Form of Government: Absolute monarchy (sultanate)
Area: 5 765 sq km
Population: 453 600 inhab. (estimate 2020)
Density: 78.68 inhab./sq km
Coordinates: lat. 5° - 4° N; long. 114° - 115° E
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan (capital) 40 800 inhab. (2018); Bandar Seri Begawan 316 100 inhab. (2020), urban agglomeration
Currency: Brunei dollar (100 sen)
Human development index: 0.838 (rank: 47)
Sovereign: Sultan Sir Muda Hassanal Bolkiah, in office since 5 October 1967, crowned 1 August 1968
Internet: www.depd.gov.bn (Dep. of Economic Planning and Development)
Member of APEC, ASEAN, Commonwealth, OIC, UN, WTO
Brunei

International license plate code BRU
International dialling code 00673
Travel vaccinations requirement yellow fever (required only if traveling from a country with risk of transmission, including travelers having transited more than 12 hours through the airport of a country with risk of transmission)
Electricity (Voltage) 240
Driving side left
Internet code .bn
GMT +8
DST not applied
Annual average temperature (°C) Bandar Seri Begawan 27.3
Average temperature in January/July (°C) Bandar Seri Begawan 26.5/27.5
Daily sunshine hours in June/December (average) Bandar Seri Begawan 7/7
Annual average precipitation (mm) Bandar Seri Begawan 2830
Days of rainfall (annual average) Bandar Seri Begawan 203
Geography.
Brunei comprises two small territories on the northern coast of the island of Borneo, facing the South China Sea, which are surrounded by the state of Sarawak (eastern Malaysia), which separates the two parts.
Like other countries in the area, Brunei lays claim to the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea.
Government
Independent since 1 January 1984 as part of the British Commonwealth, for over 500 years, the country has been ruled by the Bolkiah dynasty. The Sultan is the highest political and religious authority. He is assisted by a Council of Ministers and a Legislative Council (33 members, plus 3 ex officio members) appointed by him. Although political parties are permitted, they play only a marginal role.
The judicial system is based on Islamic (sharia) Law.
Administrative division
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Bandar Seri Begawan | 40 800 | inhab. | 2018 |
Kuala Belait | 31 890 | inhab. | 2011 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Bandar Seri Begawan | 316 100 | inhab. | 2020 |
Population
Population by age and gender (% - 2020) | ||||||||
| ||||||||
MALE | AGE | FEMALE |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Birth rate | 14.459 | ‰ | 2019 |
Death rate | 4.548 | ‰ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Malay | 65.8 | % | 2017 |
other | 24$ | % | 2017 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Muslim | 80.9 | % | 2016 |
Buddhist | 7.1 | % | 2016 |
DESCRIPTION |
---|
Chinese |
English |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
0-14 years | 22.3 | % | 2020 |
15-29 years | 25.4 | % | 2020 |
Economy
Economy, based on the export of hydrocarbons, is affected by variations in global demand and oil prices.
The oil deposits at Seria, Ampa and Jerudong are connected by a pipeline to the refinery at Lutong (in Malaysia).
Natural gas, extracted at Seria, is liquefied in the large plant of Lumut. The profits from the exportation are fuelling a considerable amount of foreign investments. The petro-chemical, food, pharmaceutical, information technology and telecommunications, shipbuilding, timber and rubber industries all operate. Bruneian citizens are not subject to income taxes; education and healthcare are free.
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Agricultural prod. index (2004-06=100) | 169.05 | index | 2016 |
Agricultural prod. index (2014-16=100) | 97.44 | index | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Active population | 216 689 | units | 2020 |
Active population, Females | 42.8 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Unemployment rate | 8.4 | % | 2020 |
Unemployment rate, Females | 46.6 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenses | 5 712.8 | M LCU | 2019 |
Revenues | 4 795.6 | M LCU | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 1.4 | % | 2019 |
industry | 15.9 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
agriculture | 0.97 | % | 2019 |
industry | 61.483 | % | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Currency in circulation | 1.358 | BN LCU | 2020 |
International reserves | 3 997.357 | M US$ | 2020 |
Agriculture
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
arable land | 2.087 | % | 2018 |
forests | 72.106 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cereals, total | 1.5 | 1000 t | 2019 |
rice | 1.5 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 3.382 | 1000 t | 2019 |
roots and tubers, total | 4.268 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chillies and peppers | 0.306 | 1000 t | 2019 |
cucumbers | 1.74 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 0.429 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pepper | 0.029 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fruits, total | 8.306 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 0.527 | 1000 t | 2019 |
lemons | 0.068 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 1.943 | 1000 t | 2019 |
pineapples | 1.207 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
mushrooms | 0.014 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
rice | 0.773 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cassava | 0.175 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
sweet potatoes | 0.036 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
chillies and peppers | 0.06 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
cucumbers | 0.167 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
coconuts | 0.244 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pepper | 0.075 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
citrus fruits | 0.073 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
lemons | 0.017 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
bananas | 0.687 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
pineapples | 0.14 | 1000 ha | 2019 |
Forests-Livestock-Fishing
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural rubber | 257 | t | 2019 |
timber | 91 032 | m³ | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cattle | 0.617 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
cattle and buffaloes | 2.909 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
buffaloes | 2.292 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
pigs | 0.82 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
sheep | 4.649 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
goats | 5.851 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
birds | 17 222 | 1000 heads | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
eggs | 9.099 | 1000 t | 2019 |
hides and skins | 0.255 | 1000 t | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
crustaceans and molluscs | 3 199.217 | t | 2019 |
freshwater fishes | 5.005 | t | 2019 |
Minerals
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
natural gas | 9 603 | M m³ | 2020 |
oil, crude | 4 995.8 | 1000 t | 2020 |
Energy
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 4 034.48 | M kWh | 2018 |
non-renewable electricity generation | 99.95 | % | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
- thermal | 992 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
- other renew. | 1$ | 1000 kW | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
total net generation | 4 036.48 | M kWh | 2018 |
total installed capacity | 993 | 1000 kW | 2018 |
Industry
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
petrol | 200.4 | 1000 t | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
cement | 290 | 1000 t | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
manufacturing production | 1 894.803 | M US$ | 2020 |
Trade
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
fuels | 91.092 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
manufactures | 8.309 | % of goods exports | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Japan | 2 337 | M US$ | 2006 |
Indonesia | 1 865 | M US$ | 2007 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 1 735 | M US$ | 2007 |
Singapore | 696 | M US$ | 2007 |
Tourism
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expenditures | 613 | M US$ | 2019 |
Number of arrivals | 333 000 | units | 2019 |
Communications
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Civil aviation, km flown | 30 400 000 | km flown | 2004 |
Civil aviation, passengers carried | 1 421.3 | 1000 units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Broadband subscribers | 125.079 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Computers | 89.2 | per 1000 pop. | 2005 |
Social and welfare
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Expected years of schooling | 14.064 | years | 2019 |
Graduates | 3 496 | units | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Students, primary level | 39 236 | units | 2019 |
Students, secondary level | 42 679 | units | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Hospital beds | 3.5 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
Physicians | 1.8 | per 1000 pop. | 2019 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Tuberculosis | 64$ | per 100 000 pop. | 2019 |
Tuberculosis (prevalence) | 79$ | per 100 000 pop. | 2014 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Research and development spending | 0.278 | % of GDP | 2018 |
DESCRIPTION | VALUE | UNITS | YEAR |
---|---|---|---|
Access to clean fuels and technologies for cooking | 100 | % | 2019 |
Access to electricity | 100 | % | 2019 |