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 Asia.

Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N 114 40 E

Area
Rank: 173
Land: 5,265 km²
Water: 500 km²
Comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries
Border countries: (1) Malaysia 381 km

Coastline: 161 km

Maritime claims
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
Extremes highest point: Bukit Pagon 1850 m

Natural resources: petroleum natural gas timber

Land use
Permanent crops: 0.87%
Other: 98.61% (2011)

Irrigated land: 10 km² (2003)

Total renewable water resources: 8.5 km³ (2011)

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; almost an enclave within Malaysia

Population: 415,717 (July 2013 est.)
Rank: 175

Nationality
Adjective: Bruneian

Ethnic groups: Malay 66.3% Chinese 11.2% indigenous 3.4% other 19.1% (2004 est.)

Languages: Malay (official) English Chinese

Religions: Muslim (official) 67% Buddhist 13% Christian 10% other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%

Environment
Current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
International agreements signed but not ratified: none of the selected agreements