Area: total:5,765 sq kmcountry comparison to the world: 173
land:5,265 sq km
water:500 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total:266 km
border countries: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 extremes: lowest point:South China Sea 0 m
highest point:Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land:0.52%
permanent crops:0.87%
other:98.61% (2011)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources: 8.5 cu km (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): 8.5 cu km (2011) Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Environment - current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting 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; almost an enclave within Malaysia
People and Society
Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective:Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 65.7%, Chinese 10.3%, other indigenous 3.4%, other 20.6% (2011 est.)
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Religions: Muslim (official) 78.8%, Christian 8.7%, Buddhist 7.8%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 4.7% (2011 est.)
Population: 422,675 (July 2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 175
Age structure: 0-14 years:24.2% (male 52,753/female 49,548)
15-24 years:17.3% (male 36,187/female 36,965)
25-54 years:46.9% (male 96,006/female 102,028)
55-64 years:7.6% (male 16,542/female 15,589)
65 years and over:4% (male 8,301/female 8,756) (2014 est.)
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio:41.8 %
youth dependency ratio:35.3 %
elderly dependency ratio:6.5 %
potential support ratio:15.5 (2014 est.)
Median age: total:29.3 years
male:28.9 years
female:29.6 years (2014 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.65% (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 74
Birth rate: 17.49 births/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 107
Death rate: 3.47 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 216
Net migration rate: 2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 39
Urbanization: urban population:76% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization:2.13% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major urban areas - population: BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) 241,000
Sex ratio: at birth:1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years:1.07 male(s)/female
15-24 years:0.98 male(s)/female
25-54 years:0.94 male(s)/female
55-64 years:0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.95 male(s)/female
total population:1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)
Maternal mortality rate: 24 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Infant mortality rate: total:10.48 deaths/1,000 live birthscountry comparison to the world: 138
male:12.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female:8.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population:76.77 yearscountry comparison to the world: 74
male:74.46 years
female:79.19 years (2014 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.82 children born/woman (2014 est.)country comparison to the world: 152
Health expenditures: 2.5% of GDP (2011)
Physicians density: 1.36 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
Hospital bed density: 2.8 beds/1,000 population (2011)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2003 est.)country comparison to the world: 128
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: fewer than 200 (2003 est.)country comparison to the world: 164
HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 200 (2003 est.)country comparison to the world: 115
Obesity - adult prevalence rate: 7.5% (2008)country comparison to the world: 141
Education expenditures: 3.5% of GDP (2013)country comparison to the world: 126 Literacy: definition:age 15 and over can read and write
total population:95.4%
male:97%
female:93.9% (2011 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total:15 years
male:14 years
female:15 years (2012)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form:Brunei
local long form:Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form:Brunei
Government type: constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)
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)
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
Constitution: drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959; amended 1984, 2004, 2011; note - some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a State of Emergency, others since independence in 1984 (2011)
Legal system: mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; note - in May 2014, the first sharia-based penal codes were instituted and apply to Muslims and non-Muslims
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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 (Yang Di-Pertuan Agong) and head of government
head of government:Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
cabinet:Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
elections:none; the monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch: the Sultan appointed a Legislative Council with 29 members in September 2005; he increased the size of the council to 33 members in June 2011; the council meets annually in March
elections:last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
note:the Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; it passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; no timeframe for an election was announced
Judicial branch: highest court(s):Supreme Court (consists of Court of Appeal and High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court of Appeal (consists of judges appointed by the monarch)
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 of Appeal judges appointed by the monarch; judge tenure NA
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
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Dato Yusoff Abd HAMID (since 2 October 2009)
chancery:3520 International Court NW #300, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 237-1838
FAX:[1] (202) 885-0560
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission:Ambassador Daniel L. SHIELDS III (since 28 March 2011)
embassy:Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Datu, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115
mailing address:Unit 4280, Box 40, FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
telephone:[673] 238-4616
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 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 has a small well-to-do economy that depends on revenue from natural resource extraction but encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for 60% of GDP and more than 90% of exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. For Bruneian citizens the government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level. The government of Brunei has been emphasizing through policy and resource investments it strong desire to diversity its economy both within the oil and gas sector and to new sectors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$22.25 billion (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
$21.93 billion (2012 est.)
$21.73 billion (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):
$16.56 billion (2013 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
1.4% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
0.9% (2012 est.)
3.4% (2011 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$54,800 (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12
$54,900 (2012 est.)
$55,200 (2011 est.)
note:data are in 2013 US dollars
GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption:22.1%
government consumption:18.2%
investment in fixed capital:14.6%
investment in inventories:0%
exports of goods and services:78.4%
imports of goods and services:-33.3%
(2013 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture:0.7%
industry:70.9%
services:28.4% (2013 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%:NA%
highest 10%:NA%
Budget: revenues:$6.992 billion
expenditures:$5.366 billion (2013 est.)
Taxes and other revenues:
42.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29 Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
9.8% of GDP (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
0.5% (2012 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:
5.5% (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 142
5.5% (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of narrow money:
$3.472 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 113
$3.509 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of broad money:
$11.92 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 99
$11.41 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Stock of domestic credit:
$2.846 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
$2.351 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
$NA
Current account balance:
$3.977 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31 Exports:
$12.75 billion (2011)
country comparison to the world: 86
$9.88 billion (2010)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil, natural gas, garments
Exports - partners:
Japan 45.7%, South Korea 15.1%, Australia 9.1%, NZ 6.6%, India 5.8%, Vietnam 4.7% (2012)
Imports:
$3.02 billion (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147
$2.73 billion (2010 est.)
Imports - commodities:
iron and steel, motor vehicles, machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Singapore 26.3%, China 21.3%, UK 21.3%, Malaysia 11.8% (2012)
Debt - external:
$0 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 202 Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -
1.23 (2013 est.)
1.2496 (2012 est.)
1.3635 (2010 est.)
1.45 (2009)
Energy
Electricity - production:
3.723 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world:126
Electricity - consumption:
3.391 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123
Electricity - installed generating capacity:
759,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - from fossil fuels:
100% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 161
Electricity - from other renewable sources:
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
Crude oil - production:
141,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 45
Crude oil - exports:
147,900 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Crude oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
Crude oil - proved reserves:
1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
Refined petroleum products - production:
13,500 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
Refined petroleum products - consumption:
14,640 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
Refined petroleum products - exports:
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 159
Refined petroleum products - imports:
3,198 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 169
Natural gas - production:
12.44 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
Natural gas - consumption:
2.97 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
Natural gas - exports:
9.42 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 25
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - proved reserves:
390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 35
Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
8.656 million Mt (2011 est.)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:
70,933 (2012)
country comparison to the world:154
Telephones - mobile cellular:
469,700 (2012)
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
domestic:every service available
international:country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable network provides new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2011)
Broadcast media:
state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 5 channels; 3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite and cable 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 (2009)
Internet country code:
.bn
Internet hosts:
49,457 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 96
Internet users:
314,900 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 128
Transportation
Airports
1 (2013)
country comparison to the world:213
Airports - with paved runways total:1
over 3,047 m:1 (2013)
Heliports 3 (2013)
Pipelines condensate 33 km; condensate/gas 86 km; gas 628 km; oil 492 km (2013)
Roadways total:3,029 kmcountry comparison to the world: 166
paved:2,425 km
unpaved:604 km (2010)
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: 97
Merchant marine total:9country comparison to the world: 115
by type:chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned:2 (UK 2) (2010)
Ports and terminals major seaport(s):Muara
oil/gas terminal(s):Lumut, Seria
LNG terminal (export):Lumut
Military
Military branches Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2013)
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)
Manpower available for military service males age 16-49:112,688
females age 16-49:117,536 (2010 est.)
Manpower fit for military service males age 16-49:95,141
females age 16-49:99,386 (2010 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually male:3,572
female:3,465 (2010 est.)
Military expenditures
2.43% of GDP (2012)
country comparison to the world: 29
2.54% of GDP (2011)
2.43% of GDP (2010)
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:21,009 (2012); 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
