Brunei

Negara Brunei Darussalam

constitutional sultanateIndependence 1 January 1984 (from UK)

Brunei as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 123 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

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CapitalBandar Seri Begawan
Position4 30 N, 114 40 E
Area5,770 sq km
LocationSoutheastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
2004

Every edition of Brunei

Populationas each edition published it
365,251 people July 2004 est. · 372,108 in 1990
Population growth% a year
1.95% 2004 est. · 2.77% in 1993
Median ageyears
26.7 years 2004 est. · 26.4 yrs in 2003
Life expectancyyears at birth
74.54 years 2004 est. · 70.94 yrs in 1993
Fertility ratechildren per woman
2.33 children per woman 2004 est. · 2.9 in 1990
Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births
13.05 deaths per 1,000 live births 2004 est. · 10 in 1990
GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars
$18,600 2002 est. · $8,800 in 1993
GDP real growth% a year
3% 2002 est. · 1% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

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 the developing world.

Geography

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

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Land useshare of 5,770 sq km

permanent crops 0.76%other 98.67% (2001)arable land 0.57% in all · irrigated 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Area
5,770sq km
land: 5,270 sq kmwater: 500 sq kmslightly smaller than Delaware
Coastline
161km
territorial sea: 12 nmexclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Highest point
1,850m
Bukit Pagonlowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Land boundaries
381km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Geographic coordinates

4 30 N, 114 40 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Terrain

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

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, timber

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:
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 of Malaysia

People

19 fields
Population
365,251
(July 2004 est.)growth rate: 1.95% (2004 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2004 est.)

Birth
19.33Death
3.4Net migration
3.59

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2004 est.)74.54
72.13 · 77.09Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)13.05
16.51 · 9.41
TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2002)93.9%
96.3% · 91.4%Median age years (2004 est.)26.7
27.3 · 26
MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Malay 67%Chinese 15%indigenous 6%other 12%

Religions

Muslim (official) 67%Buddhist 13%Christian 10%indigenous beliefs and other 10%

Age structure

0-14 years:
29.1% (male 54,243; female 52,013)
15-64 years:
68% (male 131,682; female 116,631)
65 years and over:
2.9% (male 5,035; female 5,647) (2004 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:
1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.89 male(s)/female
total population:
1.1 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.33 children born/woman (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality

noun:
Bruneian(s)
adjective:
Bruneian

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Government

Constitutional sultanate; Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)

18 fields

Country name

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

Government 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)

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

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:
Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:
Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
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 monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch

  • Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan;
  • passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members
elections:
last held in March 1962; date of next election NA

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms)

Political parties and leaders

other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)

International organization participation

APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEH
chancery:
3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:
[1] (202) 237-1838
FAX:
[1] (202) 885-0560

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:
Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTY
embassy:
Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan
mailing address:
PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507
telephone:
[673] (2) 229670
FAX:
[673] (2) 225293

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;
  • 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

This small, wealthy economy encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition.

41 fields
Real growth rate
3%
(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 5% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate
10%
(2001 est.)
Labor force
143,400
note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary residents make up about 40% of labor force (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 5%industry 45%services 50% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

41%
Japan
9.9%
4.5%
Singapore
19.9%
Malaysia
19.8%
7.8%
US
11.4%
11.2%
South Korea
9.4%
Thailand
4%
8.4%
Australia
4.3%
6.7%
China
4.8%
Hong Kong
6.5%
Exports $3.439 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)Imports $1.63 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)(2003)

Budget

Revenues
$2.5 billionExpenditures
$2.6 billion (1997 est.)
expenditures including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion

Electricity

Electricity production
2.497 billion (2001)Electricity consumption
2.322 billion (2001)

Economy - overview

This small, wealthy economy encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production.

The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion, although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum.

Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $6.5 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $18,600 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, government 48% (1999 est.)

Agriculture - products

rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Oil - production

217,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves

1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production

10.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

315 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Exports

$3.439 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, natural gas, refined products

Imports

$1.63 billion c.i.f. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Economic aid - recipient

$4.3 million (1995)

Currency

Bruneian dollar (BND)

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001), 1.724 (2000), 1.695 (1999)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields
Mobile cellular
137,000
(2002)
Internet users
6,409
(2003)
Fixed lines
90,000
(2002) · country code .bn

Telephone system

general assessment:
service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the US
domestic:
every service available
international:
  • country code - 673;
  • satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean);
  • digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)

Internet users

35,000 (2002)

Transportation

9 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m
1

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

914 to 1,523 m
1

Networkskm

Highways
2,525Waterways
209 (2004)
Highways: paved: 2,525 km · unpaved: 0 km (2000) · Waterways: (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m)

Highways

total:
2,525 km
paved:
2,525 km
unpaved:
0 km (2000)

Waterways

209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2004)

Pipelines

gas 665 km; oil 439 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong

Merchant marine

total:
8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
by type:
liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned:
United Kingdom 8 (2004 est.)

Airports

2 (2003 est.)

Heliports

3 (2003 est.)

Military

Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force

7 fields

Military branches

Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 112,630 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: approx. 60,000 (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

2 fields

Disputes - international

  • in 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their offshore and deepwater seabeds until negotiations progress to an agreement over allocation of disputed areas;
  • Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute;
  • Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984 but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs;
  • the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants

Illicit drugs

drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty

Central Intelligence Agency. “Brunei.” The World Factbook 2004. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/brunei/2004.

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