2015 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 the world.

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

301.6 cu m/yr (2009)

total

0.09 cu km/yr (97%/0%/3%)

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 (1)

Malaysia 266 km

total

266 km

Land use

arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 1.1%; permanent pasture 0.6%

agricultural land

2.5%

forest

71.8%

other

25.7% (2011 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, 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 (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

23.82% (male 52,750/female 49,579)

15-24 years

17.13% (male 36,485/female 37,127)

25-54 years

46.9% (male 97,228/female 104,286)

55-64 years

7.88% (male 17,366/female 16,470)

65 years and over

4.27% (male 8,925/female 9,430) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

17.32 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Death rate

3.52 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

6.1%

potential support ratio

16.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

38%

youth dependency ratio

31.9%

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2014)

Ethnic groups

Malay 65.7%, Chinese 10.3%, other indigenous 3.4%, other 20.6% (2011 est.)

Health expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

2.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

12.09 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.16 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

79.41 years (2015 est.)

male

74.64 years

total population

76.97 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.5% (2015 est.)

male

97.5%

total population

96%

Major urban areas - population

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) 241,000

note

the boundaries of the capital city were expanded in 2007, greatly increasing the city area; the population of the capital increased tenfold (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

23 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

29.9 years (2015 est.)

male

29.2 years

total

29.6 years

Nationality

adjective

Bruneian

noun

Bruneian(s)

Net migration rate

2.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

18.6% (2014)

Physicians density

1.44 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

429,646 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.62% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 78.8%, Christian 8.7%, Buddhist 7.8%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 4.7% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2012)

male

14 years

total

15 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-24 years

0.98 male(s)/female

25-54 years

0.93 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.05 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.95 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.8 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

-1.79% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

77.2% of total population (2015)

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Brunei

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

12 years

Constitution

drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959; amended 1984, 2004, 2011; note - some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a State of Emergency, others suspended since independence in 1984 (2015)

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 Craig B. ALLEN (since 9 March 2015)

embassy

Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Datu, 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

chancery

3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Dk Norhashimah Pg Mohd HASSAN

consulate(s)

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 885-0560

telephone

[1] (202) 237-1838

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; note - 4 additional advisory councils appointed by the monarch are the Religious Council, Privy Council for constitutional issues, Council of Succession, and Legislative Council

chief of state

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

elections/appointments

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 or MIB)

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, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, 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

highest resident court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of Court of Appeal and High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court of Appeal (consists of judges appointed by the monarch); note - Brunei has a dual judicial system of secular and sharia (religious) courts; the Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London serves as the final appellate court for civil cases only

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch to serve until age 65, and older if approved by the monarch; Sharia Court of Appeal judges appointed by the monarch; judge tenure NA

subordinate courts

Intermediate Court; Magistrate's Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts; lower sharia courts

Legal system

mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; note - in May 2014, the first phase of a sharia-based penal codes was instituted, which applies to Muslims and non-Muslims and exists in parallel to the existing common law-based code

Legislative branch

description

Legislative Council or Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei (36 seats; members appointed by the sultan including 3 ex-officio members - the speaker and first and second secretaries; meets annually for approximately two weeks)

elections

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

National anthem

lyrics/music

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

name

"Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)

note

adopted 1951

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

National symbol(s)

royal parasol; national colors: yellow, white, black

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

Budget

expenditures

$5.743 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$6.368 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

3.7% of GDP (2014 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.5% (31 December 2014 est.)

5.5% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$4.849 billion (2014 est.)

$5.323 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$0 (2005)

$3.576 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

note

public external debt only; private external debt unavailable

Economy - overview

Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that depends on revenue from natural resource extraction but is also characterized by a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for 70% of GDP and more than 90% of exports, with Japan and Korea as the primary export markets. Per capita GDP is among the highest in the world, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic hydrocarbon production. For Bruneian citizens, who pay no taxes, the government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level. The government of Brunei has been emphasizing through policy and resource investments its strong desire to diversify its economy both within the oil and gas sector and to new sectors. Brunei is a founding member of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement negotiations as well as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and, with the nine other ASEAN members, will form the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -

1.267 (2014 est.)

1.267 (2013 est.)

1.25 (2012 est.)

1.2579 (2011 est.)

1.3635 (2010 est.)

Exports

$10.65 billion (2014 est.)

$11.36 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, natural gas, garments

Exports - partners

Japan 39%, South Korea 12.5%, Australia 9.7%, India 9.2%, Thailand 6.4%, Indonesia 5.8% (2014)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

71%

government consumption

21.6%

household consumption

15.6%

imports of goods and services

-35.7%

investment in fixed capital

27.3%

investment in inventories

0.2%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.8%

industry

66.8%

services

32.4% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$79,900 (2014 est.)

$81,800 (2013 est.)

$83,600 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

-2.3% (2014 est.)

-2.1% (2013 est.)

0.9% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$17.1 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$32.96 billion (2014 est.)

$33.75 billion (2013 est.)

$34.48 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

49.4% of GDP (2014 est.)

63.6% of GDP (2013 est.)

65.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$4.231 billion (2014 est.)

$4.175 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

iron and steel, motor vehicles, machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

Singapore 29.2%, China 26.9%, Malaysia 13.2%, US 8.5%, South Korea 4.5%, UK 4.1% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

-4.4% (2014 est.)

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, transportation

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.2% (2014 est.)

0.4% (2013 est.)

Labor force

205,800 (2011 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

4.2%

industry

62.8%

services

33% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Stock of broad money

$11.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$11.41 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$4.477 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.452 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.327 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.517 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

37.2% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

2.7% (2014 est.)

2.7% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

8.678 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

131,200 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

111,800 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

3.451 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

759,000 kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

3.694 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

2.97 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

9.5 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

12.47 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

253.6 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

7,666 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

9,402 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 5 channels; 3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite and cable systems; RTB operates 5 radio networks and broadcasts 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 users

percent of population

65.6% (2014 est.)

total

277,200

Radio broadcast stations

AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits two FM signals with English and Nepali service) (2006)

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 provides new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2011)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

11 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

48,200

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

110 (2014 est.)

total

465,800

Television broadcast stations

4 (includes 2 UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service) (2006)

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m

1 (2013)

total

1

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 8

foreign-owned

2 (UK 2) (2010)

total

9

Pipelines

condensate 33 km; condensate/gas 86 km; gas 628 km; oil 492 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

LNG terminal (export)

Lumut

major seaport(s)

Muara

oil terminal(s)

Lumut, Seria

Roadways

paved

2,425 km

total

3,029 km

unpaved

604 km (2010)

Waterways

209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong rivers are major transport links) (2012)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

117,536 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

112,688

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

99,386 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

95,141

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

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) (2013)

Military expenditures

2.43% of GDP (2012)

2.54% of GDP (2011)

2.43% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve; recruits from the army, navy, and air force all undergo 43-week initial training (2013)

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 Louisa Reef

Illicit drugs

drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

20,524 (2014); note - thousands of stateless persons, often ethnic Chinese, are permanent residents and their families have lived in Brunei for generations; obtaining citizenship is difficult and requires individuals to pass rigorous tests on Malay culture, customs, and language; stateless residents receive an International Certificate of Identity, which enables them to travel overseas; the government is considering changing the law prohibiting non-Bruneians, including stateless permanent residents, from owning land