Introduction

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.
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Geography

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: |  |
`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

Population: |  |
`401,890 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 174`
Age structure: |  |
`0-14 years: 25.5% (male 52,944/female 49,729) 15-64 years: 70.9% (male 141,121/female 143,977) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 6,881/female 7,238) (2011 est.)`
Median age: |  |
`total: 28.4 years male: 28.3 years female: 28.6 years (2011 est.)`
Population growth rate: |  |
`1.712% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 65`
Birth rate: |  |
`17.87 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 107`
Death rate: |  |
`3.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 214`
Net migration rate: |  |
`2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 33`
Urbanization: |  |
`urban population: 76% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)`
Major cities - population: |  |
`BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) 22,000 (2009)`
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 (2011 est.)`
Infant mortality rate: |  |
`total: 11.51 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 140 male: 13.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)`
Life expectancy at birth: |  |
`total population: 76.17 years country comparison to the world: 75 male: 73.91 years female: 78.53 years (2011 est.)`
Total fertility rate: |  |
`1.86 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 149`
HIV / AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |  |
`less than 0.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 120`
HIV / AIDS - people living with HIV / AIDS: |  |
`fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 158`
HIV / AIDS - deaths: |  |
`fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 102`
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 (2009)`
Education expenditures: |  |
`NA`

Government

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: |  |
`mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law`
International law organization participation: |  |
`has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt`
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 theWorld 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 in September 2005; he increased the size of the council to 33 members in June 2011; the council meets annually in March
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; no timeframe for an election was announced
`

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, 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, 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 Daniel L. SHIELDS III embassy: Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Kebangsaan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115 mailing address: Unit 4280, Box 40, FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam telephone: [673] 238-4616 FAX: [673] 238-4604`
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"
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National anthem: |  |
`name: "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty) lyrics/music: Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap note: adopted 1951`

Economy

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. A new monetary authority was established in January 2011 with responsibilities that include monetary policy, monitoring of financial institutions, and currency trading activities.
`

GDP (purchasing power parity): |  |
`$20.38 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 123 $19.58 billion (2009 est.) $19.93 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP (official exchange rate): |  |
`$13.02 billion (2010 est.)`
GDP - real growth rate: |  |
`4.1% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 96 -1.8% (2009 est.) -1.9% (2008 est.)`
GDP - per capita (PPP): |  |
`$51,600 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 8 $50,400 (2009 est.) $52,300 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars`
GDP - composition by sector: |  |
`agriculture: 0.7% industry: 74.1% services: 25.3% (2008 est.)`
Labor force: |  |
`188,800 (2008) 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 3.4% (2007)`
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: 73 0.3% (2007 est.)`
Commercial bank prime lending rate: |  |
`5.5% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 138 5.5% (31 December 2008 est.)`
Stock of narrow money: |  |
`$3.374 billion (30 March 2009) country comparison to the world: 107 $3.046 billion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of broad money: |  |
`$8.569 billion (31 December 2009) country comparison to the world: 106 $7.597 billion (31 December 2008)`
Stock of domestic credit: |  |
`$1.274 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 $2.38 billion (31 December 2007 est.)`
Market value of publicly traded shares: |  |
`$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: 165`
Electricity - production: |  |
`3.069 billion kWh (2008) country comparison to the world: 125`
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: 131`
Oil - exports: |  |
`152,900 bbl/day (2007) country comparison to the world: 59`
Oil - imports: |  |
`237.6 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 201`
Oil - proved reserves: |  |
`1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 42`
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: 159`
Natural gas - proved reserves: |  |
`390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 36`
Current account balance: |  |
`$7.024 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 27 $7.101 billion (2007 est.)`
Exports: |  |
`$10.67 billion (2008) country comparison to the world: 83 $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: 145 $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 - 1.36 (2010) 1.45 (2009) 2 (2006) 2 (2005) 2 (2004)`

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use: |  |
`80,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 150`
Telephones - mobile cellular: |  |
`425,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 163`
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)
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Broadcast media: |  |

`
state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 4 channels; 3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite and cable systems; RTB operates 5 radio networks broadcasting on multiple frequencies; British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides radio broadcasts on 2 FM stations; some radio broadcast stations from Malaysia are available via repeaters (2009)
`

Internet country code: |  |
`.bn`
Internet hosts: |  |
`50,997 (2010) country comparison to the world: 88`
Internet users: |  |
`314,900 (2009) country comparison to the world: 128`

Transportation

Airports: |  |
`2 (2010) country comparison to the world: 197`
Airports - with paved runways: |  |
`total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)`
Heliports: |  |
`3 (2010)`
Pipelines: |  |
`condensate 33 km; gas 37 km; oil 18 km (2010)`
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; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong rivers are major transport links) (2011) country comparison to the world: 97`
Merchant marine: |  |
`total: 9 country comparison to the world: 117 by type: chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 8 (2010)`
Ports and terminals: |  |
`Lumut, Muara, Seria`

Military

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: 112,688 females age 16-49: 117,536 (2010 est.)`
Manpower fit for military service: |  |
`males age 16-49: 95,141 females age 16-49: 99,386 (2010 est.)`
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |  |
`male: 3,572 female: 3,465 (2010 est.)`
Military expenditures: |  |
`4.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 20`

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international: |  |
`per Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Brunei; nonetheless, Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Lousia Reef`
Illicit drugs: |  |
`drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty`

PAGE LAST UPDATED ON MAY 26, 2011