Brunei

Broadcast media

state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 5 channels; 3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite systems; RTB operates 5 radio networks and broadcasts 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 (2017)

Internet country code

.bn

Internet users

total: 306,000 | percent of population: 71.2% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Telephone 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 provides new links to Asia and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 74,213 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 463,000 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 108 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 171

Agriculture - products

rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs

Budget

revenues: $2.679 billion | expenditures: $4.561 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-16.8% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 213

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.5% (31 December 2016 est.) | 5.5% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Current account balance

$1.091 billion (2016 est.) | $2.071 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 41

Debt - external

$0 (2014) | $0 (2013) | note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable | country comparison to the world: 207

Economy - overview

Brunei is an energy-rich sultanate on the northern coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Brunei boasts a well-educated, largely English-speaking population; excellent infrastructure; and a stable government intent on attracting foreign investment. Crude oil and natural gas production account for approximately 65% of GDP and 95% of exports, with Japan as the primary export market. | Per capita GDP is among the highest in the world, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic hydrocarbon production. Bruneian citizens pay no personal income taxes, and the government provides free medical services and free education through the university level. | The Bruneian Government wants to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbon exports to other industries such as information and communications technology and halal manufacturing, permissible under Islamic law. Brunei’s trade in 2016 was set to increase following its regional economic integration in the ASEAN Economic Community, and the expected ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - | 1.3814 (2016 est.) | 1.3814 (2015 est.) | 1.3749 (2014 est.) | 1.267 (2013 est.) | 1.25 (2012 est.)

Exports

$5.023 billion (2016 est.) | $6.126 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Exports - commodities

mineral fuels, organic chemicals

Exports - partners

Japan 36.5%, South Korea 16.8%, Thailand 10.6%, India 9.8%, Malaysia 6.6%, China 4.6% (2016)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP (official exchange rate)

$11.4 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$32.76 billion (2016 est.) | $33.17 billion (2015 est.) | $32.95 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 127

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 22.5% | government consumption: 26.6% | investment in fixed capital: 35.3% | investment in inventories: 0% | exports of goods and services: 52.1% | imports of goods and services: -36.5% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 1.2% | industry: 56.5% | services: 42.4% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$77,500 (2016 est.) | $80,600 (2015 est.) | $81,900 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 10

GDP - real growth rate

-2.5% (2016 est.) | -0.4% (2015 est.) | -2.5% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 209

Gross national saving

43.5% of GDP (2016 est.) | 51.3% of GDP (2015 est.) | 58.1% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$3.119 billion (2016 est.) | $3.216 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Imports - commodities

machinery and mechanical appliance parts, mineral fuels, motor vehicles, electric machinery

Imports - partners

US 28.4%, Malaysia 24%, Singapore 7.1%, Indonesia 5.7%, Japan 5.3%, China 4.9%, Australia 4.3% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-2.9% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, transportation

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.7% (2016 est.) | -0.4% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Labor force

203,600 (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 169

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 4.2% | industry: 62.8% | services: 33% (2008 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

3.1% of GDP (2016 est.) | 3% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 203

Stock of broad money

$10.08 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $10.16 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Stock of domestic credit

$4.066 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $5.323 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Stock of narrow money

$3.232 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $3.31 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Taxes and other revenues

24% of GDP (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 123

Unemployment rate

6.9% (2016 est.) | 9.3% (2011 est.) | country comparison to the world: 90

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

8.4 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 110

Crude oil - exports

119,500 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 35

Crude oil - imports

160 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Crude oil - production

109,100 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 42

Crude oil - proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - consumption

3.679 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.9% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.1% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 166

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - installed generating capacity

841,000 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 133

Electricity - production

3.948 billion kWh (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 125

Electricity access

population without electricity: 104,788 | electrification - total population: 76% | electrification - urban areas: 79% | electrification - rural areas: 67% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption

4.545 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Natural gas - exports

8.52 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 24

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Natural gas - production

12 billion cu m (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - proved reserves

311.5 billion cu m (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 38

Refined petroleum products - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Refined petroleum products - exports

314.3 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 115

Refined petroleum products - imports

8,313 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 146

Refined petroleum products - production

8,345 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Area

total: 5,765 sq km | land: 5,265 sq km | water: 500 sq km | country comparison to the world: 173

Area - comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline

161 km

Elevation

mean elevation: 478 m | 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: 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

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 within Malaysia

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 266 km | border countries (1): Malaysia 266 km

Land use

agricultural land: 2.5% | arable land 0.8%; permanent crops 1.1%; permanent pasture 0.6% | forest: 71.8% | other: 25.7% (2011 est.)

Location

Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Map references

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

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

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-Muara, Temburong, Tutong

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Brunei | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years

Constitution

drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959; amended 1984, 2004, 2011; note - some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a state of emergency, others suspended since independence in 1984 (2016)

Country name

conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam | conventional short form: Brunei | local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam | local short form: Brunei | etymology: derivation of the name is unclear; according to legend, MUHAMMAD SHAH, who would become the first sultan of Brunei, upon discovering what would become Brunei exclaimed "Baru nah," which roughly translates as "there" or "that's it"

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Craig B. ALLEN (since 9 March 2015) | embassy: Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Datu, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115 | mailing address: Unit 4280, Box 40, FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam | telephone: [673] 238-4616 | FAX: [673] 238-4604

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Serbini ALI (since 28 January 2016) | chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838 | FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560 | consulate(s): New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government | head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967) | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; note - 4 additional advisory councils appointed by the monarch are the Religious Council, Privy Council for constitutional issues, Council of Succession, and Legislative Council | elections/appointments: none; the monarchy 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; 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"

Government type

absolute monarchy or sultanate

Independence

1 January 1984 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, 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

Judicial branch

highest resident court(s): Supreme Court (consists of Court of Appeal and High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court of Appeal (consists of judges appointed by the monarch); note - Brunei has a dual judicial system of secular and sharia (religious) courts; the Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London serves as the final appellate court for civil cases only | judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch to serve until age 65, and older if approved by the monarch; Sharia Court of Appeal judges appointed by the monarch for life | subordinate courts: Intermediate Court; Magistrate's Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts; lower sharia courts

Legal system

mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; note - in May 2014, the first of three phases of sharia-based penal codes was instituted, which applies to Muslims and non-Muslims and exists in parallel to the existing common law-based code

Legislative branch

description: Legislative Council or Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei (36 seats; members appointed by the sultan including 3 ex-officio members - the speaker and first and second secretaries; members appointed for 5-year terms) | elections/appointments: appointed by the sultan

National anthem

name: "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty) | lyrics/music: Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Pengiran Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap | note: adopted 1951

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

National symbol(s)

royal parasol; national colors: yellow, white, black

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

Suffrage

18 years of age for village elections; universal

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 world.

Military branches

Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2013)

Military expenditures

3.54% of GDP (2016) | 3.28% of GDP (2015) | 3.08% of GDP (2014) | 2.28% of GDP (2013) | 2.16% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 30

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve; recruits from the army, navy, and air force all undergo 43-week initial training (2013)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.12% (male 52,862/female 49,717) | 15-24 years: 17.05% (male 37,637/female 38,005) | 25-54 years: 46.75% (male 99,203/female 108,198) | 55-64 years: 8.23% (male 18,537/female 17,974) | 65 years and over: 4.84% (male 10,440/female 11,020) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

17 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 108

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

9.6% (2009)

Death rate

3.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 214

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 38.4 | youth dependency ratio: 32.8 | elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 | potential support ratio: 17.6 (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

3.7% of GDP (2016) | country comparison to the world: 126

Ethnic groups

Malay 65.7%, Chinese 10.3%, other indigenous 3.4%, other 20.6% (2011 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 186

Hospital bed density

2.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 11.4 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 142

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 77.3 years | male: 75 years | female: 79.8 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 73

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 96% | male: 97.5% | female: 94.5% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) 241,000 | note: the boundaries of the capital city were expanded in 2007, greatly increasing the city area; the population of the capital increased tenfold (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

23 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Median age

total: 30.2 years | male: 29.7 years | female: 30.7 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

Nationality

noun: Bruneian(s) | adjective: Bruneian

Net migration rate

2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 40

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

14.1% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 129

Physicians density

1.47 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

443,593 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Population growth rate

1.57% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Religions

Muslim (official) 78.8%, Christian 8.7%, Buddhist 7.8%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 4.7% (2011 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years | male: 14 years | female: 15 years (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female | total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 154

Urbanization

urban population: 77.8% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 1.52% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Disputes - international

per Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Brunei; nonetheless, Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Louisa Reef

Illicit drugs

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

stateless persons: 20,524 (2016); note - thousands of stateless persons, often ethnic Chinese, are permanent residents and their families have lived in Brunei for generations; obtaining citizenship is difficult and requires individuals to pass rigorous tests on Malay culture, customs, and language; stateless residents receive an International Certificate of Identity, which enables them to travel overseas; the government is considering changing the law prohibiting non-Bruneians, including stateless permanent residents, from owning land

Airports

1 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 214

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 | over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

V8 (2016)

Heliports

3 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 9 | by type: chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 8 | foreign-owned: 2 (UK 2) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 115

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 1 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,150,003 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 115.147 million mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

condensate 33 km; condensate/gas 86 km; gas 628 km; oil 492 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Muara | oil terminal(s): Lumut, Seria | LNG terminal(s) (export): Lumut

Roadways

total: 3,029 km | paved: 2,425 km | unpaved: 604 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 166

Waterways

209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong Rivers are major transport links) (2012) | country comparison to the world: 96