2010 Edition

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.

Area

land

5,265 sq km

total

5,765 sq km

water

500 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline

161 km

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, 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

243 cu m/yr (1994)

total

0.09

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

Malaysia 381 km

total

381 km

Land use

arable land

2.08%

other

97.05% (2005)

permanent crops

0.87%

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 rare

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

8.5 cu km (1999)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.6% (male 53,282/female 50,141) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 135,640/female 136,292) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 6,199/female 6,636) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

18 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

3.32 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2000)

Ethnic groups

Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

9.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

14.19 deaths/1,000 live births

total

11.87 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.31 years (2010 est.)

male

73.72 years

total population

75.96 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

90.2% (2001 census)

male

95.2%

total population

92.7%

Median age

female

28.2 years (2010 est.)

male

28 years

total

28.1 years

Nationality

adjective

Bruneian

noun

Bruneian(s)

Net migration rate

2.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

395,027 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.733% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2008)

male

14 years

total

14 years

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.)

Total fertility rate

1.88 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.6% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

75% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

4 53 N, 114 56 E

name

Bandar Seri Begawan

time difference

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

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

Brunei Darussalam

conventional short form

Brunei

local long form

Negara Brunei Darussalam

local short form

Brunei

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Alexander L. BARRASSO

embassy

Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Kebangsaan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8811

FAX

[673] 238-4606

mailing address

PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam

telephone

[673] 238-4616

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Yusoff Abd HAMID

FAX

[1] (202) 885-0560

telephone

[1] (202) 237-1838

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 (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

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 monarchy is hereditary

head of government

Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)

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"

Government type

constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)

Independence

1 January 1984 (from the UK)

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

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)

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

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; no timeframe for an election has been announced

National anthem

lyrics/music

Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap note: adopted 1951

name

"Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age for village elections; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.5% (31 December 2009 est.) 5.5% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$7.024 billion (2008 est.) $7.101 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$0 (2005)

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. Other 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.

Electricity - consumption

2.98 billion kWh (2008)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

3.069 billion kWh (2008)

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - 1.45 (2009), 1.45 (2009), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004)

Exports

$10.67 billion (2008) $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)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

0.7%

industry

74.1%

services

25.3% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$50,300 (2010 est.) $50,700 (2009 est.) $52,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

1% (2010 est.) -1.8% (2009 est.) -1.9% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.96 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$19.88 billion (2010 est.) $19.68 billion (2009 est.) $20.04 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$2.61 billion (2008 est.) $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)

Industrial production growth rate

-5.4% (2008 est.)

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2008 est.) 0.3% (2007 est.)

Labor force

188,800 (2008 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

4.2%

industry

62.8%

services

33% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

4.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

9.2 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

13.4 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

16,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

152,900 bbl/day (2007)

Oil - imports

238 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

146,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$8.569 billion (31 December 2009) $7.597 billion (31 December 2008)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.274 billion (31 December 2008 est.) $2.38 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.374 billion (30 March 2009) $3.046 billion (31 December 2008)

Unemployment rate

3.7% (2008) 4% (2006)

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)

Internet users

314,900 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

every service available

general assessment

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

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)

Telephones - main lines in use

80,500 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

425,000 (2009)

Airports

2 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports

3 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 8 (2010)

total

9

Pipelines

gas 37 km; oil 18 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Lumut, Muara, Seria

Roadways

paved

2,411 km

total

2,971 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)

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

female

3,427 (2010 est.)

male

3,509

Military branches

Royal Brunei Armed Forces

Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2010)

Military expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)

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 page last updated on January 13, 2011 ======================================================================