1998 Edition

Area

total: 5,770 sq km land: 5,270 sq km water: 500 sq km

Area-comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline

161 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Environment-current issues

seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment-international agreements

party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

4 30 N, 114 40 E

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 of Malaysia

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km

Land use

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 85% other: 12% (1993 est.)

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 hazards

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 33% (male 53,219; female 50,906) 15-64 years: 63% (male 103,949; female 93,370) 65 years and over: 4% (male 7,569; female 6,279) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate

24.92 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate

5.17 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups

Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%

Infant mortality rate

23.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 71.69 years male: 70.17 years female: 73.29 years (1998 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.2% male: 92.6% female: 83.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian

Net migration rate

4.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population

315,292 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate

2.44% (1998 est.)

Religions

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

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate

3.35 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

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

Country name

conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei

Data code

BX

Executive branch

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note-the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note-the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the sultan; deals with executive matters note: there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the sultan) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the sultan) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the sultan) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises elections: none; the sultan is a traditional Islamic monarch

FAX

[1] (202) 342-0158 Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Glen Robert RASE 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

[673] (2) 225293

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; 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

Government type

constitutional sultanate

Independence

1 January 1984 (from UK)

International organization participation

APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni Mohammad Alam chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0159

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the sultan for three-year terms Political parties and leaders: Brunei United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei National Solidarity Party (the first legal political party and now banned), Mohamad HATTA bin Maji Zainal Abidin, secretary general; Brunei Peoples Party (banned), Sheik A. M. AZAHARI, leader; Brunei National Democratic Party or BNDP (deregistered), Haji Abdul LATIF bin Abdul Hamad, president

Legal system

based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the sultan) elections: last held in March 1962 note: 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

National capital

Bandar Seri Begawan

National holiday

National Day, 23 February (1984)

Suffrage

none

Agriculture-products

rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo

Budget

revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768 million (1995 est.)

Currency

1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

Debt-external

$0

Economic aid

$NA

Economy-overview

This small, wealthy 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 perhaps half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. The government is beginning to show progress on its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion.

Electricity-capacity

646,000 kW (1997 est.)

Electricity-consumption per capita

4,311 kWh (1995)

Electricity-production

1.26 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1-1.7533 (January 1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993); note-the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Exports

total value: $2.62 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products partners: ASEAN 31%, Japan 27%, South Korea 26%, UK, Taiwan (1996 est.)

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

GDP

purchasing power parity-$5.4 billion (1997 est.)

GDP-composition by sector

agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (1996 est.)

GDP-per capita

purchasing power parity-$18,000 (1997 est.)

GDP-real growth rate

3.5% (1997 est.)

Imports

total value: $2.65 billion (c.i.f., 1996 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

4% (1997 est.)

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Inflation rate-consumer price index

2% (1997 est.)

Labor force

total: 144,000 (1995 est.); note-includes foreign workers and military personnel by occupation: government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4%, other 6% (1986 est.) note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios

284,000 (1995 est.)

Telephone system

service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Telephones

90,000 (1997 est.)

Television broadcast stations

1 (1984 est.)

Televisions

173,000 (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.8% (1994 est.)

Airports

2 (1997 est.) Airports-with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.) Airports-with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Heliports

3 (1997 est.)

Highways

total: 1,150 km paved: 399 km unpaved: 751 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine

total: 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT (1997 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong

Railways

total: 13 km (private line) narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge

Waterways

209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m

Military branches

Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police

Military expenditures-dollar figure

$312 million (1994)

Military expenditures-percent of GDP

6.2% (1994)

Military manpower-availability

males age 15-49: 87,048 (1998 est.) Military manpower-fit for military service: males: 50,408 (1998 est.)

Military manpower-military age

18 years of age

Military manpower-reaching military age annually

males: 3,126 (1998 est.)

Disputes-international

may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country; possibly involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island