1996 Edition

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; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Location

4 30 N, 114 40 E -- Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia Flag ----

Area

comparative area

slightly larger than Delaware

land area

5,270 sq km

total area

5,770 sq km

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline

161 km

Environment

current issues

NA

international agreements

party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

natural hazards

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare

Geographic coordinates

4 30 N, 114 40 E

Geographic note

close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia

International disputes

may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country; all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries

border country

Malaysia 381 km

total

381 km

Land use

arable land

1%

forest and woodland

79%

meadows and pastures

1%

other

18%

permanent crops

1%

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm or to median line

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Terrain

flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west

highest point

Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

lowest point

South China Sea 0 m

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 51,266; female 49,194) 15-64 years: 62% (male 98,806; female 88,323) 65 years and over: 5% (male 6,843; female 5,507) (July 1996 est.)

Birth rate

25.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate

5.1 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%

Infant mortality rate

24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

female

73.04 years (1996 est.)

male

69.82 years

total population

71.39 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

female

83.4%

male

92.6%

total population

88.2%

Nationality

adjective

Bruneian

noun

Bruneian(s)

Net migration rate

5.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Population

299,939 (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate

2.56% (1996 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

Sex ratio

all ages

1.1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.24 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

3.39 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Administrative divisions

4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Capital

Bandar Seri Begawan

Constitution

29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)

Data code

BX

Diplomatic representation in US

chancery

Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037

chief of mission

Ambassador JAYA bin Abdul Latif

telephone

[1] (202) 342-0159

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Cabinet Ministers is composed chiefly of members of the royal family, appointed and presided over by the sultan; deals with executive matters

chief of state and head of government

Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967) is a traditional Islamic monarch

FAX

[1] (202) 342-0158

[673] (2) 225293

Flag

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; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Independence

1 January 1984 (from UK)

International organization participation

APEC, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the sultan for a three-year term

Legal system

based on Islamic law

Legislative branch

unicameral

Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri)

elections last held in March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years

Name of country

conventional long form

Negara Brunei Darussalam

conventional short form

Brunei

National holiday

National Day, 23 February (1984)

Political parties and leaders

Brunei United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei National Solidarity Party (the first legal political party and now banned), leader NA; Brunei Peoples Party (banned), leader NA

Privy Council

is appointed by the sultan; deals with constitutional matters

the Council of Succession

is appointed by the sultan; determines the succession to the throne if the need arises

Religious Council

is appointed by the sultan; advises on religious matters

Suffrage

none

Type of government

constitutional sultanate

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission

Ambassador Theresa A. TULL

embassy

Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan

mailing address

American Embassy Box B, Bandar Seri Begawan, APO AP 96440

telephone

[673] (2) 229670

Agriculture

rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo, pigs

Budget

expenditures

$2.1 billion, including capital expenditures of $427 million (1993)

revenues

$2.1 billion

Currency

1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

Economic aid

$NA

Economic overview

The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for more than 40% of GDP. Per capita GDP is among the highest in the Third World, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.

Electricity

capacity

380,000 kW

consumption per capita

3,971 kWh (1993)

production

1.2 billion kWh

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.4214 (January 1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Exports

$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities

crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products

partners

Japan 50%, UK 19%, Thailand 10%, Singapore 9% (1994 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.6 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture

3%

industry

42%

services

55%

GDP per capita

$15,800 (1995 est.)

GDP real growth rate

2% (1995 est.)

Imports

$1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

partners

Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 5% (1994 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

12.9% (1987)

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.4% (1994 est.)

Labor force

119,000 (1993 est.); note - includes members of the Army

by occupation

government 47.5%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 41.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.8% (1986)

note

33% of labor force is foreign (1988)

Unemployment rate

4.8% (1994 est.)

Branches

Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police

Defense expenditures

exchange rate conversion - $312 million, 6.2% of GDP (1994)

Manpower availability

males age 15-49

83,641

males fit for military service

48,559

males reach military age (18) annually

2,918 (1996 est.)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

115,000 (1993)

Telephone system

service throughout country is adequate for present needs; international service good to adjacent Malaysia

domestic

NA

international

satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

76,900 (1993)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1984 est.)

Televisions

78,000 (1993 est.) Defense

Airports

total

2

with paved runways over 3 047 m

1

with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m

1 (1995 est.)

Heliports

3 (1995 est.)

Highways

paved

1,296 km

total

2,443 km

unpaved

1,147 km (1993)

Merchant marine

total

7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT (1994 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km

Ports

Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong

Railways

narrow gauge

13 km 0.610-m gauge

total

13 km private line

Waterways

209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m