Brunei

• 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

• 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

noun:

Bruneian(s)

adjective:

Bruneian

total:

32.6 years (2025 est.)

male:

31.4 years

female:

33.1 years

• 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

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.)

total:

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

male:

12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

female:

7.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total population:

78.9 years (2024 est.)

male:

76.5 years

female:

81.3 years

total:

0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

beer:

0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine:

0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols:

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total:

17% (2025 est.)

male:

31.2% (2025 est.)

female:

1.9% (2025 est.)

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

urban population:

79.1% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization:

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

energy:

50.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)

agriculture:

0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

waste:

9.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

other:

0.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)

municipal solid waste generated annually:

216,300 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled:

20% (2022 est.)

municipal:

151.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

agricultural:

5.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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; the name may come from the Sanskrit word bhumi , meaning "land" or "region"

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), 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)

history:

drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959

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

note: some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a state of emergency, others suspended since independence in 1984

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

legislature name:

Legislative Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Negara)

legislative structure:

unicameral

number of seats:

45 (all appointed)

electoral system:

plurality/majority

scope of elections:

full renewal

term in office:

5 years

most recent election date:

1/20/2023

percentage of women in chamber:

11.4%

expected date of next election:

January 2028

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

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

chief of mission:

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

chancery:

3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:

[1] (202) 237-1838

FAX:

[1] (202) 885-0560

email address and website:

[email protected]; http://www.bruneiembassy.org/index.html

consulate(s):

New York

chief of mission:

Ambassador Caryn R. McCLELLAND (since December 2021)

embassy:

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

mailing address:

4020 Bandar Seri Begawan Place, Washington DC 20521-4020

telephone:

(673) 238-7400

FAX:

(673) 238-7533

email address and website:

[email protected]; https://bn.usembassy.gov/

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)

title:

"Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)

lyrics/music:

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

history:

adopted 1951

• 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

total:

18.5% (2024 est.)

male:

16.5% (2024 est.)

female:

21.6% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

consumption:

841,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports:

841,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

total petroleum production:

95,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

refined petroleum consumption:

15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves:

1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)

production:

10.093 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

consumption:

3.911 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

exports:

5.733 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

proven reserves:

260.515 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

• 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

total ports:

5 (2024)

large:

0

medium:

0

small:

2

very small:

3

ports with oil terminals:

5

key ports:

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

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/