2007 Edition

Administrative divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.1% (male 54,411/female 52,134) 15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,129/female 123,017) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,584/female 6,169) (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, eggs

Airports

2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2006)

total

1

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Area

land

5,270 sq km

total

5,770 sq km

water

500 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

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 the developing world. Geography Brunei

Birth rate

18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$4.815 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2004 est.)

revenues

$3.765 billion

Capital

geographic coordinates

4 52 S, 114 55 E

name

Bandar Seri Begawan

time difference

UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline

161 km

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

local long form

Negara Brunei Darussalam

local short form

Brunei

Currency (code)

Bruneian dollar (BND)

Currency code

BND

Death rate

3.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$0

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Emil SKODON

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3520 International Court NW #300, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEH

telephone

[1] (202) 237-1838

Disputes - international

in 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations have stalemated prompting consideration of international legal adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984 but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; 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

Economic aid - recipient

$770,000 (2004)

Economy - overview

This small, well-to-do economy encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of GDP and more than 90% of government revenues. 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 free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in 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, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.

Electricity - consumption

2.609 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - production

2.806 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

100%

hydro

0%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

lowest point

South China Sea 0 m

Environment - current issues

seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002)

Executive branch

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

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

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary

head of government

Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

Exports

$4.514 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, natural gas, refined products

Exports - partners

Japan 36.8%, Indonesia 19.3%, South Korea 12.7%, US 9.5%, Australia 9.3% (2005)

FAX

[1] (202) 885-0560

[673] 222-5293

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Brunei

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 Economy Brunei

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

3.6%

industry

56.1%

services

40.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$23,600 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.7% (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$5.486 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$6.842 billion (2003 est.)

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 within Malaysia People Brunei

Government type

constitutional sultanate

Heliports

3 (2006)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Illicit drugs

drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

Imports

$1.641 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

Singapore 32.7%, Malaysia 23.3%, Japan 6.9%, UK 5.3%, Thailand 4.5%, South Korea 4% (2005)

Independence

1 January 1984 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

7.3% (2003 est.)

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Infant mortality rate

female

8.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

male

15.46 deaths/1,000 live births

total

12.25 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.9% (2004)

International organization participation

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Internet country code

.bn

Internet hosts

27 (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet users

56,000 (2005) Transportation Brunei

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2003)

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; Shariah courts deal with Islamic laws (2006)

Labor force

146,300

note

includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary residents make up about 40% of labor force (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

2.9%

industry

61.1%

services

36% (2003 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

Malaysia 381 km

total

381 km

Land use

arable land

2.08%

other

97.05% (2005)

permanent crops

0.87%

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005

elections

last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)

Life expectancy at birth

female

77.59 years (2006 est.)

male

72.57 years

total population

75.01 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

91.4% (2002) Government Brunei

male

96.3%

total population

93.9%

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Manpower available for military service

females age 18-49

93,024 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

103,885

Manpower fit for military service

females age 18-49

77,436 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

85,045

Manpower reaching military service age annually

females age 18-49

3,342 (2005 est.)

males age 18-49

3,478

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone

200 nm or to median line

territorial sea

12 nm

Median age

female

26.7 years (2006 est.)

male

28 years

total

27.4 years

Merchant marine

by type

liquefied gas 8

foreign-owned

8 (UK 8) (2006)

total

8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$290.7 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5.1% (2003 est.) Transnational Issues Brunei

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

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

Nationality

adjective

Bruneian

noun

Bruneian(s)

Natural gas - consumption

2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports

9.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production

11.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Natural hazards

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Net migration rate

3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

10,770 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports

192,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

200,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves

1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Pipelines

gas 672 km; oil 463 km (2006)

Political parties and leaders

Brunei Solidarity National Party (PPKB) [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin]; National Development Party (NDP) [YASSIN Affendi]; People's Awareness Party (PAKAR) [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad]

note

parties are small and have limited activity (2005)

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Population

379,444 (July 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.87% (2006 est.)

Ports and terminals

Lumut, Muara, Seria Military Brunei

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0

note

British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits two FM signals with English and Nepali service (2006)

Radios

329,000 (1998)

Religions

Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%

Roadways

paved

2,338 km

total

2,525 km

unpaved

187 km (2000)

Royal Brunei Armed Forces

Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2005)

Sex ratio

at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

total population

1.09 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

under 15 years

1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female

Suffrage

none

Telephone system

domestic

every service available

general assessment

service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, and the US

international

country code - 673; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2006)

Telephones - main lines in use

90,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular

205,900 (2004)

Television broadcast stations

4; note - including two UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service (2006)

Televisions

201,900 (1998)

Terrain

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

Total fertility rate

2.28 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.8% (2004)

Waterways

209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2005)