Brunei

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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. Internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy subsequently brought on a period of decline. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries, and in 2017, the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH’s accession to the throne. Brunei has one of the highest per-capita GDPs in the world, thanks to extensive petroleum and natural gas fields.

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

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4 30 N, 114 40 E

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Southeast Asia

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slightly smaller than Delaware

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161 km

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tropical; hot, humid, rainy

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

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petroleum, natural gas, timber

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10 sq km (2012)

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the vast majority of the population is found along the coast in the western part of Brunei, which is separated from the eastern portion by Malaysia; the largest population concentration is in the far north on the western side of the Brunei Bay, in and around the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan

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typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

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close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; the eastern part, the Temburong district, is an exclave and is almost an enclave within Malaysia

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Malay 67.4%, Chinese 9.6%, other 23% (2021 est.)

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Muslim (official) 82.1%, Christian 6.7%, Buddhist 6.3%, other 4.9% (2021 est.)

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1.37% (2025 est.)

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15.58 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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3.96 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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2.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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the vast majority of the population is found along the coast in the western part of Brunei, which is separated from the eastern portion by Malaysia; the largest population concentration is in the far north on the western side of the Brunei Bay, in and around the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan

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266,682 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2021)

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<strong>note:</strong> the boundaries of the capital city were expanded in 2007, greatly increasing the city area; the population of the capital increased tenfold

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36 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

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1.73 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.85 (2025 est.)

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1.89 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

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3.9 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

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14.1% (2016)

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air pollution, including seasonal haze from forest fires in Indonesia

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tropical; hot, humid, rainy

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7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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8.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

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absolute monarchy or sultanate

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4 districts (<em>daerah-daerah</em>, singular - <em>daerah</em>); Belait, Brunei dan Muara, Temburong, Tutong

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mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law

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<strong>note:</strong> in 2019, sharia penal codes came into force and apply to Muslims and partly to non-Muslims in parallel with common law codes

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<strong>note:</strong> some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a state of emergency, others suspended since independence in 1984

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

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18 years of age for village elections; universal

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<strong>note 1:</strong> the monarch is both chief of state and head of government, as well as Minister of Finance, Defense, and Foreign Affairs and Trade<br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 4 additional advisory councils appointed by the monarch are the Religious Council, Privy Council for Constitutional Issues, Council of Succession, and Legislative Council

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<strong>note:</strong> 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

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National Development Party or NDP

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<strong>note:</strong> the NDP is Brunei’s only registered party, but does not have representation in the Legislative Council, which is appointed

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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

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1 January 1984 (from the UK)

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National Day, 23 February (1984)

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<strong>note:</strong> 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection; the Sultan's birthday, 15 June

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<strong>description:</strong> yellow with a diagonal white band and second below it in black, both starting from the upper left; the national emblem in red is at the center; the state motto, "Always render service with God's guidance," appears in yellow Arabic script on the emblem's crescent; a ribbon below the crescent reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace"<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> yellow symbolizes the sultanate, and the white and black bands stand for the chief ministers; the emblem includes a royal umbrella (the monarchy), two wings with four feathers (justice, tranquility, prosperity, and peace), two upraised hands (the government's pledge to preserve and promote the people's welfare), and the crescent moon of Islam (the state religion) 

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royal parasol

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yellow, white, black

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almost exclusively an oil and gas economy; high income country; expansive and robust welfare system; the majority of the population works for the government; promulgating a nationalized halal brand; considering establishment of a bond market and stock exchange

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$15.463 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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chicken, eggs, fruits, vegetables, rice, bananas, beans, cucumbers/gherkins, pineapples, beef (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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5.7% (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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233,500 (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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<strong>note:</strong> central government debt as a % of GDP

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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Australia 21%, Japan 17%, China 17%, Singapore 16%, Malaysia 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, hydrocarbons, fertilizers (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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Malaysia 23%, UAE 10%, China 10%, UK 10%, Australia 6% (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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crude petroleum, gold, refined petroleum, coal, cars (2023)

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

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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

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.bn

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V8

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2 (2025)

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14 (2025)

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Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) or Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB): Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) (2025)

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<strong>note 1: </strong>the Gurkha Security Unit under the Ministry of Defense is a special guard force for the Sultan, the royal family, and the country’s oil installations<br><br><strong>note 2: </strong>the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) is under the Prime Minister's Office

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approximately 7,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

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the military's s inventory includes equipment and weapons systems from a variety of suppliers from Asia, Europe, and the US (2025)

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18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (2025)

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<strong>note:</strong> the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) employs hundreds of Gurkhas from Nepal, the majority of whom are veterans of the British Army and the Singapore Police Force who have joined the GRU as a second career

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the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) are responsible for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as countering outside aggression, terrorism, and insurgency<br><br>Brunei has a long-standing defense relationship with the UK and hosts a British Army garrison, which includes a Gurkha battalion and a jungle warfare school; Brunei also has close security ties with Singapore and hosts a Singaporean military training detachment<br><br>the RBAF was formed in 1961 with British support as the Brunei Malay Regiment; "Royal" was added as an honorary title in 1965 and its current name was given in 1984 (2025)