Brunei
Brunei DarussalamNegara Brunei Darussalam
constitutional sultanateIndependence 1 January 1984 (from UK)
Brunei as the 2008 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 129 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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 Asia.
Geography
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
20 fieldsLand useshare of 5,770 sq km
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, 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
21 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2008 est.)
Per 1,000 population(2008 est.)
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2004 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.05 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.92 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1.02 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
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 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Brunei Darussalam
- conventional short form:
- Brunei
- local long form:
- Negara Brunei Darussalam
- local short form:
- Brunei
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)
Administrative divisions
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
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)
Legal system
- based on English common law;
- for Muslims, Islamic Sharia law supersedes civil law in a number of areas;
- has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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)
- 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;
- Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005;
- council met in March 2006 and in March 2007
- elections:
- last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
Judicial branch
- Supreme Court - chief justice and judges are sworn in by monarch for three-year terms;
- Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London is final court of appeal for civil cases;
- Sharia courts deal with Islamic laws (2006)
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; parties are small and have limited activity
International organization participation
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Angela SHIM
- 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 William E. TODD
- embassy:
- Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8811
- mailing address:
- PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
- telephone:
- [673] 222-0384
- FAX:
- [673] 222-5293
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
Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition.
44 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2005 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for just over half 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.
The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion. 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.
Exchange rates
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- service throughout the country is excellent; 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, scheduled for completion by late 2008, will provide new links to Asia and the US;
- satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2007)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits two FM signals with English and Nepali service) (2006)
Transportation
9 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF): Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2008)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF): Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2008)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)
Transnational Issues
2 fieldsDisputes - international
- Brunei and Malaysia agreed in September 2008 to resolve their offshore and deepwater seabed dispute, resume hydrocarbon exploration, and renounce any territorial claims on land;
- Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in the 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
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Brunei.” The World Factbook 2008. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/brunei/2008.