2011 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

5,765 sq km 5,265 sq km 500 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

South China Sea 0 m Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

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

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution none of the selected 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)

0.09 243 cu m/yr (1994)

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 (2008)

Land boundaries

381 km Malaysia 381 km

border countries

Malaysia 381 km

total

381 km

Land use

2.08% 0.87% 97.05% (2005)

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

12 nm 200 nm or to median line

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

25.5% (male 52,944/female 49,729) 70.9% (male 141,121/female 143,977) 3.5% (male 6,881/female 7,238) (2011 est.)

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.)

Birth rate

17.87 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Death rate

3.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)

Education expenditures

NA

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

3% of GDP (2009)

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.)

Hospital bed density

2.71 beds/1,000 population (2008)

Infant mortality rate

11.51 deaths/1,000 live births 13.74 deaths/1,000 live births 9.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

female

9.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

total

11.51 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

76.17 years 73.91 years 78.53 years (2011 est.)

female

78.53 years (2011 est.)

total population

76.17 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 92.7% 95.2% 90.2% (2001 census)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

90.2% (2001 census)

male

95.2%

total population

92.7%

Major cities - population

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) 22,000 (2009)

Maternal mortality rate

21 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)

Median age

28.4 years 28.3 years 28.6 years (2011 est.)

female

28.6 years (2011 est.)

male

28.3 years

total

28.4 years

Nationality

Bruneian(s) Bruneian

adjective

Bruneian

noun

Bruneian(s)

Net migration rate

2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Physicians density

1.417 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

401,890 (July 2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.712% (2011 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

14 years 14 years 14 years (2009)

female

14 years (2009)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

1.047 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 0.99 male(s)/female 0.94 male(s)/female 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

15-64 years

0.99 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.94 male(s)/female

at birth

1.047 male(s)/female

total population

1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

under 15 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

1.86 children born/woman (2011 est.)

Urbanization

76% of total population (2010) 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

76% of total population (2010)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Bandar Seri Begawan 4 53 N, 114 56 E UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

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

Brunei Darussalam Brunei Negara Brunei Darussalam Brunei

conventional long form

Brunei Darussalam

conventional short form

Brunei

local long form

Negara Brunei Darussalam

local short form

Brunei

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Daniel L. SHIELDS III Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Kebangsaan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115 Unit 4280, Box 40, FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam [673] 238-4616 [673] 238-4604

chief of mission

Ambassador Daniel L. SHIELDS III

embassy

Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Kebangsaan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115

FAX

[673] 238-4604

mailing address

Unit 4280, Box 40, FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam

telephone

[673] 238-4616

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Yusoff Abd HAMID 3520 International Court NW #300, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 237-1838 [1] (202) 885-0560

chancery

3520 International Court NW #300, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Yusoff Abd HAMID

FAX

[1] (202) 885-0560

telephone

[1] (202) 237-1838

Executive branch

Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967) 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 none; the monarchy is hereditary

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 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"

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 ban

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law

Legislative branch

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

elections

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

National anthem

"Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty) Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap adopted 1951

lyrics/music

Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap

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] 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

Budget

$4.689 billion $4.869 billion (2010 est.)

expenditures

$4.869 billion (2010 est.)

revenues

$4.689 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.4% of GDP (2010 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.5% (31 December 2010 est.) 5.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance

$3.977 billion (2009 est.) $3.977 billion (2008 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.

Electricity - consumption

3.054 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - production

3.218 billion kWh (2008 est.)

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - 1.36 (2010) 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 45.6%, South Korea 12%, Australia 11.9%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.1%, India 5.8%, NZ 5.1% (2010)

GDP - composition by sector

0.9% 72.1% 27% (2010 est.)

agriculture

0.9%

industry

72.1%

services

27% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$51,600 (2010 est.) $50,400 (2009 est.) $52,300 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.1% (2010 est.) -1.8% (2009 est.) -1.9% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.02 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$20.38 billion (2010 est.) $19.58 billion (2009 est.) $19.93 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

NA% NA%

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 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 33.5%, Malaysia 19.9%, China 13%, UK 6.9%, Japan 5.3%, Thailand 4.6%, US 4.4% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate

-5.4% (2008 est.)

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2010 est.) 1.1% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

16.1% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

188,800 (2008)

Labor force - by occupation

4.2% 62.8% 33% (2008 est.)

agriculture

4.2%

industry

62.8%

services

33% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Natural gas - consumption

2.69 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

8.81 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

11.5 billion cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)

Oil - consumption

17,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - exports

153,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - imports

138 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - production

159,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.563 billion (2010) $1.357 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$9.731 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $8.548 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.019 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.209 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.954 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.841 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

36% of GDP (2010 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.7% (2008) 3.4% (2007)

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

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

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

79,900 (2010)

Telephones - mobile cellular

435,100 (2010)

Airports

2 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

1 (2010)

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2010)

over 3,047 m

1

total

2

Heliports

3 (2010)

Merchant marine

chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 8 (2010)

total

9

Pipelines

condensate 33 km; gas 37 km; oil 18 km (2010)

Ports and terminals

Lumut, Muara, Seria

Roadways

2,971 km 2,411 km 560 km (2008)

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

112,688 117,536 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

117,536 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

112,688

Manpower fit for military service

95,141 99,386 (2010 est.)

females age 16-49

99,386 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

95,141

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

3,572 3,465 (2010 est.)

female

3,465 (2010 est.)

male

3,572

Military branches

Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2011)

Royal Brunei Armed Forces

Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2011)

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

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

Trafficking in persons

Brunei is a destination, and to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for men and women who are subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; men and women from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, China, and Thailand migrate to Brunei for domestic work or other low-skilled employment, but sometimes face conditions of involuntary servitude after arrival Tier 2 Watch List - the government has yet to prosecute a human-trafficking case using its 2004 anti-trafficking law, has not shown evidence of increased efforts to address human trafficking over the previous year, and has not identified or assisted any trafficking victims (2011)

current situation

Brunei is a destination, and to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for men and women who are subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution; men and women from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, China, and Thailand migrate to Brunei for domestic work or other low-skilled employment, but sometimes face conditions of involuntary servitude after arrival

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List - the government has yet to prosecute a human-trafficking case using its 2004 anti-trafficking law, has not shown evidence of increased efforts to address human trafficking over the previous year, and has not identified or assisted any trafficking victims (2011)