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Introduction - Brunei
Background:
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.
Geography - Brunei
Location:
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates:
4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 5,765 sq km
country comparison to the world: 172
land: 5,265 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
total: 381 km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Climate:
Current Weather
tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain:
flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes:
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use:
arable land: 2.08%
permanent crops: 0.87%
other: 97.05% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
8.5 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 0.09
per capita: 243 cu m/yr (1994)
Natural hazards:
typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Environment - current issues:
seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:
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
Geography - note:
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
People - Brunei
Population:
395,027 (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
Age structure:
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.)
Median age:
total: 28.1 years
male: 28 years
female: 28.2 years (2010 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.733% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Birth rate:
18 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109
Death rate:
3.32 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 216
Net migration rate:
2.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 27
Urbanization:
urban population: 75% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:
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.)
Infant mortality rate:
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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 75.96 years
country comparison to the world: 74
male: 73.72 years
female: 78.31 years (2010 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.88 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 140
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 124
Nationality:
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:
Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)
Religions:
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous
beliefs) 10%
Languages:
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.7%
male: 95.2%
female: 90.2% (2001 census)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 14 years (2006)
Education expenditures:
5.2% of GDP (2000)
country comparison to the world: 58
Government - Brunei
Country name:
conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form: Brunei
Government type:
constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)
Capital:
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)
Administrative divisions:
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei-Muara, Temburong,
Tutong
Independence:
1 January 1984 (from the UK)
National holiday:
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
Constitution:
29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since
December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
Legal system:
based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic sharia law supersedes civil
law concerning Muslim marriages and inheritance; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age for village elections; universal
Executive branch:
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
Legislative branch:
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
Judicial branch:
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)
Political parties and leaders:
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
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA
International organization participation:
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
Diplomatic representation in the US:
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
Diplomatic representation from the US:
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
Flag description:
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"
Economy - Brunei
Economy - overview:
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$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
GDP (official exchange rate):
$14.87 billion (2009 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
-1.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
-1.9% (2008 est.)
0.2% (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$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
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 74.1%
services: 25.3% (2008 est.)
Labor force:
188,800 (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 172
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 62.8%
services: 33% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
3.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 32
4% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $6.889 billion
expenditures: $4 billion (2008 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
0.3% (2007 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.5% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 145
5.5% (February 2009)
Stock of money:
$3.374 billion (30 March 2009)
country comparison to the world: 80
$3.046 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of quasi money:
$8.151 billion (30 March 2009)
country comparison to the world: 70
$4.551 billion (31 December 2008)
Stock of domestic credit:
$1.274 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 109
$2.38 billion (31 December 2007)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs
Industries:
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
-5.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 114
Electricity - production:
3.069 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - consumption:
2.98 billion kWh (2008)
country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2008 est.)
Oil - production:
146,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
Oil - exports:
152,900 bbl/day (2007)
country comparison to the world: 58
Oil - imports:
238 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 201
Oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
Natural gas - production:
13.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
Natural gas - consumption:
4.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65
Natural gas - exports:
9.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
Natural gas - proved reserves:
390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Current account balance:
$7.024 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
$7.101 billion (2007 est.)
Exports:
$10.67 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 80
$8.25 billion (2007)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, natural gas, garments
Exports - partners:
Japan 38.04%, Indonesia 25.95%, South Korea 14.17%, Australia 7.24% (2009)
Imports:
$2.61 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
$2.055 billion (2007 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 38.4%, Malaysia 18.7%, Japan 7.2%, China 5.42%, Thailand 5.19%, US
4.45%, UK 4.25% (2009)
Debt - external:
$0 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 195
Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - 1.45 (2009), 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644
(2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)
Communications - Brunei
Telephones - main lines in use:
76,600 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 151
Telephones - mobile cellular:
376,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 162
Telephone system:
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)
Radio broadcast stations:
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)
Television broadcast stations:
4 (includes 2 UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service) (2006)
Internet country code:
.bn
Internet hosts:
14,978 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 108
Internet users:
217,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 133
Transportation - Brunei
Airports:
2 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 208
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2009)
Heliports:
3 (2009)
Pipelines:
gas 37 km; oil 18 km (2009)
Roadways:
total: 2,971 km
country comparison to the world: 166
paved: 2,411 km
unpaved: 560 km (2008)
Waterways:
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 97
Merchant marine:
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 119
by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 1 (UK 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:
Lumut, Muara, Seria
Military - Brunei
Military branches:
Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal
Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2010)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible
to serve (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 16-49: 111,166
females age 16-49: 115,071 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 93,809
females age 16-49: 97,345 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
male: 3,509
female: 3,427 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures:
4.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 22
Transnational Issues - Brunei
Disputes - international:
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
Illicit drugs:
drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious
offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty
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