2020 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. Internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy subsequently brought on a period of decline. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries, and in 2017, the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH’s accession to the throne. Brunei has one of the highest per-capita GDPs in the world, thanks to extensive petroleum and natural gas fields.

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

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% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)

forest

72.1% (2023 est.)

other

25.4% (2023 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

Population distribution

the vast majority of the population is found along the coast in the western part of Brunei, which is separated from the eastern portion by Malaysia; the largest population concentration is in the far north on the western side of the Brunei Bay, in and around the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan

Terrain

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

Age structure

0-14 years

21.7% (male 54,924/female 51,710)

15-64 years

70.8% (male 166,289/female 182,011)

65 years and over

7.5% (2024 est.) (male 17,927/female 19,039)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

15.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

3.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

10.6 (2024 est.)

potential support ratio

9.4 (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio

41.2 (2024 est.)

youth dependency ratio

30.6 (2024 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.4% of population

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

4.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

11.4% national budget (2016 est.)

Ethnic groups

Malay 67.4%, Chinese 9.6%, other 23% (2021 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.85 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

2.2% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

6.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

3.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

7.7 deaths/1,000 live births

male

12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

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

major-language sample(s)

Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

81.3 years

male

76.5 years

total population

78.9 years (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

266,682 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

33.1 years

male

31.4 years

total

32.6 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Bruneian

noun

Bruneian(s)

Net migration rate

2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14.1% (2016)

Physician density

1.89 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

Population

female

252,760

male

239,140

total

491,900 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

1.37% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim (official) 82.1%, Christian 6.7%, Buddhist 6.3%, other 4.9% (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2023 est.)

male

13 years (2023 est.)

total

14 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years

0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.94 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

1.9% (2025 est.)

male

31.2% (2025 est.)

total

17% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

79.1% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

etymology

named in 1970 after Sultan Omar Ali SAIFUDDIEN III (1914-1986), who adopted the title of "Seri Begawan" (approximately meaning "honored lord") when he abdicated in 1967; "bandar" means "city" or "port" in Malay; the capital had previously been called Bandar Brunei (Brunei City)

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

amendment process

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

history

drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959

Country name

conventional long form

Brunei Darussalam

conventional short form

Brunei

etymology

derivation of the name is unclear; the name may come from the Sanskrit word bhumi, meaning "land" or "region"

local long form

Negara Brunei Darussalam

local short form

Brunei

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Caryn R. McCLELLAND (since December 2021)

email address and website

ConsularBrunei@state.gov https://bn.usembassy.gov/

embassy

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

FAX

(673) 238-7533

mailing address

4020 Bandar Seri Begawan Place, Washington DC 20521-4020

telephone

(673) 238-7400

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires IZZATI Baharuddin (since 6 May 2025)

consulate(s)

New York

email address and website

info@bruneiembassy.org http://www.bruneiembassy.org/index.html

FAX

[1] (202) 885-0560

telephone

[1] (202) 237-1838

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch

chief of state

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

election/appointment process

none; the monarchy is hereditary

head of government

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

Flag

description: yellow with a diagonal white band and second below it in black, both starting from the upper left; the national emblem in red is at the center; the state motto, "Always render service with God's guidance," appears in yellow Arabic script on the emblem's crescent; a ribbon below the crescent reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace" meaning: yellow symbolizes the sultanate, and the white and black bands stand for the chief ministers; the emblem includes a royal umbrella (the monarchy), two wings with four feathers (justice, tranquility, prosperity, and peace), two upraised hands (the government's pledge to preserve and promote the people's welfare), and the crescent moon of Islam (the state religion) 

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 ICC

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 court(s)

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)

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

Legislative branch

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

January 2028

legislative structure

unicameral

legislature name

Legislative Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Negara)

most recent election date

1/20/2023

number of seats

45 (all appointed)

percentage of women in chamber

11.4%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1951

lyrics/music

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

title

"Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)

National color(s)

yellow, white, black

National holiday

National Day, 23 February (1984)

National symbol(s)

royal parasol

Political parties

National Development Party or NDP

Suffrage

18 years of age for village elections; universal

Agricultural products

chicken, eggs, fruits, vegetables, rice, bananas, beans, cucumbers/gherkins, pineapples, beef (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$3.189 billion (2020 est.)

revenues

$1.058 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

$3.256 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$1.944 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

$2.23 billion (2024 est.)

Economic overview

almost exclusively an oil and gas economy; high income country; expansive and robust welfare system; the majority of the population works for the government; promulgating a nationalized halal brand; considering establishment of a bond market and stock exchange

Exchange rates

Currency

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

1.38 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

1.344 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

1.379 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

1.343 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

1.336 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$14.405 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$11.573 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$11.483 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, hydrocarbons, fertilizers (2023)

Exports - partners

Australia 21%, Japan 17%, China 17%, Singapore 16%, Malaysia 6% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

74.3% (2024 est.)

government consumption

23% (2024 est.)

household consumption

28.5% (2024 est.)

imports of goods and services

-58.9% (2024 est.)

investment in fixed capital

28.2% (2024 est.)

investment in inventories

0.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

1.2% (2024 est.)

industry

61.7% (2024 est.)

services

38.7% (2024 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.463 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$10.099 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$9.077 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$9.11 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude petroleum, gold, refined petroleum, coal, cars (2023)

Imports - partners

Malaysia 23%, UAE 10%, China 10%, UK 10%, Australia 6% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

5.7% (2024 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

3.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

0.4% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

-0.4% (2024 est.)

Labor force

233,500 (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2017

2.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$34.771 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$35.163 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$36.64 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2022

-1.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

1.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2024

4.2% (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2022

$76,400 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$76,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2024

$79,200 (2024 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$5.035 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$4.483 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$4.414 billion (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

5.2% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

5.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

21.6% (2024 est.)

male

16.5% (2024 est.)

total

18.5% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

841,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

841,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

5.081 billion kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

904,000 kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

502.188 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

403.365 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

3.911 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports

5.733 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

production

10.093 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves

260.515 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

total petroleum production

95,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

20 (2023 est.)

total

93,000 (2023 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 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

99% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

26 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

122,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

118 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

582,919 (2023 est.)

Airports

2 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

V8

Heliports

14 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 18, oil tanker 2, other 77

total

97 (2023)

Ports

key ports

Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Lumut, Muara Harbor, Seria Oil Loading Terminal

large

0

medium

0

ports with oil terminals

5

small

2

total ports

5 (2024)

very small

3

Military - note

the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) are responsible for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as countering outside aggression, terrorism, and insurgency Brunei has a long-standing defense relationship with the UK and hosts a British Army garrison, which includes a Gurkha battalion and a jungle warfare school; Brunei also has close security ties with Singapore and hosts a Singaporean military training detachment the RBAF was formed in 1961 with British support as the Brunei Malay Regiment; "Royal" was added as an honorary title in 1965 and its current name was given in 1984 (2025)

Military and security forces

Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) or Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB): Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

approximately 7,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's s inventory includes equipment and weapons systems from a variety of suppliers from Asia, Europe, and the US (2025)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2019

3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military Expenditures 2020

3.7% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military Expenditures 2021

3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military Expenditures 2022

2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military Expenditures 2023

3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons

20,863 (2024 est.)

Trafficking in persons

tier rating

Tier 2 Watch List — Brunei does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Brunei was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/brunei/

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

998,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from consumed natural gas

7.65 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

2.175 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

10.823 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

air pollution, including seasonal haze from forest fires in Indonesia

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

agriculture

0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

energy

50.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)

other

0.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste

9.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

8.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

5.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

151.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

216,300 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

20% (2022 est.)