Background:
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The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
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Geographic coordinates:
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4 30 N, 114 40 E
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Map references:
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Southeast Asia
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Area:
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total: 5,765 sq km
country comparison to the world: 172
land:
5,265 sq km
water:
500 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Delaware
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Land boundaries:
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total: 381 km
border countries:
Malaysia 381 km
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Coastline:
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161 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm or to median line
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Climate:
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Current Weather
tropical; hot, humid, rainy
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Terrain:
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flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point:
Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, timber
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.08%
permanent crops:
0.87%
other:
97.05% (2005)
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Irrigated land:
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10 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources:
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8.5 cu km (1999)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.09
per capita:
243 cu m/yr (1994)
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
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Environment - current issues:
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seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave within Malaysia
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Population:
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395,027 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 26.1% (male 53,129/female 49,943)
15-64 years:
70.5% (male 138,387/female 140,154)
65 years and over:
3.4% (male 6,512/female 6,902) (2010 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 28.1 years
male:
28 years
female:
28.2 years (2010 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.733% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
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Birth rate:
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18 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
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Death rate:
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3.32 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
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Net migration rate:
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2.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
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Urbanization:
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urban population: 75% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization:
2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.047 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.94 male(s)/female
total population:
1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 11.87 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 141
male:
14.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
9.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 75.96 years
country comparison to the world: 74
male:
73.72 years
female:
78.31 years (2010 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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1.88 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
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Nationality:
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noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective:
Bruneian
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Ethnic groups:
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Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)
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Religions:
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Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%
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Languages:
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Malay (official), English, Chinese
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:
92.7%
male:
95.2%
female:
90.2% (2001 census)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
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total: 14 years
male:
14 years
female:
14 years (2006)
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Education expenditures:
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5.2% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 58
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form:
Brunei
local long form:
Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form:
Brunei
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Government type:
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constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)
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Capital:
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name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates:
4 53 N, 114 56 E
time difference:
UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions:
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4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei-Muara, Temburong, Tutong
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Independence:
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1 January 1984 (from the UK)
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National holiday:
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National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection
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Constitution:
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29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
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Legal system:
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based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic sharia law supersedes civil law concerning Muslim marriages and inheritance; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age for village elections; universal
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
cabinet:
Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
(For more information visit the World Leaders website  )
elections:
none; the monarchy is hereditary
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Legislative branch:
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The Sultan appointed a Legislative Council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005; the council has met in March of each year since then
elections:
last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
note:
The Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; it passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court - chief justice and judges are sworn in by monarch for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London is final court of appeal for civil cases; Sharia courts deal with Islamic laws (2006)
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Political parties and leaders:
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National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]
note:
Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin Chuchu] and People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad] were deregistered in 2007; parties are small and have limited activity
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA
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International organization participation:
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ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Yusoff Abd HAMID
chancery:
3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 237-1838
FAX:
[1] (202) 885-0560
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires John W. McINTYRE
embassy:
Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8811
mailing address:
PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
telephone:
[673] 222-0384
FAX:
[673] 222-5293
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Flag description:
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yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; yellow is the color of royalty and symbolizes the sultanate; the white and black bands denote Brunei's chief ministers; the emblem includes five main components: a swallow-tailed flag, the royal umbrella representing the monarchy, the wings of four feathers symbolizing justice, tranquility, prosperity, and peace, the two upraised hands signifying the government's pledge to preserve and promote the welfare of the people, and the crescent moon denoting Islam, the state religion; the state motto "Always render service with God's guidance" appears in yellow Arabic script on the crescent; a ribbon below the crescent reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace"
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Economy - overview:
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Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for just over half of GDP and more than 90% of exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration into the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, increasing agricultural production, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$19.43 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
$19.81 billion (2008 est.)
$20.19 billion (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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$14.87 billion (2009 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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-1.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
-1.9% (2008 est.)
0.2% (2007 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP):
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$50,100 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
$51,900 (2008 est.)
$53,900 (2007 est.)
note:
data are in 2009 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 0.7%
industry:
74.1%
services:
25.3% (2008 est.)
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Labor force:
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188,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture: 4.2%
industry:
62.8%
services:
33% (2008 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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3.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
4% (2006)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA%
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
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Budget:
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revenues: $6.889 billion
expenditures:
$4 billion (2008 est.)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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2.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
0.3% (2007 est.)
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Commercial bank prime lending rate:
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5.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 145
5.5% (February 2009)
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Stock of money:
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$3.374 billion (30 March 2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
$3.046 billion (31 December 2008)
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Stock of quasi money:
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$8.151 billion (30 March 2009)
country comparison to the world: 70
$4.551 billion (31 December 2008)
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Stock of domestic credit:
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$1.274 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 109
$2.38 billion (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares:
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$NA
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs
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Industries:
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petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-5.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
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Electricity - production:
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3.069 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.98 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 127
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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Oil - production:
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146,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
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Oil - consumption:
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16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
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Oil - exports:
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152,900 bbl/day (2007)
country comparison to the world: 58
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Oil - imports:
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238 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
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Oil - proved reserves:
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1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
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Natural gas - production:
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13.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
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Natural gas - consumption:
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4.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
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Natural gas - exports:
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9.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
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Current account balance:
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$7.024 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$7.101 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports:
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$10.67 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 80
$8.25 billion (2007)
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Exports - commodities:
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crude oil, natural gas, garments
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Exports - partners:
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Japan 38.04%, Indonesia 25.95%, South Korea 14.17%, Australia 7.24% (2009)
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Imports:
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$2.61 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$2.055 billion (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
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Imports - partners:
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Singapore 38.4%, Malaysia 18.7%, Japan 7.2%, China 5.42%, Thailand 5.19%, US 4.45%, UK 4.25% (2009)
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Debt - external:
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$0 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 195
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Exchange rates:
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Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - 1.45 (2009), 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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76,600 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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376,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 162
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: service throughout the country is good; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, and the US
domestic:
every service available
international:
country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable network, scheduled for completion by late 2008, will provide new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2009)
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits two FM signals with English and Nepali service) (2006)
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Television broadcast stations:
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4 (includes 2 UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service) (2006)
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Internet country code:
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.bn
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Internet hosts:
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14,978 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
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Internet users:
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217,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
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Airports:
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2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 208
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 2
over 3,047 m:
1
914 to 1,523 m:
1 (2009)
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Heliports:
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3 (2009)
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Pipelines:
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gas 37 km; oil 18 km (2009)
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Roadways:
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total: 2,971 km
country comparison to the world: 166
paved:
2,411 km
unpaved:
560 km (2008)
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Waterways:
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209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 97
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Merchant marine:
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total: 8
country comparison to the world: 119
by type:
liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned:
1 (UK 1) (2008)
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Ports and terminals:
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Lumut, Muara, Seria
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Military branches:
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Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2010)
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)
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Manpower available for military service:
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males age 16-49: 111,166
females age 16-49:
115,071 (2010 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males age 16-49: 93,809
females age 16-49:
97,345 (2010 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
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male: 3,509
female:
3,427 (2010 est.)
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Military expenditures:
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4.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 22
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| Transnational Issues ::Brunei |
Disputes - international:
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Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration, and renounce any territorial claims along their land boundary; despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants
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Illicit drugs:
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drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
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