Map of Brunei | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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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.


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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 reference: Southeast Asia

Area
Total: 5,765 km²
Land: 5,265 km²
Water: 500 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Country comparison total: 266 km
Country comparison border countries: (1) Malaysia 266 km

Land boundaries
Total: 266 km
Border countries: (1) Malaysia 266 km

Coastline: 161 km

Maritime claims
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line

Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy

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

Elevation
Highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 478 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber

Land use
Agricultural land: 2.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 71.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 25.7% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 10 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 8.5 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

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


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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
Total: 491,900
Male: 239,140
Female: 252,760 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 1.4% (2024 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Bruneian(s)
Adjective: Bruneian

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

Languages: Malay (Bahasa Melayu) (official), English, Chinese dialects
Major-language samples: Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay); Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.

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

Demographic profile

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)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 39.2
Youth dependency ratio: 31.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.1
Potential support ratio: 12.4 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 32.3 years (2024 est.)
Male: 31.4 years
Female: 33.1 years

Population growth rate: 1.4% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 15.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 3.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

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

Urbanization
Urban population: 79.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 266,682 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2021)
Population note: the boundaries of the capital city were expanded in 2007, greatly increasing the city area; the population of the capital increased tenfold

Environment
Current issues: no major environmental problems, but air pollution control is becoming a concern; seasonal trans-boundary haze from forest fires in Indonesia
International 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
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 6.86 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.66 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 8.4 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
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
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 44 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.)
Male: 76.5 years
Female: 81.3 years

Total fertility rate: 1.73 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 99.7% of population
Unimproved rural: 0% of population
Unimproved total: 0.1% of population (2020)
Unimproved urban: 0.4% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 2.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: NA
Improved rural: NA
Improved total: NA
Unimproved urban: NA
Unimproved rural: NA
Unimproved total: NA

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 14.1% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 16.2% (2020 est.)
Male: 30% (2020 est.)
Female: 2.3% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 4.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.6%
Male: 98.3%
Female: 96.9% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 14 years
Male: 14 years
Female: 14 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 18.6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 16.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 22.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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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

Dependent areas

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 several times, last in 2010

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 partly to 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 ICC

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)
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: the monarch is both chief of state and head of government
Elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei (up to 45 seats; up to 30 appointed; up to 15 representatives from the country's four districts: Brunei and Muara (up to seven members), Belait (up to three), Tutong (up to three), and Temburong (up to two)); members serve 5-year terms
Elections: January 2023 - appointed by the sultan
Elections results: Legislative Council last appointed January 2023; composition - men 30, women 4, percentage women 11.8%

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

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: chief of mission: Ambassador Dato Paduka Haji SERBINI bin Haji Ali (since 28 January 2016)
In the us chancery: 3,520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
In the us fax: [1] (202) 885-0560
In the us email address and website: info@bruneiembassy.org; [link]
In the us consulates: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Caryn R. McCLELLAND (since December 2021)
From the us embassy: Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Duta, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4,115
From the us mailing address: 4,020 Bandar Seri Begawan Place, Washington DC 20,521-4,020
From the us telephone: (673) 238-7,400
From the us fax: (673) 238-7,533
From the us email address and website: ConsularBrunei@state.gov; [link]

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 symbols: 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

National heritage


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Economy 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

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $35.26 billion (2023 est.); $34.771 billion (2022 est.); $35.347 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 1.41% (2023 est.); -1.63% (2022 est.); -1.59% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $77,900 (2023 est.); $77,400 (2022 est.); $79,400 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 27.6% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 22.8% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 29.4% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.2% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 76.5% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -60% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 1.2% (2023 est.)
Industry: 61.8% (2023 est.)
Services: 38.8% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: chicken, eggs, fruits, rice, vegetables, beans, bananas, beef, pineapples, cucumbers/gherkins (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: -1.43% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 228,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.27% (2023 est.); 5.19% (2022 est.); 4.91% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 18.6% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 16.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 22.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $1.058 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $3.189 billion (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues: 18.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Public debt: 2.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 0.36% (2023 est.); 3.68% (2022 est.); 1.73% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $3.264 billion (2022 est.); $1.57 billion (2021 est.); $513.713 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $14.411 billion (2022 est.); $11.202 billion (2021 est.); $6.886 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Australia 19%, Japan 17%, China 16%, Singapore 14%, Malaysia 10% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, hydrocarbons, fertilizers (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $10.106 billion (2022 est.); $9.219 billion (2021 est.); $6.382 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: Malaysia 22%, UAE 11%, China 10%, Singapore 7%, Qatar 6% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, coal, gas turbines (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $4.483 billion (2023 est.); $5.035 billion (2022 est.); $4.982 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 1.265 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 5.24 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 513 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Consumption: 1.203 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 1.203 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Total petroleum production: 95,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 17,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas
Production: 10.598 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Consumption: 4.374 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Exports: 6.12 billion m³ (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 260.515 billion m³ (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 12.172 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 1.419 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.197 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 8.557 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 466.111 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 122,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 27 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 529,000 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 3% of GDP (2023 est.); 2.6% of GDP (2022 est.); 3.1% of GDP (2021 est.); 3.7% of GDP (2020 est.); 3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) or Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB): Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) or Tentera Darat Diraja Brunei (TDDB), Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) or Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB),; Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) or Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei (TUDB); Ministry of Home Affairs: Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) or Polis Diraja Brunei (PDB) (2024)
Note: the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) under the Ministry of Defense is a special guard force for the Sultan, the royal family, and the country’s oil installations; the RBAF has a Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) to oversee joint/combined operations of the service branches

Military service age and obligation: 17 years of age for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2024)
Note: the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) employs hundreds of Gurkhas from Nepal, the majority of whom are veterans of the British Army and the Singapore Police Force who have joined the GRU as a second career

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,234,455 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 129.35 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: V8

Airports: 2 (2024)

Heliports: 14 (2024)

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

Railways

Roadways
Total: 2,976 km
Paved: 2,559 km
Unpaved: 417 km (2014)

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

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Stateless persons: 20,863 (2022)
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