Brunei

Brunei

Introduction

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 Asia.

Geography

Location

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Geographic coordinates

4 30 N, 114 40 E

Map references

Southeast Asia

Area

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

Area – comparative

slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries

total: 381 km
border countries:Malaysia 381 km

Coastline

161 km

Maritime claims

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

Climate

tropical

hot, humid, rainy

Terrain

flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east

hilly lowland in west

Elevation extremes

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

Natural resources

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Land use

arable land: 2.08%
permanent crops:0.87%
other:97.05% (2005)

Irrigated land

10 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

8.5 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.09
per capita:243cu m/yr (1994)

Natural hazards

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

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

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 and Society

Nationality

noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective:Bruneian

Ethnic groups

Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)

Languages

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Religions

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

Population

401,890 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.5% (male 52,944/female 49,729)
15-64 years:70.9% (male 141,121/female 143,977)
65 years and over:3.5% (male 6,881/female 7,238) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 28.4 years
male:28.3 years
female:28.6 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.712% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 65

Birth rate

17.87 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106

Death rate

3.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 213

Net migration rate

2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Urbanization

urban population: 76% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) 22,000 (2009)

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 (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

21 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 124

Infant mortality rate

total: 11.51 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 140 male:13.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female:9.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 76.17 years
country comparison to the world: 75 male:73.91 years
female:78.53 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.86 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148

Health expenditures

3% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 177

Physicians density

1.417 physicians/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 85

Hospital bed density

2.71 beds/1,000 population (2008)
country comparison to the world: 82

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157

HIV/AIDS – deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 112

Education expenditures

NA

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:92.7%
male:95.2%
female:90.2% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 14 years
male:14 years
female:14 years (2009)

Government

Country name

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

Government type

constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)

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

Independence

1 January 1984 (from the UK)

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

mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age for village elections

universal

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: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
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:none

the monarchy is hereditary

Legislative branch

the Sultan appointed a Legislative Council with 29 members in September 2005

he increased the size of the council to 33 members in June 2011

the council meets annually in March
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 was 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

Political pressure groups and leaders

NA

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 #300, Washington, DC 20008
telephone:[1] (202) 237-1838
FAX:[1] (202) 885-0560

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel L. SHIELDS III
embassy:Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Kebangsaan, 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

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

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.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$20.38 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 123 $19.58 billion (2009 est.)
$19.93 billion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$13.02 billion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

4.1% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 95 -1.8% (2009 est.)
-1.9% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$51,600 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8 $50,400 (2009 est.)
$52,300 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 0.9%
industry:72.1%
services:27% (2010 est.)

Labor force

188,800 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 172

Labor force – by occupation

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

Unemployment rate

3.7% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 30 3.4% (2007)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Investment (gross fixed)

16.1% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 158

Budget

revenues: $4.689 billion
expenditures:$4.869 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

36% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-1.4% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12 1.1% (2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 157 5.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$2.954 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111 $3.841 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$9.731 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103 $8.548 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$3.019 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121 $2.209 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA

Agriculture – products

rice, vegetables, fruits

chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs

Industries

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Industrial production growth rate

-5.4% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164

Electricity – production

3.218 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 125

Electricity – consumption

3.054 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 127

Electricity – exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

159,400 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 43

Oil – consumption

17,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 137

Oil – exports

153,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 59

Oil – imports

138 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 205

Oil – proved reserves

1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas – production

11.5 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39

Natural gas – consumption

2.69 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 77

Natural gas – exports

8.81 billion cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 22

Natural gas – imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94

Natural gas – proved reserves

390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33

Current account balance

$3.977 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37 $3.977 billion (2008 est.)

Exports

$10.67 billion (2008)
country comparison to the world: 84 $8.25 billion (2007)

Exports – commodities

crude oil, natural gas, garments

Exports – partners

Japan 45.6%, South Korea 12%, Australia 11.9%, Indonesia 7.4%, China 7.1%, India 5.8%, NZ 5.1% (2010)

Imports

$2.61 billion (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145 $2.055 billion (2007 est.)

Imports – commodities

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Imports – partners

Singapore 33.5%, Malaysia 19.9%, China 13%, UK 6.9%, Japan 5.3%, Thailand 4.6%, US 4.4% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$1.563 billion (2010)
country comparison to the world: 126 $1.357 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$0 (2005)
country comparison to the world: 201

Exchange rates

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -
1.36 (2010)
1.45 (2009)
2 (2006)
2 (2005)
2 (2004)

Transportation

Airports

2 (2010)
country comparison to the world:198

Airports – with paved runways

total: 2
over 3,047 m:1
914 to 1,523 m:1 (2010)

Heliports

3 (2010)

Pipelines

condensate 33 km

gas 37 km

oil 18 km (2010)

Roadways

total: 2,971 km
country comparison to the world: 167 paved:2,411 km
unpaved:560 km (2008)

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

Merchant marine

total: 9
country comparison to the world: 117 by type:chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 8 (2010)

Ports and terminals

Lumut, Muara, Seria

Military

Military 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)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 112,688
females age 16-49:117,536 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 95,141
females age 16-49:99,386 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 3,572
female:3,465 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 21

Transnational Issues

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 Lousia Reef

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Brunei is a destination, and to a lesser extent, a source and transit country for men and women who are subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution

men and women from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, China, and Thailand migrate to Brunei for domestic work or other low-skilled employment, but sometimes face conditions of involuntary servitude after arrival
tier rating:Tier 2 Watch List – the government has yet to prosecute a human-trafficking case using its 2004 anti-trafficking law, has not shown evidence of increased efforts to address human trafficking over the previous year, and has not identified or assisted any trafficking victims (2011)

Illicit drugs

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