|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Common Name: Brunei
|
Local Official Name: Brunei
|
|
Abbreviated Name: Negara Brunei Darussalam
|
Official Name: Negara Brunei Darussalam
|
|
pol_offnamescript.php?variable=pol_offnamescript">
Official Script Name: Brunei
|
Local Common Name: Brunei
|
|
Former Name: Brunei
|
Territory of: NA
|
|
|
Head of State: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah
|
Government Type: Constitutional Sultanate
|
Independence: 1984 January 1 (from UK)
|
Constitution: 1959 September 29 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
|
National Holiday: National Day, 23 February
|
International Organization Participation: APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
|
Administrative Divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
|
Dependent Areas: NA
|
Legal System: Based on English common law; For Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas.
|
Suffrage: NA years
|
Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: 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
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
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
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; Shariah courts deal with Islamic laws (2006)
|
Party Leaders: Brunei Solidarity National Party (PPKB) [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin]; National Development Party (NDP) [YASSIN Affendi]; People's Awareness Party (PAKAR) [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad]
note: parties are small and have limited activity (2005)
|
International Disputes: In 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations have stalemated prompting consideration of 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 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Location of Brunei: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
|
|
Continent: Asia
|
Land Area Total: 5,770 sq km
|
|
Region: South East Asia |
Land Area Land: 500 sq km
|
|
Capitol City: Bandar Seri Begawan
|
Land Area Water: 5,270 sq km
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latitude: 004 30 N
|
Border Boundary Land: 381 km
|
|
Longitude: 114 40 E
|
Border Boundary Coastline: 161 km
|
|
|
|
Arable Land: 1.00 %
|
Pastures: 0.00 %
|
|
Crops: 1.00 %
|
Woodlands and Forests: 0.00
|
|
|
|
Highest Elevation: 1,850 m
|
Location: Bukit Pagon
|
|
Lowest Elevation: 0 m
|
Location: South China Sea
|
|
|
|
Largest City in Brunei: Bandar Seri Begawan
|
Bandar Seri Begawan Largest City Population: 85,000
|
|
|
Threatened Species: 0
|
Environmental Issues: Seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia.
|
Environmental Agreements: Party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
Irrigated Land: 10
|
Bordering Countries: Malaysia 381 km
|
Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
|
Geographical Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
|
Comparative Area of Brunei: slightly smaller than Delaware
|
Brunei's Geography: 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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
|
Natural Hazards: Typhoons, Earthquakes, and severe Flooding are very rare
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Economic Overview: This small, well-to-do 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 and more than 90% of government revenues. 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 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, 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.
|
|
|
|
GDP: $6,842,000,000 USD
|
Currency: Bruneian dollar
|
|
GDP per Capita: $23,600 USD
|
Currency Code: BND
|
|
GDP Growth Rate: 1.70 %
|
|
|
|
Currency Exchange Rate History: Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001)
|
|
|
|
GDP of Agriculture: 3.60 %
|
GDP of Industry: 56.10 %
|
|
GDP of Services: 40.30 % |
|
|
|
|
Inflation Rate: 0.90 % |
Population in Poverty: 0.00 %
|
|
Unemployment Rate: 4.80 %
|
Tourism: 964,000.00 visitors each year
|
|
|
|
Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 %
|
Budget Revenue in USD: $3,765,000,000 USD
|
|
Consumption by upper 10%: 0.00 %
|
Budget Expenditures in USD: $4,815,000,000 USD
|
|
|
|
Electricity Production: 2,906,000,000 kWh
|
Electricity Exports: 0 kWh
|
|
Electricity Consumption: 2,726,000,000 kWh
|
Electricity Imports: 0 kWh
|
Electricity Production by Source:
|
|
|
Fossil Fuel Electricity Production: 100.00%
|
Nuclear Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
|
Hydro Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
Other Electricity Production: 0.00%
|
|
|
|
Oil Production: 2,008,000 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Production: 11,400,000,000 cu m
|
|
Oil Consumption: 10,770 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Consumption: 1,730,000,000 cu m
|
|
Oil Exports: 192,700 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Exports: 9,000,000,000 cu m
|
|
Oil Imports: 0 barrels per day
|
Natural Gas Imports: 0 cu m
|
|
Proven Oil Reserves: 1,255,000,000 barrels
|
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: 390,800,000,000 cu m
|
|
|
|
External Debt: $0 USD |
Received in economic aid: $4,300,000 USD
|
|
|
Donated in economic aid: $0 USD
|
|
|
Agricultural Products: rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo
|
Primary Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
|
Industrial Growth Rate: 7.30 %
|
|
|
Import Amount in USD: $1,641,000,000 USD - machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
|
Import Partners: Singapore 33.1%, Malaysia 24.2%, Japan 7%, UK 5.3%, Thailand 4.6%, South Korea 4.1%
|
Export Amount in USD: $4,514,000,000 USD - crude oil, natural gas, refined products
|
Export Partners: Japan 36.3%, Indonesia 19.1%, South Korea 12.5%, US 9.4%, Australia 9.2%
|
|
|
GINI Index: 0.00%
|
Labor Force Number of People: 146,300
|
Labor Force by Occupations: Includes foreign workers and military personnel; Temporary residents make up about 40% of labor force.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Radio Broadcast Stations: 3 |
Number of People with Radios: 329,000 |
|
Television Broadcast Stations: 2 |
Number of People with Televisions: 201,900 |
|
Number of People with Mainline Telephones: 90,000 |
Number of People with Mobile Phones: 137,000 |
|
|
|
Internet Service Providers: 27 |
Internet Users: 56,000 |
|
|
|
Internet Country Code: .bn |
Newspapers: 69 |
|
Two Letter Country Code: BX |
Weights and Measures: |
|
Phone Country Code: +673 |
Electricity Voltage: Volts |
|
|
Telephone Systems: General assessment: service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the US
Domestic: every service available
International: country code - 673; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Highways: 2,338 km |
Railways: 0 km
|
|
Gas And Oil Pipelines: 1,104 km |
Waterways: 209 km
|
|
Airports: 1 |
Heliports: 3
|
|
|
|
Motor Vehicles: 607 per 1,000 people |
CO2 Emissions: 5,404,000 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Per capita CO2 emissions: 0.02 Metric Tons of CO2 per year |
|
|
Merchant Marines: Total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
By type: Liquefied gas 8
Foreign-owned: 8 (UK 8) (2006)
|
Ports and Harbors: Lumut, Muara, Seria
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Population: 379,444 people type - nationality |
Birth Rate: 18.79 births per 1,000 people |
|
Population Density: 62.00 people per sq km |
Death Rate: 3.45 deaths per 1,000 people |
|
Population Growth: 1.87% per year |
Fertility Rate per Women: 2.28 babies born per woman |
|
|
|
Population Male 0-14: 54,411 |
Population Female 0-14: 52,134 |
|
Population Male 15-64: 138,129 |
Population Female 15-64: 123,017 |
|
Population Male 65+: 5,584 |
Population Female 65+: 6,169 |
|
|
|
Population 0-14: 28.10% |
Literacy Rate: 93.90% |
|
Population 15-64: 68.80% |
Literacy rate of Males: 96.30% |
|
Population 65+: 3.10% |
Literacy rate of Females: 91.40% |
|
|
|
Population that is Male: 53.00
% |
Population that is Female: 47.00% |
|
Life expectancy at birth in years: 75.01 years |
Infant mortality rate - baby deaths per 1000 births: 13.95 Babies die per 1,000 births |
|
Life expectancy at birth for Males: 72.57 years |
Life expectancy at birth for Females: 77.59 years |
|
|
|
Rate of AIDS/HIV infection: 0.10%
|
Number of people living with AIDS or HIV: 0
|
|
|
Number of people who died of AIDS: 0 |
|
|
Disease Risk:
|
Diseases:
|
Net Migration Rate per 1,000 people: 3.31
|
Nationality: BRUNEIAN
|
Ethnic Groups: Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
|
|
|
Primary Language: Malay
|
Other Languages: English, Chinese
|
|
|
Primary Religion: Muslim
|
Other Religions: Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Branches: Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei)
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: 18 years of age years
|
Manpower Available: 196,909 People
|
Manpower Fit to Serve: 162,481 People
|
Amount of Manpower Available each Year: 6,820 People per year
|
Expenditures: $290,700,000 USD per year
|
Expenditures as a Percentage of GDP: 5.10
|
|
|
|
Note: Phrasebase uses a variety of sources when compiling the facts and information presented above. This information is continually updated throughout the year.
|
|
|
|
|
Brunei Spa and Resort Directory
|
Brunei Home Exchanges and Home Swaps
|
Brunei Vacation Rentals And Holiday Villas
|
