{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "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. In 2017, Brunei celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH’s accession to the throne." } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "4 30 N, 114 40 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Southeast Asia" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "5,765 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "5,265 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "500 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "slightly smaller than Delaware" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "266 km" }, "border countries": { "text": "Malaysia 266 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "161 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm or to median line" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; hot, humid, rainy" }, "Terrain": { "text": "flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Bukit Pagon 1,850 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "South China Sea 0 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "478 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "petroleum, natural gas, timber" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "2.5% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "71.8% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "25.7% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "10 sq km (2012)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "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" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "484,991 (2023 est.)", "note": "note: immigrants make up approximately 26% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Bruneian(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Bruneian" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Malay 67.4%, Chinese 9.6%, other 23% (2021 est.)" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Malay (Bahasa Melayu) (official), English, Chinese dialects" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "text": "
Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information." } }, "Religions": { "text": "Muslim (official) 82.1%, Christian 6.7%, Buddhist 6.3%, other 4.9% (2021 est.)" }, "Demographic profile": { "text": "

Brunei is a small, oil-rich sultanate of less than half a million people, making it the smallest country in Southeast Asia by population.  Its total fertility rate – the average number of births per woman – has been steadily declining over the last few decades, from over 3.5 in the 1980s to below replacement level today at nearly 1.8.  The trend is due to women’s increased years of education and participation in the workforce, which have resulted in later marriages and fewer children.  Yet, the population continues to grow because of the large number of women of reproductive age and a reliance on foreign labor – mainly from Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and South Asian countries – to fill low-skilled jobs.

Brunei is officially Muslim, and Malay is the official language.  The country follows an official Malay national ideology, Malay Islamic Monarchy, which promotes Malay language and culture, Islamic values, and the monarchy.  Only seven of Brunei’s native groups are recognized in the constitution and are defined as “Malay” – Brunei Malays, Belait, Kedayan, Dusun, Bisayak, Lun Bawang, and Sama-Baiau.  Together they make up about 66% percent of the population and are referred to as the Bumiputera.  The Bumiputera are entitled to official privileges, including land ownership, access to certain types of employment (Royal Brunei Armed Forces and Brunei Shell Petroleum), easier access to higher education, and better job opportunities in the civil service. 

Brunei’s Chinese population descends from migrants who arrived when Brunei was a British protectorate (1888 and 1984).  They are prominent in the non-state commercial sector and account for approximately 10% of the population.  Most Bruneian Chinese are permanent residents rather than citizens despite roots going back several generations.  Many are stateless and are denied rights granted to citizens, such as land ownership, subsidized health care, and free secondary and university education.  Because of the discriminatory policies, the number of Chinese in Brunei has shrunk considerably in the last 50 years.  Native ethnic groups that are not included in the Bumiputera are not recognized in the constitution and are not officially identified as “Malay” or automatically granted citizenship.  Foreign workers constitute some quarter of the labor force.

" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "21.83% (male 54,523/female 51,334)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "71.07% (male 164,957/female 179,721)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "7.1% (2023 est.) (male 16,748/female 17,708)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "39.2" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "31.1" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "8.1" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "12.4 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "31.1 years" }, "male": { "text": "30.5 years" }, "female": { "text": "31.8 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "1.43% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "15.98 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "3.85 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "2.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "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" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "79.1% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "266,682 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2021)", "note": "note: the boundaries of the capital city were expanded in 2007, greatly increasing the city area; the population of the capital increased tenfold" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.06 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "0.92 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.95 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.95 male(s)/female (2023 est.)" } }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "44 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "10.26 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "12.55 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "7.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "78.61 years" }, "male": { "text": "76.26 years" }, "female": { "text": "81.08 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.74 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "0.85 (2023 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "NA" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 99.7% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 99.9% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0.4% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0.1% of population (2020)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "2.4% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "1.61 physicians/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "2.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: NA" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: NA" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "14.1% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "16.2% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "30% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "2.3% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "NA" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "54.3% (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "4.4% of GDP (2016 est.)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "97.6%" }, "male": { "text": "98.3%" }, "female": { "text": "96.9% (2021)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "14 years" }, "male": { "text": "14 years" }, "female": { "text": "14 years (2020)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "23.4%" }, "male": { "text": "20.7%" }, "female": { "text": "27.6% (2021 est.)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "no major environmental problems, but air pollution control is becoming a concern; seasonal trans-boundary haze from forest fires in Indonesia" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; hot, humid, rainy" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "2.5% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "71.8% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "25.7% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "79.1% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "5.78 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "7.66 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "8.4 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "216,253 tons (2016 est.)" } }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "8.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Brunei Darussalam" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Brunei" }, "local long form": { "text": "Negara Brunei Darussalam" }, "local short form": { "text": "Brunei" }, "etymology": { "text": "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\"" } }, "Government type": { "text": "absolute monarchy or sultanate" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Bandar Seri Begawan" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "4 53 N, 114 56 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "named in 1970 after Sultan Omar Ali SAIFUDDIEN III (1914-1986; \"The Father of Independence\") who adopted the title of \"Seri Begawan\" (approximate meaning \"honored lord\") upon his abdication in 1967; \"bandar\" in Malay means \"town\" or \"city\"; the capital had previously been called Bandar Brunei (Brunei Town)" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei dan Muara, Temburong, Tutong" }, "Independence": { "text": "1 January 1984 (from the UK)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "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; the Sultan's birthday, 15 June" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959; note - some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a State of Emergency, others suspended since independence in 1984" }, "amendments": { "text": "proposed by the monarch; passage requires submission to the Privy Council for Legislative Council review and finalization takes place by proclamation; the monarch can accept or reject changes to the original proposal provided by the Legislative Council; amended several times, last in 2010" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; note - in April 2019, the full sharia penal codes came into force and apply to Muslims and partly to non-Muslims in parallel with present common law codes" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICC" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "the father must be a citizen of Brunei" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "12 years" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age for village elections; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "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": { "text": "Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "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; Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah is also Minister of Finance, Defense, and Foreign Affairs and Trade" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "none; the monarchy is hereditary" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei (33 seats; 20 members appointed by the sultan from ex-officio cabinet ministers, titled people, and prominent citizens in public service and various professional fields and 13 members from 4 multi-seat constituencies, and 3 ex-officio members - the speaker and first and second secretaries" }, "elections": { "text": "January 2017 - appointed by the sultan" }, "election results": { "text": "NA; composition (as of February 2022) - men 30, women 3, percent of women 9.1%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "Supreme Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court (consists the Court of Appeals and the High Court); 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": { "text": "Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch to serve until age 65, and older if approved by the monarch; Sharia Court judges appointed by the monarch for life" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Intermediate Court; Magistrates' Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts; lower sharia courts" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]", "note": "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" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "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" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Dato Paduka Haji Serbini bin Haji ALI (since 28 January 2016)" }, "chancery": { "text": "3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 237-1838" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 885-0560" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
info@bruneiembassy.org

http://www.bruneiembassy.org/index.html" }, "consulate(s)": { "text": "New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Caryn R. McCLELLAND (since December 2021)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Duta, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115" }, "mailing address": { "text": "4020 Bandar Seri Begawan Place, Washington DC  20521-4020" }, "telephone": { "text": "(673) 238-7400" }, "FAX": { "text": "(673) 238-7533" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
ConsularBrunei@state.gov

https://bn.usembassy.gov/" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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 symbol(s)": { "text": "royal parasol; national colors: yellow, white, black" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Allah Peliharakan Sultan\" (God Bless His Majesty)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Pengiran Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap" }, "note": "note: adopted 1951" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "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" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$26.779 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": { "text": "$27.212 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$26.907 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "-1.59% (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2020": { "text": "1.13% (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "3.87% (2019 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$60,100 (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$61,600 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$61,400 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$12.13 billion (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "1.73% (2021 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": { "text": "1.94% (2020 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "-0.39% (2019 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "1.2% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "56.6% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "42.3% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "25% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "24.8% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "32.6% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "8.5% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "45.9% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-36.8% (2017 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "poultry, eggs, fruit, cassava, bananas, legumes, cucumbers, rice, pineapples, beef" }, "Industries": { "text": "petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, aquaculture, transportation" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "-4.17% (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "219,800 (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "4.2%" }, "industry": { "text": "62.8%" }, "services": { "text": "33% (2008 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2021": { "text": "7.65% (2021 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2020": { "text": "7.68% (2020 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "6.92% (2019 est.)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "23.4%" }, "male": { "text": "20.7%" }, "female": { "text": "27.6% (2021 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "NA" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "NA" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$1.058 billion (2020 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$3.189 billion (2020 est.)" } }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-17.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "2.8% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "3% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "18.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "1 April - 31 March" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "$1.57 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2020": { "text": "$513.713 million (2020 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "$893.759 million (2019 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2021": { "text": "$11.202 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Exports 2020": { "text": "$6.886 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Exports 2019": { "text": "$7.828 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports." }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Japan 34%, Australia 12%, Singapore 10%, India 8%, Malaysia 8%, Thailand 7%, China 6%, South Korea 5% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, industrial hydrocarbons, industrial alcohols  (2021)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2021": { "text": "$9.219 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2020": { "text": "$6.382 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2019": { "text": "$6.806 billion (2019 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "Singapore 18%, China 14%, Malaysia 12%, Nigeria 5%, United Arab Emirates 5%, United States 5% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, tug boats, valves (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": { "text": "$3.997 billion (31 December 2020 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": { "text": "$4.273 billion (31 December 2019 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2018": { "text": "$3.407 billion (31 December 2018 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 2014": { "text": "$0 (2014)" }, "Debt - external 2013": { "text": "$0 (2013)" }, "note": "note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2021": { "text": "1.344 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "1.38 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "1.364 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "1.349 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "1.381 (2017 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2021)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "1.261 million kW (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "4,140,140,000 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "497 million kWh (2019 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "tide and wave": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "107,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "18,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate exports": { "text": "103,100 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate imports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "10,310 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "6,948 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "12,498,299,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "4,166,987,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "7,774,406,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "260.515 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "9.956 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "2.387 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "7.569 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "415.184 million Btu/person (2019 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "112,298 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "25 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "603,486 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "136 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "Brunei’s mobile market experienced drop-off in subscriber numbers in 2020; in 2022 there was a concerted effort to build out the fixed-line infrastructure while progressing towards introducing 5G mobile services; Brunei’s fixed-line market is one of the few countries in the world to have displayed significant growth rather than a decline in teledensity in the last few years; this upward trend is set to continue as the new Unified National Network (UNN) works diligently to expand and enhance the fixed-line infrastructure around the country; strong growth was also seen in the fixed broadband space, on the back of those same infrastructure developments that are part of the Brunei Vision 2035 initiative; fixed broadband is starting from a relatively low base by international standards and is still only at 18%, leaving lots of room for growth; mobile and mobile broadband, on the other hand, are still suffering from the market contractions first felt in 2020; Brunei’s 2G GSM network is shut down, with the spectrum to be reallocated to 3G, 4G, and potentially 5G use (2021)" }, "domestic": { "text": "25 per 100 fixed-line, 136 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 673; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, SJC, AAG, Lubuan-Brunei Submarine Cable via optical telecommunications submarine cables that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019)" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "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" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".bn" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "441,000 (2021 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "98% (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "71,078 (2020 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "16 (2020 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "1 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "10" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "1,234,455 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "129.35 million (2018) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "V8" }, "Airports": { "text": "1 (2021)" }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "text": "1", "note": "note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "3 (2021)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "33 km condensate, 86 km condensate/gas, 628 km gas, 492 km oil (2013)" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "2,976 km (2014)" }, "paved": { "text": "2,559 km (2014)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "417 km (2014)" } }, "Waterways": { "text": "209 km (2012) (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong Rivers are major transport links)" }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "98" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 18, oil tanker 3, other 77 (2022)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Muara" }, "oil terminal(s)": { "text": "Lumut, Seria" }, "LNG terminal(s) (export)": { "text": "Lumut" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force, Joint Force

Ministry of Home Affairs: Royal Brunei Police Force (2023)", "note": "note: the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) under the Ministry of Defense is a special guard force for the Sultan, the royal family, and the country’s oil installations" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "3.7% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "2.7% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2017": { "text": "2.8% of GDP (2017 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "approximately 6,000 total active troops (4,000 Army; 1,000 Navy; 1,000 Air Force) (2022)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the military's s inventory includes equipment and weapons systems from a wide variety of suppliers from Asia, Europe, and the US (2023)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "17 years of age for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2022)", "note": "note: the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) employs about 500 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" }, "Military - note": { "text": "the Royal Brunei Armed Forces were 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; the military is a small and professional force responsible for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as countering outside aggression, terrorism, and insurgency; the Army is comprised of a few infantry battalions and an armored reconnaissance squadron, while the Navy has several corvettes and patrol vessels for monitoring the country’s territorial waters; the small Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, but operates some maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters 

Brunei has a long-standing defense relationship with the United Kingdom and hosts a British Army garrison, which includes a Gurkha battalion and a jungle warfare school; Brunei also hosts a Singaporean military training base (2023)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

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

" }, "Refugees and internally displaced persons": { "stateless persons": { "text": "20,863 (2022); 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" } }, "Trafficking in persons": { "tier rating": { "text": "Tier 3 — Brunei does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making significant efforts to do so, therefore Brunei was downgraded to Tier 3; the government took some steps to address trafficking, including initiating a labor trafficking prosecution, increasing investigations, and continuing construction of shelters; however, officials did not convict any traffickers under its trafficking statute, for the fifth consecutive year, nor did it identify any victims; the government continued to detain, deport, and charge potential victims without attempting to discern if traffickers compelled the victims to engage in unlawful acts (2022)" }, "trafficking profile": { "text": "human traffickers exploit foreign victims in Brunei; some men and women who migrate to Brunei to work in domestic service, retail, or construction work are subject to involuntary servitude, debt-based coercion, contract switching, non-payment of wages, passport confiscation, physical abuse, or confinement; some female migrants entering Brunei on tourist visas are forced into prostitution; some traffickers use Brunei as a transit point for victims used for sex and labor trafficking in Malaysia and Indonesia; Anti-LGBTQI+ laws place some LGBTQI+ individuals at higher risk; Trafficking experts in Brunei have received threats from traffickers (2022)" } }, "Illicit drugs": { "text": "drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty" } } }