Brunei

Negara Brunei Darussalam

constitutional sultanateIndependence 1 January 1984 (from UK)

Brunei as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 90 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

Position4 30 N, 114 40 E

Area5,770 sq km

LocationSoutheastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and

Populationas each edition published it

299,939 people July 1996 est. · 372,108 in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.56% 1996 est. · 2.77% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 26.4 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

71.39 years 1996 est. · 70.94 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

3.39 children per woman 1996 est. · 2.9 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

24.2 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 10 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$15,800 1995 est. · $8,800 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2% 1995 est. · 1% in 1993

Geography

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and | Malaysia

15 fields

Land useshare of 5,770 sq km

meadows and pastures 1%forest and woodland 79%other 18%arable land 1% in all · permanent crops 1% in all · irrigated 10 sq km (1989 est.)

Area

5,770sq km

land area: 5,270 sq kmcomparative area: slightly larger than Delaware

Coastline

161km

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median lineterritorial sea: 12 nm

Land boundaries

381km

border country: Malaysia 381 km

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

International disputes

may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country;
all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam;
parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines;
in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island

Terrain

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

lowest point:: South China Sea 0 m
highest point:: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Environment

current issues:: NA
natural hazards:: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare
international agreements:: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic 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

15 fields

Population

299,939

(July 1996 est.)growth rate: 2.56% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

25.5Death

5.1Net migration

5.18

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years71.39

69.82 · 73.04

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy88.2%

92.6% · 83.4%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

Malay 64%Chinese 20%other 16%

Religions(1981)

Muslim (official) 63%Buddhism 14%Christian 8%indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 33% (male 51,266; female 49,194)
15-64 years:: 62% (male 98,806; female 88,323)
65 years and over:: 5% (male 6,843; female 5,507) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.24 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1.1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Bruneian(s)
adjective:: Bruneian

Government

Constitutional sultanate

23 fields

Name of country

conventional long form:: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form:: Brunei

Administrative divisions

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

Constitution

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

Executive branch

chief of state and head of government:: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967) is a traditional Islamic monarch
cabinet:: Council of Cabinet Ministers is composed chiefly of members of the royal family, appointed and presided over by the sultan; deals with executive matters

Religious Council

is appointed by the sultan; advises on religious matters

Privy Council

is appointed by the sultan; deals with constitutional matters; the Council of Succession: is appointed by the sultan; determines the succession to the throne if the need arises

Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri)

elections last held in March 1962;
in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan;
an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years

Judicial branch

Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the sultan for a three-year term

Political parties and leaders

Brunei United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman;
Brunei National Solidarity Party (the first legal political party and now banned), leader NA;
Brunei Peoples Party (banned), leader NA

International organization participation

APEC, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in US

chief of mission:: Ambassador JAYA bin Abdul Latif
chancery:: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone:: [1] (202) 342-0159

US diplomatic representation

chief of mission:: Ambassador Theresa A. TULL
embassy:: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan
mailing address:: American Embassy Box B, Bandar Seri Begawan, APO AP 96440
telephone:: [673] (2) 229670

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.

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$15,800

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 12.9% (1987)

Inflation, consumer prices

2.4%

(1994 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.8%

(1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture 3%industry 42%services 55%

Budget

Revenues

$2.1 billionExpenditures

$2.1 billion (1993)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $427 million

Installed generating capacity, 380,000 kW

Electricity production

1.2 billionElectricity consumption per capita

3,971 (1993)

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 40% of GDP. Per capita GDP 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.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $4.6 billion (1995 est.)

Labor force

119,000 (1993 est.); note - includes members of the Army; by occupation: government 47.5%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 41.9%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 3.8% (1986) note: 33% of labor force is foreign (1988)

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Agriculture

rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo, pigs

Exports

$2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1994 est.)

commodities:: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products
partners:: Japan 50%, UK 19%, Thailand 10%, Singapore 9% (1994 est.)

Imports

$1.8 billion (c.i.f., 1994 est.)

commodities:: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
partners:: Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 5% (1994 est.)

External debt

Economic aid

$NA

Currency

1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.4214 (January 1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992), 1.7276 (1991);
note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Fiscal year

calendar year

Transportation

8 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 2 in all

over 3 047 m

914 to 1 523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

2,443Railways

13Waterways

209

Highways: paved: 1,296 km · unpaved: 1,147 km (1993) · Railways: narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge · Waterways: ; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m