Brunei

Introduction

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.

Geography

Location

Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Geographic coordinates

4 30 N, 114 40 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

total: 5,765 sq km
land: 5,265 sq km
water: 500 sq km
country comparison to the world: 173

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries

total: 266 km
border countries (1): Malaysia 266 km

Coastline

161 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12nm
exclusive economic zone: 200nm or to median line

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Terrain

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

Elevation

mean elevation: 478 m
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Land use

agricultural land: 2.5% (2011 est.)
arable land: 0.8% (2011 est.)/permanent crops: 1.1% (2011 est.)/permanent pasture: 0.6% (2011 est.)
forest: 71.8% (2011 est.)
other: 25.7% (2011 est.)

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Natural hazards

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

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

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

People and Society

Population

450,565 (July 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 174

Nationality

noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian

Ethnic groups

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

Languages

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

Religions

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

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.)
population pyramid:

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 38.4 (2015 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 32.8 (2015 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2015 est.)
potential support ratio: 17.6 (2015 est.)

Median age

total: 30.5 years (2018 est.)
male: 30 years
female: 31 years
country comparison to the world: 115

Population growth rate

1.55% (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 69

Birth rate

16.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Death rate

3.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 214

Net migration rate

2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44

Urbanization

urban population: 77.9% of total population(2019)
rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change(2015-20 est.)

Major urban areas - population

241,000 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2011)
note: the boundaries of the capital city were expanded in 2007, greatly increasing the city area; the population of the capital increased tenfold

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2018 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

31 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 109

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
male: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 141

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.5 years (2018 est.)
male: 75.2 years
female: 80 years
country comparison to the world: 71

Total fertility rate

1.77 children born/woman (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156

Current Health Expenditure

2.3% (2016)

Physicians density

1.77 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Hospital bed density

2.7 beds/1,000 population (2015)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14.1% (2016)
country comparison to the world: 129

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.6% (2009)
country comparison to the world: 64

Education expenditures

4.4% of GDP (2016)
country comparison to the world: 88

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97.5%
female: 94.5% (2015)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2017)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 28.9%
male: 28.4%
female: 29.5% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
local 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"

Government type

absolute monarchy or sultanate

Capital

name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates: 4 53 N, 114 56 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
etymology: named in 1970 after Sultan Omar Ali SAIFUDDIEN III (1914-1986; "The Father of Independence") who adopted the title of "Seri Begawan" (approximate meaning "honored lord") upon his abdication in 1967; "bandar" in Malay means "town" or "city"; the capital had previously been called Bandar Brunei (Brunei Town)

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

1 January 1984 (from the UK)

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

Constitution

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
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)

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

International law organization participation

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age for village elections; universal

Executive branch

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
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
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
elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary

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)
elections: appointed by the sultan
election results: NA; composition - men 33, women 3, percent of women 8.3%

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

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Serbini ALI (since 28 January 2016)
chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Matthew J. MATTHEWS (since 15 April 2019)
telephone: [673] 238-4616
embassy: Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Duta, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115
mailing address: Unit 4280, Box 40, FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
FAX: [673] 238-4604

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"

National symbol(s)

royal parasol; national colors: yellow, white, black

National anthem

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

Economy

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$33.87 billion (2017 est.)
$33.42 billion (2016 est.)
$34.27 billion (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 128

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.13 billion (2017 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

1.3% (2017 est.)
-2.5% (2016 est.)
-0.4% (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 178

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$78,900 (2017 est.)
$79,000 (2016 est.)
$82,200 (2015 est.)
note: data are in 2017 dollars
country comparison to the world: 9

Gross national saving

47.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
51.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 25% (2017 est.)
government consumption: 24.8% (2017 est.)
investment in fixed capital: 32.6% (2017 est.)
investment in inventories: 8.5% (2017 est.)
exports of goods and services: 45.9% (2017 est.)
imports of goods and services: -36.8% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.2% (2017 est.)
industry: 56.6% (2017 est.)
services: 42.3% (2017 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142

Labor force

203,600 (2014 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 62.8%
services: 33% (2008 est.)

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2017 est.)
6.9% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102

Population below poverty line

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Budget

revenues: 2.245 billion (2017 est.)
expenditures: 4.345 billion (2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

18.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-17.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218

Public debt

2.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
3% of GDP (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.2% (2017 est.)
-0.7% (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
5.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133

Stock of narrow money

$3.387 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.232 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117

Stock of broad money

$3.387 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.232 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123

Stock of domestic credit

$3.665 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$4.066 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Market value of publicly traded shares

NA

Current account balance

$2.021 billion (2017 est.)
$1.47 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41

Exports

$5.885 billion (2017 est.)
$5.023 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103

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)

Exports - commodities

mineral fuels, organic chemicals

Imports

$2.998 billion (2017 est.)
$2.658 billion (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

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)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.488 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$3.366 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105

Debt - external

$0 (2014)
$0 (2013)
note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable
country comparison to the world: 204

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -
1.394 (2017 est.)
1.3814 (2016 est.)
1.3814 (2015 est.)
1.3749 (2014 est.)
1.267 (2013 est.)

Energy

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2016)

Electricity - production

4.014 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Electricity - consumption

3.771 billion kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - installed generating capacity

821,000 kW (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 179

Crude oil - production

100,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42

Crude oil - exports

127,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Crude oil - imports

160 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Refined petroleum products - production

10,310 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 100

Refined petroleum products - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 135

Refined petroleum products - imports

6,948 bbl/day (2015 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - production

12.74 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - consumption

3.936 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66

Natural gas - exports

8.268 billion cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97

Natural gas - proved reserves

260.5 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

10.04 million Mt (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107

Communications

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 74,213
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (July 2016 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 544,732
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 170

Telephone system

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

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

total: 410,800 (2019 est.)
percent of population: 94% (Feb 2019 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 41,209
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2017 est.)
country comparison to the world: 134

Military and Security

Military expenditures

2.37% of GDP (2018)
2.87% of GDP (2017)
3.54% of GDP (2016)
3.28% of GDP (2015)
3.08% of GDP (2014)
country comparison to the world: 37

Military and security forces

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

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)

Transportation

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 (2015)
annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,150,003 (2015)
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 115.147 millionmt-km (2015)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

V8 (2016)

Airports

1 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 216

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 (2019)
over 3,047 m: 1

Heliports

3 (2013)

Pipelines

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

Roadways

total: 2,976 km (2014)
paved: 2,559 km (2014)
unpaved: 417 km (2014)
country comparison to the world: 158

Waterways

209 km(navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong Rivers are major transport links) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 96

Merchant marine

total: 100
by type: general cargo 20, LNG tanker 2, other 78 (2018)
country comparison to the world: 85

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Muara
oil terminal(s): Lumut, Seria
LNG terminal(s) (export): Lumut

Transnational Issues

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless 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

Illicit drugs

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

Flag of Brunei