2019 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. In 2017, Brunei celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH’s accession to the throne.

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

Highest Point

Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Lowest Point

South China Sea 0 m

Mean Elevation

478 m

Environment Current Issues

no major environmental problems, but air pollution control is becoming a concern; seasonal trans-boundary haze 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

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; the eastern part, the Temburong district, is an exclave and is almost an enclave within Malaysia

Irrigated Land

10 sq km (2012)

Land Boundaries

Border Countries

Malaysia 266 km

Total

266 km

Land Use

Agricultural Land

2.5% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Arable Land

0.8% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Crops

1.1% (2011 est.)

Agricultural Land Permanent Pasture

0.6% (2011 est.)

Forest

71.8% (2011 est.)

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

Age Structure

0 14 Years

22.82% (male 52,995 /female 49,836)

15 24 Years

16.8% (male 37,707 /female 37,985)

25 54 Years

46.9% (male 100,740 /female 110,596)

55 64 Years

8.3% (male 18,859 /female 18,551)

65 Years And Over

5.17% (male 11,336 /female 11,960) (2018 est.)

Birth Rate

16.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Children Under The Age Of 5 Years Underweight

9.6% (2009)

Current Health Expenditure

2.3% (2016)

Death Rate

3.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Dependency Ratios

Elderly Dependency Ratio

5.7 (2015 est.)

Potential Support Ratio

17.6 (2015 est.)

Total Dependency Ratio

38.4 (2015 est.)

Youth Dependency Ratio

32.8 (2015 est.)

Education Expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2016)

Ethnic Groups

Malay 65.7%, Chinese 10.3%, other 24% (2016 est.)

Hospital Bed Density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2015)

Infant Mortality Rate

Female

7.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Male

11.1 deaths/1,000 live births

Total

9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)

Languages

Malay (Bahasa Melayu) (official), English, Chinese dialects

Life Expectancy at Birth

Female

80 years

Male

75.2 years

Total Population

77.5 years (2018 est.)

Literacy

Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Female

94.5% (2015)

Male

97.5%

Total Population

96%

Major Urban Areas Population

241,000 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2011)

Maternal Mortality Rate

31 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median Age

Female

31 years

Male

30 years

Total

30.5 years (2018 est.)

Nationality

Adjective

Bruneian

Noun

Bruneian(s)

Net Migration Rate

2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Obesity Adult Prevalence Rate

14.1% (2016)

Physicians Density

1.77 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

450,565 (July 2018 est.)

Population Growth Rate

1.55% (2018 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 (2017)

Male

14 years

Total

14 years

Sex Ratio

0 14 Years

1.06 male(s)/female

15 24 Years

0.99 male(s)/female

25 54 Years

0.91 male(s)/female

55 64 Years

1.02 male(s)/female

65 Years And Over

0.95 male(s)/female

At Birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Total Population

0.97 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

1.77 children born/woman (2018 est.)

Unemployment Youth Ages 15 24

Female

29.5% (2017 est.)

Male

28.4%

Total

28.9%

Urbanization

Rate Of Urbanization

1.66% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Urban Population

77.9% of total population (2019)

Administrative Divisions

4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei dan 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

Amendments

proposed by the monarch; passage requires submission to the Privy Council for Legislative Council review and finalization takes place by proclamation; the monarch can accept or reject changes to the original proposal provided by the Legislative Council; amended 1984, 2004, 2011 (2017)

History

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

Country Name

Conventional Long Form

Brunei Darussalam

Conventional Short Form

Brunei

Etymology

derivation of the name is unclear; according to legend, MUHAMMAD SHAH, who would become the first sultan of Brunei, upon discovering what would become Brunei exclaimed "Baru nah," which roughly translates as "there" or "that's it"

Local Long Form

Negara Brunei Darussalam

Local Short Form

Brunei

Diplomatic Representation From The Us

Chief Of Mission

Ambassador Matthew J. MATTHEWS (since 15 April 2019)

Embassy

Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Duta, 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 Serbini ALI (since 28 January 2016)

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

absolute monarchy or sultanate

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 Courts

Supreme Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court (consists the Court of Appeals and the High Court); 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 judges appointed by the monarch for life

Subordinate Courts

Intermediate Court; Magistrates' Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts; lower sharia courts

Legal System

mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; note - in April 2019, the full sharia penal codes came into force and apply to Muslims and non-Muslims in parallel with present common law codes

Legislative Branch

Description

unicameral 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; members appointed for 5-year terms)

Election Results

NA; composition - men 33, women 3, percent of women 8.3%

Elections

appointed by the sultan

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)

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; the Sultan's birthday, 15 June

National Symbol S

royal parasol; national colors: yellow, white, black

Political Parties And Leaders

National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]

Suffrage

18 years of age for village elections; universal

Agriculture Products

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

Budget

Expenditures

4.345 billion (2017 est.)

Revenues

2.245 billion (2017 est.)

Budget Surplus Or Deficit

-17.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

31 December 2016

5.5%

31 December 2017

5.5%

Current Account Balance

2016

$1.47 billion

2017

$2.021 billion

Debt External

2013

$0

2014

$0

Economy Overview

Brunei is an energy-rich sultanate on the northern coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Brunei boasts a well-educated, largely English-speaking population; excellent infrastructure; and a stable government intent on attracting foreign investment. Crude oil and natural gas production account for approximately 65% of GDP and 95% of exports, with Japan as the primary export market.Per capita GDP is among the highest in the world, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic hydrocarbon production. Bruneian citizens pay no personal income taxes, and the government provides free medical services and free education through the university level.The Bruneian Government wants to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbon exports to other industries such as information and communications technology and halal manufacturing, permissible under Islamic law. Brunei’s trade increased in 2016 and 2017, following its regional economic integration in the ASEAN Economic Community, and the expected ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

Exchange Rates

2013

1.267

2014

1.3749

2015

1.3814

2016

1.3814

2017

1.394

Currency

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -

Exports

2016

$5.023 billion

2017

$5.885 billion

Exports Commodities

mineral fuels, organic chemicals

Exports Partners

Japan 27.8%, South Korea 12.4%, Thailand 11.5%, Malaysia 11.3%, India 9.3%, Singapore 7.7%, Switzerland 5%, China 4.7% (2017)

Fiscal Year

1 April - 31 March

GDP Composition By End Use

Exports Of Goods And Services

45.9% (2017 est.)

Government Consumption

24.8% (2017 est.)

Household Consumption

25% (2017 est.)

Imports Of Goods And Services

-36.8% (2017 est.)

Investment In Fixed Capital

32.6% (2017 est.)

Investment In Inventories

8.5% (2017 est.)

GDP Composition By Sector Of Origin

Agriculture

1.2% (2017 est.)

Industry

56.6% (2017 est.)

Services

42.3% (2017 est.)

GDP Official Exchange Rate

$12.13 billion (2017 est.)

GDP Per Capita Ppp

2015

$82,200

2016

$79,000

2017

$78,900

GDP Purchasing Power Parity

2015

$34.27 billion

2016

$33.42 billion

2017

$33.87 billion

GDP Real Growth Rate

2015

-0.4%

2016

-2.5%

2017

1.3%

Gross National Saving

2015

51.9% of GDP

2016

50.1% of GDP

2017

47.5% of GDP

Imports

2016

$2.658 billion

2017

$2.998 billion

Imports Commodities

machinery and mechanical appliance parts, mineral fuels, motor vehicles, electric machinery

Imports Partners

China 19.6%, Singapore 19%, Malaysia 18.8%, US 9.2%, Germany 5.9%, Japan 4.1%, UK 4% (2017)

Industrial Production Growth Rate

1.5% (2017 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation Rate Consumer Prices

2016

-0.7%

2017

-0.2%

Labor Force

203,600 (2014 est.)

Labor Force By Occupation

Agriculture

4.2%

Industry

62.8%

Services

33% (2008 est.)

Market Value Of Publicly Traded Shares

NA

Public Debt

2016

3% of GDP

2017

2.8% of GDP

Reserves Of Foreign Exchange And Gold

31 December 2015

$3.366 billion

31 December 2017

$3.488 billion

Stock Of Broad Money

31 December 2016

$3.232 billion

31 December 2017

$3.387 billion

Stock Of Domestic Credit

31 December 2016

$4.066 billion

31 December 2017

$3.665 billion

Stock Of Narrow Money

31 December 2016

$3.232 billion

31 December 2017

$3.387 billion

Taxes And Other Revenues

18.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment Rate

2016

6.9%

2017

6.9%

Carbon Dioxide Emissions From Consumption Of Energy

10.04 million Mt (2017 est.)

Crude Oil Exports

127,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Imports

160 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude Oil Production

100,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude Oil Proved Reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity Access

100% (2016)

Electricity Consumption

3.771 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity From Fossil Fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity From Hydroelectric Plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Nuclear Fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity From Other Renewable Sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity Imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity Installed Generating Capacity

821,000 kW (2016 est.)

Electricity Production

4.014 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Natural Gas Consumption

3.936 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Exports

8.268 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Production

12.74 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural Gas Proved Reserves

260.5 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Imports

6,948 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined Petroleum Products Production

10,310 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

9 (2017 est.)

Total

41,209

Broadcast Media

state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 5 channels; 3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite 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

Internet Country Code

.bn

Internet Users

Percent Of Population

94% (Feb 2019 est.)

Total

410,800 (2019 est.)

Telephone System

Domestic

every service available; 17 per 100 fixed-line, 123 per 100 mobile-cellular (2018)

General Assessment

service throughout the country is good; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, and the US; while fixed-line is slowing down, mobile broadband has taken over in the advancement in the telecoms access market; broadband penetration slow to moderate growth predicted over the next five years to 2023 (2018)

International

country code - 673; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, SJC, AAG, Lubuan-Brunei Submarine Cable via optical telecommunications submarine cables that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019)

Telephones Fixed Lines

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

17 (July 2016 est.)

Total Subscriptions

74,213

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Subscriptions Per 100 Inhabitants

123 (2017 est.)

Total Subscriptions

544,732

Airports

1 (2013)

Airports With Paved Runways

Over 3 047 M

1

Total

1 (2019)

Civil Aircraft Registration Country Code Prefix

V8 (2016)

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant Marine

By Type

general cargo 20, LNG tanker 2, other 78 (2018)

Total

100

National Air Transport System

Annual Freight Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

115.147 million mt-km (2015)

Annual Passenger Traffic On Registered Air Carriers

1,150,003 (2015)

Inventory Of Registered Aircraft Operated By Air Carriers

10 (2015)

Number Of Registered Air Carriers

1 (2015)

Pipelines

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

Ports And Terminals

Lng Terminal's Export

Lumut

Major Seaport S

Muara

Oil Terminal S

Lumut, Seria

Roadways

Paved

2,559 km (2014)

Total

2,976 km (2014)

Unpaved

417 km (2014)

Waterways

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

Military And Security Forces

Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Force, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force. (2019)

Military Expenditures

2014

3.08% of GDP

2015

3.28% of GDP

2016

3.54% of GDP

2017

2.87% of GDP

2018

2.37% of GDP

Military Note

Brunei has a long-standing defense relationship with the United Kingdom and host a British Army garrison, including a Gurkha battalion and a jungle warfare school. There is also a long-term Singaporean military presence. (2019)

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

20,863 (2018); 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