Brunei

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

2 (2000)

Internet country code

.bn

Internet users

35,000 (2002)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)

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: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001)

Telephones - main lines in use

79,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

43,524 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

2 (1997)

Agriculture - products

rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo

Budget

revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (1997 est.)

Currency

Bruneian dollar (BND)

Currency code

BND

Debt - external

$0

Economic aid - recipient

$4.3 million (1995)

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.

Electricity - consumption

2.322 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

2.497 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.72 (2000), 1.69 (1999), 1.67 (1998)

Exports

$3 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

crude oil, natural gas, refined products

Exports - partners

Japan 40.3%, South Korea 12.3%, Thailand 12.1%, Australia 9.2%, US 8.1%, China 6.4%, Singapore 5.7% (2002)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

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

GDP - composition by sector

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

GDP - per capita

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

GDP - real growth rate

3% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$1.4 billion c.i.f. (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

Singapore 30.6%, Japan 21.5%, Malaysia 17.4%, UK 6.1%, Hong Kong 4% (2002)

Industrial production growth rate

5% (2002 est.)

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-2% (2002 est.)

Labor force

143,400 note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary residents make up about 40% of labor force (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

10.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

315 billion cu m (37257)

Oil - consumption

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

217,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

1.255 billion bbl (37257)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

10% (2001 est.)

Area

total: 5,770 sq km water: 500 sq km land: 5,270 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline

161 km

Elevation extremes

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

Environment - current issues

seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements

party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

4 30 N, 114 40 E

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km

Land use

arable land: 0.57% permanent crops: 0.76% other: 98.67% (1998 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM or to median line territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

Bandar Seri Begawan

Constitution

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

Country name

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

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

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

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

Government type

constitutional sultanate

Independence

1 January 1984 (from UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

Legal system

based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas

Legislative branch

unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch) elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years

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

Political parties and leaders

Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; note - the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985 but became largely inactive after 1988; it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; 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)

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

none

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.

Military branches

Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$329.7 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5% (FY02)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 110,888 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 63,966 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 3,277 (2003 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.6% (male 54,118; female 51,902) 15-64 years: 67.6% (male 128,421; female 113,480) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 4,804; female 5,373) (2003 est.)

Birth rate

19.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Death rate

3.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.) male: 17.09 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.3 years male: 71.9 years female: 76.82 years (2003 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 91.8% male: 94.8% female: 88.5% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 26.4 years male: 27 years female: 25.7 years (2002)

Nationality

noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian

Net migration rate

3.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Population

358,098 (July 2003 est.)

Population growth rate

2% (2003 est.)

Religions

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

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 (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)

Disputes - international

Involved in dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; 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; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of conduct"

Illicit drugs

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

Airports

2 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Heliports

3 (2002)

Highways

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

Merchant marine

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT ships by type: liquefied gas 8 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: UK 7 (2002 est.)

Pipelines

gas 665 km; oil 439 km (2003)

Ports and harbors

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

Railways

total: 13 km (private line) narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge (2001 est.)

Waterways

209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m