Brunei

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.

4 30 N, 114 40 E

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

slightly smaller than Delaware

air pollution, including seasonal haze from forest fires in Indonesia

Party to: 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: None of the selected agreements

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

161 km

Total: 266 km

Border countries (1): Malaysia 266 km

Agricultural land: 2.5% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 0.8% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 1.1% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 0.6% (2023 est.)

Forest: 72.1% (2023 est.)

Other: 25.4% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line

petroleum, natural gas, timber

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

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

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

Southeast Asia

10 sq km (2012)

8.5 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

Mean elevation: 478 m

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

Total : 5,765 sq km

Land: 5,265 sq km

Water: 500 sq km

0-14 years: 21.7% (male 54,924/female 51,710)

15-64 years: 70.8% (male 166,289/female 182,011)

65 years and over: 7.5% (2024 est.) (male 17,927/female 19,039)

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female

Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Noun: Bruneian(s)

Adjective: Bruneian

Total: 14 years (2023 est.)

Male: 13 years (2023 est.)

Female: 14 years (2023 est.)

Urban population: 79.1% of total population (2023)

Rate of urbanization: 1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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

Note: The boundaries of the capital city were expanded in 2007, greatly increasing the city area; the population of the capital increased tenfold

1.89 physicians/1,000 population (2021)

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

Total dependency ratio: 41.2 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 30.6 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 10.6 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 9.4 (2024 est.)

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

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

Malay (Bahasa Melayu) (official), English, Chinese dialects

Major-language sample(s):
Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

2.2% of GDP (2021)

6.4% of national budget (2022 est.)

Improved:

Total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Urban: 0.4% of population

Rural: 0% of population

Total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Improved:

Total: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Total: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

0.85 (2024 est.)

Total: 18.5% (2024 est.)

Male: 16.5% (2024 est.)

Female: 21.6% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

2.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 32.3 years (2024 est.)

Male: 31.4 years

Female: 33.1 years

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

1.73 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 491,900 (2024 est.)

Male: 239,140

Female: 252,760

Total: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 12.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 7.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 17% (2025 est.)

Male: 31.2% (2025 est.)

Female: 1.9% (2025 est.)

14.1% (2016)

3.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

15.8 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Total population: 78.9 years (2024 est.)

Male: 76.5 years

Female: 81.3 years

4.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

11.4% national budget (2016 est.)

1.4% (2024 est.)

Municipal: 151.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 5.3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 216,300 tons (2024 est.)

Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 20% (2022 est.)

7.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

10.823 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From coal and metallurgical coke: 998,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From petroleum and other liquids: 2.175 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

From consumed natural gas: 7.65 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

403.365 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Chief of mission: Ambassador Caryn R. McCLELLAND (since December 2021)

Embassy: Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Duta, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115

Mailing address: 4020 Bandar Seri Begawan Place, Washington DC  20521-4020

Telephone: (673) 238-7400

FAX: (673) 238-7533

Email address and website:
ConsularBrunei@state.gov

https://bn.usembassy.gov/

4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei dan Muara, Temburong, Tutong

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)

Etymology: Named in 1970 after Sultan Omar Ali SAIFUDDIEN III (1914-1986), who adopted the title of "Seri Begawan" (approximately meaning "honored lord") when he abdicated in 1967; "bandar" means "city" or "port" in Malay; the capital had previously been called Bandar Brunei (Brunei City)

History: Drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959

Amendment process: 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

Note: Some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a state of emergency, others suspended since independence in 1984

Chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)

Head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch

Election/appointment process: None; the monarchy is hereditary

Note 1: The monarch is both chief of state and head of government, as well as Minister of Finance, Defense, and Foreign Affairs and Trade

Note 2: 4 additional advisory councils appointed by the monarch are the Religious Council, Privy Council for Constitutional Issues, Council of Succession, and Legislative Council

Description: 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"

Meaning: 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) 

1 January 1984 (from the UK)

Highest court(s): 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)

Judge selection and term of office: 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: Intermediate Court; Magistrates' Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts; lower sharia courts

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

mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law

Note: In 2019, sharia penal codes came into force and apply to Muslims and partly to non-Muslims in parallel with common law codes

Legislature name: Legislative Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Negara)

Legislative structure: Unicameral

Number of seats: 45 (all appointed)

Electoral system: Plurality/majority

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 5 years

Most recent election date: 1/20/2023

Percentage of women in chamber: 11.4%

Expected date of next election: January 2028

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

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

National Development Party or NDP

Note: The NDP is Brunei’s only registered party, but does not have representation in the Legislative Council, which is appointed

18 years of age for village elections; universal

absolute monarchy or sultanate

Conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam

Conventional short form: Brunei

Local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam

Local short form: Brunei

Etymology: Derivation of the name is unclear; the name may come from the Sanskrit word bhumi, meaning "land" or "region"

Chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires IZZATI Baharuddin (since 6 May 2025)

Chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838

FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560

Email address and website:
Info@bruneiembassy.org

http://www.bruneiembassy.org/index.html

Consulate(s): New York

Title: "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)

Lyrics/music: Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Pengiran Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap

History: Adopted 1951

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

royal parasol

Citizenship by birth: No

Citizenship by descent only: The father must be a citizen of Brunei

Dual citizenship recognized: No

Residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years

yellow, white, black

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $1.058 billion (2020 est.)

Expenditures: $3.189 billion (2020 est.)

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
1.336 (2024 est.)
1.343 (2023 est.)
1.379 (2022 est.)
1.344 (2021 est.)
1.38 (2020 est.)

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

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

$15.463 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 28.5% (2024 est.)

Government consumption: 23% (2024 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 28.2% (2024 est.)

Investment in inventories: 0.2% (2024 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 74.3% (2024 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -58.9% (2024 est.)

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

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

0% of GDP (2023 est.)
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
0% of GDP (2021 est.)

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

233,500 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$4.414 billion (2024 est.)
$4.483 billion (2023 est.)
$5.035 billion (2022 est.)

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

2.8% of GDP (2017 est.)

Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

5.2% (2024 est.)
5.2% (2023 est.)
5.2% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

$36.64 billion (2024 est.)
$35.163 billion (2023 est.)
$34.771 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

-0.4% (2024 est.)
0.4% (2023 est.)
3.7% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$2.23 billion (2024 est.)
$1.944 billion (2023 est.)
$3.256 billion (2022 est.)

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

$79,200 (2024 est.)
$76,600 (2023 est.)
$76,400 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$9.11 billion (2024 est.)
$9.077 billion (2023 est.)
$10.099 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$11.483 billion (2024 est.)
$11.573 billion (2023 est.)
$14.405 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

4.2% (2024 est.)
1.1% (2023 est.)
-1.6% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

5.7% (2024 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 1.2% (2024 est.)

Industry: 61.7% (2024 est.)

Services: 38.7% (2024 est.)

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

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Consumption: 841,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 841,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Production: 10.093 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Consumption: 3.911 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Exports: 5.733 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Proven reserves: 260.515 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Total petroleum production: 95,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 15,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 904,000 kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 5.081 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 502.188 million kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 99% (2023 est.)

.bn

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

Total subscriptions: 541,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 118 (2022 est.)

Total: 93,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 20 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 122,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 26 (2023 est.)

V8

2 (2025)

Total: 97 (2023)

By type: General cargo 18, oil tanker 2, other 77

14 (2025)

3% of GDP (2023 est.)
2.6% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)

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)

Note 1: 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

Note 2: The Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) is under the Prime Minister's Office

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

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

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)

approximately 7,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

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

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

Note: 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

Stateless persons: 20,863 (2024 est.)

Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Brunei does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Brunei was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/brunei/

Total ports: 5 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 0

Small: 2

Very small: 3

Ports with oil terminals: 5

Key ports: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Lumut, Muara Harbor, Seria Oil Loading Terminal

Energy: 50.5 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Agriculture: 0.9 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste: 9.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Other: 0.3 kt (2019-2021 est.)