Brunei
Brunei DarussalamNegara Brunei Darussalam
constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)Independence 1 January 1984 (from the UK)
Brunei as the 2010 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 128 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.
No fields match. Try a shorter word.
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 5,765 sq km
Environment - international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, 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 within Malaysia
People
22 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2010 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Ethnic groups(2004 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.047 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.99 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.94 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 156
Government
Constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy); Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
19 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-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 concerning Muslim marriages and inheritance;
- 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:
- ; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- 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 monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch
The Sultan appointed a Legislative Council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005; the council has met in March of each year since then
- elections:
- last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
note: The Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; it passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; no timeframe for an election has been announced
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 in 2007; parties are small and have limited activity
International organization participation
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Yusoff Abd HAMID
- 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Alexander L. BARRASSO
- embassy:
- Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Kebangsaan, 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] 238-4616
- FAX:
- [673] 238-4606
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;
- yellow is the color of royalty and symbolizes the sultanate;
- the white and black bands denote Brunei's chief ministers;
- the emblem includes five main components: a swallow-tailed flag, the royal umbrella representing the monarchy, the wings of four feathers symbolizing justice, tranquility, prosperity, and peace, the two upraised hands signifying the government's pledge to preserve and promote the welfare of the people, and the crescent moon denoting Islam, the state religion;
- the state motto "Always render service with God's guidance" appears in yellow Arabic script on the crescent;
- a ribbon below the crescent reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace"
National anthem
- name:
- "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)
- lyrics/music:
- Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap
note: adopted 1951
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.
43 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2008 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. A new monetary authority was established in January 2011 with responsibilities that include monetary policy, monitoring of financial institutions, and currency trading activities.
Other plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, increasing agricultural production, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
Commercial bank prime lending rate
5.5% (31 December 2009 est.) · 5.5% (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 144
Stock of narrow money
$3.374 billion (30 March 2009) · $3.046 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 108
Stock of broad money
$8.569 billion (31 December 2009) · $7.597 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 106
Stock of domestic credit
$1.274 billion (31 December 2008 est.) · $2.38 billion (31 December 2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 142
Natural gas - proved reserves
390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 35
Current account balance
$7.024 billion (2008 est.) · $7.101 billion (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 27
Exchange rates
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - 1.45 (2009), 1.45 (2009), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- service throughout the country is good; 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) (2009)
Broadcast media
- state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 4 channels;
- 3 Malaysian TV stations are available;
- foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite and cable systems;
- RTB operates 5 radio networks broadcasting 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 (2009)
Transportation
8 fieldsMerchant marine, 9 ships by typeone square, one ship · (2010)
Networkskm
Waterways
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong rivers are major transport links) (2011) country comparison to the world: 97
Military
Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2010)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2010)
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 along their land boundary;
- despite no public territorial claim to Louisa Reef, Brunei implicitly lays claim by including it within the natural prolongation of its continental shelf and basis for a seabed median with Vietnam;
- 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 2010. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/brunei/2010.