Brunei

constitutional sultanateIndependence 1 January 1984 (from UK)

Brunei as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 72 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalBandar Seri Begawan
Area5,770 km2
1990

Every edition of Brunei

Populationas each edition published it
372,108 people July 1990 · 491,900 in 2025
Population growth% a year
Not in this edition 2.77% in 1993
Median ageyears
Not in this edition 26.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
Not in this edition 70.94 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.9 children per woman 1990 · 1.73 in 2025
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
10 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 9.8 in 2025
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
Not in this edition $8,800 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
Not in this edition 1% in 1993

Geography

13 fields

Land useshare of 5,770 km2

meadows and pastures 1%forest and woodland 79%other 18%arable land 1% in all · permanent crops 1% in allincludes NEGL% irrigated
Total area
5,770km2
land area: 5,270 km2Comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware
Coastline
161km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Land boundary
381km with Malaysia

Disputes

may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Terrain

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

Natural resources

crude oil, natural gas, timber

Environment

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Note

  • close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans;
  • two parts physically separated by Malaysia;
  • almost an enclave of Malaysia

People

14 fields
Population
372,108
(July 1990), growth rate 7.1% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth
23Death
4Net migration
52

Ethnic divisions

Malay 64%Chinese 20%other 16%

Religion

Muslim (official) 60%Christian 8%Buddhist and indigenous beliefs 32%

Infant mortality rate

10 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)

Life expectancy at birth

74 years male, 77 years female (1990)

Total fertility rate

2.9 children born/woman (1990)

Nationality

noun--Bruneian(s); adjective--Bruneian

Language

Malay (official), English, and Chinese

Labor force

  • 89,000 (includes members of the Army);
  • 33% of labor force is foreign (1988);
  • 50.4% production of oil, natural gas, and construction;
  • 47.6% trade, services, and other;
  • 2.0% agriculture, forestry, and fishing (1984)

Organized labor

2% of labor force

Government

Constitutional sultanate

17 fields

Long-form name

Negara Brunei Darussalam

Type

constitutional sultanate

Capital

Bandar Seri Begawan

Administrative divisions

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

Independence

1 January 1984 (from UK)

Constitution

29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)

National holiday

National Day, 23 February (1984)

Executive branch

sultan, prime minister, Council of Cabinet Ministers

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court Chief of State and Head of Government--Sultan and Prime Minister Sir Muda HASSANAL BOLKIAH Muizzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967)

Political parties and leaders

  • Brunei National United Party (inactive), Anak Hasanuddin, chairman;
  • Brunei National Democratic Party (the first legal political party and now banned) Abdul Latif bin Abdul Hamid, chairman

Suffrage

none Legislative Council--last held in March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan and no elections are planned

Communists

probably none

Member of

ASEAN, ESCAP (associate member), IMO, INTERPOL, OIC, UN

Diplomatic representation

  • Ambassador Dato Paduka Haji MOHAMED SUNI bin Haji Idris;
  • Chancery at 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington DC 20037;
  • telephone (202) 342-0159;
  • US--Ambassador Christopher H. PHILLIPS;
  • Embassy at Teck Guan Plaza (corner of Jalan McArthur), Bandar Seri Begawan (mailing address is P. O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan);
  • telephone [673] (2) 29670

Flag

  • 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;
  • the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Economy

The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition.

16 fields
GDP, purchasing power parity
$3.3billion
per capita $9,600; real growth rate 2.5% (1989 est.)
Unemployment
2.5%
shortage of skilled labor (1989 est.)

Overview

The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for more than 70% of GDP. Per capita GDP of $9,600 is among the highest in the Third World, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.

Budget

revenues $1.2 billion (1987); expenditures $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1989 est.)

Exports

  • $2.07 billion (f.o.b., 1987);
  • commodities--crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products;
  • partners--Japan 55% (1986)

Imports

  • $800 million (c.i.f., 1987);
  • commodities--machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods;
  • food, beverages, tobacco;
  • consumer goods;
  • partners--Singapore 31%, US 20%, Japan 6% (1986)

Industrial production

growth rate NA%

Electricity

310,000 kW capacity; 890 million kWh produced, 2,580 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

petroleum, liquefied natural gas, construction

Agriculture

imports about 80% of its food needs; principal crops and livestock include rice, cassava, bananas, buffaloes, and pigs

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $20.6 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $143.7 million

Currency

Bruneian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

  • Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1--1.8895 (January 1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988), 2.1060 (1987), 2.1774 (1986), 2.2002 (1985);
  • note--the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

9 fields

Airports, 2 total, 2 usable

permanent-surface runways
1runway over 3,659 m
1runway 1,406 m
1

Networkskm

Highways
1,090Inland waterways
209
Highways: ; 370 km paved (bituminous treated) and another 52 km under construction, 720 km gravel or unimproved · Inland waterways: ; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 meters

Railroads

13 km 0.610-meter narrow-gauge private line

Highways

1,090 km total; 370 km paved (bituminous treated) and another 52 km under construction, 720 km gravel or unimproved

Inland waterways

209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 meters

Ports

Kuala Belait, Muara

Merchant marine

7 liquefied gas carriers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT

Pipelines

  • crude oil, 135 km;
  • refined products, 418 km;
  • natural gas, 920 km

Civil air

4 major transport aircraft (3 Boeing 757-200, 1 Boeing 737-200)

Telecommunications

  • service throughout country is adequate for present needs;
  • international service good to adjacent Malaysia;
  • radiobroadcast coverage good;
  • 33,000 telephones (1987);
  • stations--4 AM/FM, 1 TV;
  • 74,000 radio receivers (1987);
  • satellite earth stations--1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT and 1 Pacific Ocean INTELSAT

Defense Forces

Royal Brunei Armed Forces, including air wing, navy, and ground forces; British Gurkha Battalion; Royal Brunei Police; Gurkha Reserve Unit

3 fields

Military manpower

males 15-49
104,398fit for military service
60,242reach military age (18) annually
3,106
Defense expenditures
$197.6million
17% of central government budget (FY86)

Branches

  • Royal Brunei Armed Forces, including air wing, navy, and ground forces;
  • British Gurkha Battalion;
  • Royal Brunei Police;
  • Gurkha Reserve Unit

Central Intelligence Agency. “Brunei.” The World Factbook 1990. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/brunei/1990.

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