karaoke and start a group dance number. Vietnam joins next with 221 Bruneis, carrying coffee, motorbikes, and relentless economic ambition.
Thailand, no slouch either, measures in at 147 Bruneis, a cultural powerhouse that fills the room with warm smiles and spicy street food. Malaysia follows with a confident 76 Bruneis, representing a vibrant mix of languages, cuisines, and skyscrapers. Then there’s Myanmar, with 123 Bruneis, balancing a rich history and a complex present.
And let’s not forget Timor-Leste, the newcomer to the ASEAN family. While still on its path to full membership, it adds a humble but proud 3 Bruneis to the tally — small, yes, but every bit as important.
Looking at it from this lens, the ASEAN region as a whole becomes a quirky, outsized family reunion, where everyone shows up wearing “Brunei-sized” suits. The result? A room full of giants and one sharply dressed, tiny host who keeps the conversation going. Even in its small size, Brunei plays a crucial role — proving that in regional unity, numbers don’t tell the full story.
So what’s the takeaway from this odd population comparison? While it’s fun to think of Indonesia as 600 Bruneis tall, or the Philippines as a choir of 263 Bruneis, the real strength of ASEAN lies in its diversity — in culture, size, economy, and voice. And yes, even the smallest person in the room might be the one holding the key to harmony.
