Brunei Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Brunei, a state on the north-west coast of Borneo;5,765 km², 429,000 residents (2019).Brunei is made up of two enclaves, surrounded by the state of Sarawak in Malaysia. The capital is Bandar Seri Begawan (33,700 residents, 2010).

Country facts

Negara Brunei Darussalam / Brunei
Country abbreviation: BN
Area: 5 765 km²
Population (2019): 429,000 residents
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Main language: Malay
State: Monarchy
Head of State and Head of Government: Hassanal Bolkiah (Sultan)
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 31,628
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 31,020
Currency unit: 1 Brownian dollar = 100 cents
Currency code: BND
Country number (telephony): 673
Internet Domain Name: bn
Time difference compared to Sweden: +7
National Day: February 23 (Independence Day, 1984)

Nature

Land use: forest (85%), agricultural land (1%), other (14%)
Highest mountain: Pagonprick (1,841 m above sea level)

Population

Population density (2019): 74 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 1.1%; birth rate 15 ‰, death rate 4 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (45%), 15-64 (50%), 65- (5%)
Average life expectancy (2019): men 75 years, women 77 years
Infant mortality (2019): 9 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 500,000 residents
HDI (2017): 0.853 (place 39 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 78%
Most populous city (2010): Bandar Seri Begawan (33,700 residents)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (1%), industry (57%), service (42%)
Exports (2017): US $ 5,885 million
Main export products: oil, natural gas
Main exporting countries: Japan, South Korea, Thailand
Imports (2017): US $ 2,998 million
Main import products: iron and steel, machinery, means of transport
Main importing countries: China, Singapore, Malaysia
Railway network: nothing in operation

Brunei is located on northwest Borneo. It has a near 100 km long coastal plain with sandy beach, while the inner, southern parts have a nice terrain. The climate is humid tropical type.

The country is a hereditary sultanate and a member of the Commonwealth. Since 1984, when the country became independent, the sultan has also been prime minister, and several of his family members are members of the government. In connection with the commercial boom of the 14th century, Islam spread along the trade routes. Brunei then became a Muslim sultanate. Hassanal Bolkiah, who took office in 1967, is the 29th in the order of Sultans who ruled Brunei.

Oil and natural gas account for about 90% of export revenue. The country is jokingly called “the shellfare state”, ie. a welfare state based on revenue from the oil company Shell, now Brunei Shell Petroleum Co. In recent years, efforts to make the economy more versatile have failed, and the previously important rubber production has almost ceased.