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  Brunei  
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This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


Map of Brunei
Legend: DefinitionDefinition Field ListingField Listing Rank OrderRank Order
   Introduction    Brunei Top of Page
Background:
Definition Field Listing
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    Brunei Top of Page
Location:
Definition Field Listing
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates:
Definition Field Listing
4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references:
Definition Field Listing
Southeast Asia
Area:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 5,770 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative:
Definition Field Listing
slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries:
Definition Field Listing
total: 381 km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline:
Definition Field Listing
161 km
Maritime claims:
Definition Field Listing
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Climate:
Definition Field Listing
tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain:
Definition Field Listing
flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes:
Definition Field Listing
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use:
Definition Field Listing
arable land: 2.08%
permanent crops: 0.87%
other: 97.05% (2005)
Irrigated land:
Definition Field Listing
10 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources:
Definition Field Listing
8.5 cu km (1999)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
Definition Field Listing
Total: 0.09
Per capita: 243 cu m/yr (1994)
Natural hazards:
Definition Field Listing
typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Environment - current issues:
Definition Field Listing
seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements:
Definition Field Listing
party to: Biodiversity, 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:
Definition Field Listing
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    Brunei Top of Page
Population:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
374,577 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
Definition Field Listing
0-14 years: 27.8% (male 53,512/female 50,529)
15-64 years: 69% (male 130,134/female 128,488)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 5,688/female 6,226) (2007 est.)
Median age:
Definition Field Listing
total: 27.2 years
male: 27.3 years
female: 27.1 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
Definition Field Listing
1.81% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
18.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
3.26 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
Definition Field Listing
2.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
Definition Field Listing
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.059 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.013 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.914 male(s)/female
total population: 1.022 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 13.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total population: 75.3 years
male: 73.12 years
female: 77.59 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.97 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 200 (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
less than 200 (2003 est.)
Nationality:
Definition Field Listing
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups:
Definition Field Listing
Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Religions:
Definition Field Listing
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%
Languages:
Definition Field Listing
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy:
Definition Field Listing
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.7%
male: 95.2%
female: 90.2% (2001 census)
   Government    Brunei Top of Page
Country name:
Definition Field Listing
conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form: Brunei
Government type:
Definition Field Listing
constitutional sultanate
Capital:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence:
Definition Field Listing
1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
Legal system:
Definition Field Listing
based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
Definition Field Listing
none
Executive branch:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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; Shariah courts deal with Islamic laws (2006)
Political parties and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin Chuchu]; National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]
note: People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad] was deregistered in 2007; parties are small and have limited activity
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Definition Field Listing
NA
International organization participation:
Definition Field Listing
APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
chief of mission: Ambassador Emil SKODON
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:
Definition Field Listing
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 Top of Page
Economy - overview:
Definition Field Listing
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$9.557 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Definition Field Listing
$9.531 billion (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0.4% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$25,600 (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 71.6%
services: 27.5% (2005 est.)
Labor force:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
180,400 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
Definition Field Listing
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 61.1%
services: 36% (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4% (2006)
Population below poverty line:
Definition Field Listing
NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
Definition Field Listing
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.1% (2005)
Budget:
Definition Field Listing
revenues: $3.765 billion
expenditures: $4.815 billion (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
Definition Field Listing
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs
Industries:
Definition Field Listing
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.8% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.735 billion kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.625 billion kWh (2005 est.)
Electricity - exports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
Definition Field Listing
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
219,300 bbl/day (2006)
Oil - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
14,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
205,600 bbl/day (2006)
Oil - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
660.1 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
1.35 billion bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
11.03 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2.254 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
8.776 billion cu m (2005 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
0 cu m (2005)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
374.8 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Exports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$6.767 billion f.o.b. (2006)
Exports - commodities:
Definition Field Listing
crude oil, natural gas, refined products, clothing
Exports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Japan 30.5%, Indonesia 19.9%, South Korea 14.9%, Australia 11.5%, US 7.7% (2006)
Imports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$2 billion c.i.f. (2006)
Imports - partners:
Definition Field Listing
Singapore 31.6%, Malaysia 19%, UK 8.1%, Japan 5.6%, China 5.5%, Thailand 4.6% (2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
Definition Field Listing
$770,000 (2004)
Debt - external:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$0 (2005)
Market value of publicly traded shares:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
$NA
Currency (code):
Definition Field Listing
Bruneian dollar (BND)
Exchange rates:
Definition Field Listing
Bruneian dollars per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)
Fiscal year:
Definition Field Listing
1 April - 31 March
   Communications    Brunei Top of Page
Telephones - main lines in use:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
80,200 (2006)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
254,000 (2006)
Telephone system:
Definition Field Listing
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:
Definition Field Listing
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)
Television broadcast stations:
Definition Field Listing
4 (includes 2 UHF stations broadcasting a subscription service) (2006)
Internet country code:
Definition Field Listing
.bn
Internet hosts:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
15,347 (2007)
Internet users:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
165,600 (2006)
   Transportation    Brunei Top of Page
Airports:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2007)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
Definition Field Listing
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007)
Heliports:
Definition Field Listing
3 (2007)
Pipelines:
Definition Field Listing
gas 672 km; oil 463 km (2006)
Roadways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 3,650 km
paved: 2,819 km
unpaved: 831 km (2005)
Waterways:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2007)
Merchant marine:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 8 (UK 8) (2007)
Ports and terminals:
Definition Field Listing
Lumut, Muara, Seria
   Military    Brunei Top of Page
Military branches:
Definition Field Listing
Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF): Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2005)
Military service age and obligation:
Definition Field Listing
18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007)
Manpower available for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 103,885
females age 18-49: 93,024 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 85,045
females age 18-49: 77,436 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
Definition Field Listing
males age 18-49: 3,478
females age 18-49: 3,342 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
Definition Field Listing Rank Order
4.5% (2006)
   Transnational Issues    Brunei Top of Page
Disputes - international:
Definition Field Listing
Brunei and Malaysia are still considering international adjudication over their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds, where hydrocarbon exploration was terminated in 2003 international legal adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; 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:
Definition Field Listing
drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty

This page was last updated on 17 January, 2008


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