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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768 million (1995 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for perhaps half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. The government is beginning to show progress on its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

646,000 kW (1997 est.)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

4,311 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

1.26 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1-1.7533 (January 1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993); note-the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Exports [time series]

total value: $2.62 billion (f.o.b., 1996 est.) commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products partners: ASEAN 31%, Japan 27%, South Korea 26%, UK, Taiwan (1996 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$5.4 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (1996 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$18,000 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

3.5% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $2.65 billion (c.i.f., 1996 est.) commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals partners: Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 5% (1994 est.)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4% (1997 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

2% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 144,000 (1995 est.); note-includes foreign workers and military personnel by occupation: government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4%, other 6% (1986 est.) note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

284,000 (1995 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia domestic: NA international: satellite earth stations-2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

90,000 (1997 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (1984 est.)

Televisions [time series]

173,000 (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

4.8% (1994 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 5,770 sq km land: 5,270 sq km water: 500 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly smaller than Delaware

Climate [time series]

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline [time series]

161 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

4 30 N, 114 40 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia

Irrigated land [time series]

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 85% other: 12% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Map references [time series]

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards [time series]

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Terrain [time series]

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

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Glen Robert RASE embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan mailing address: American Embassy Box B, Bandar Seri Begawan, APO AP 96440 telephone: [673] (2) 229670

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH Ibni Mohammad Alam chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0159

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note-the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); note-the sultan is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the sultan; deals with executive matters note: there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the sultan) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the sultan) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the sultan) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises elections: none; the sultan is a traditional Islamic monarch

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 342-0158

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[673] (2) 225293

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Government type [time series]

constitutional sultanate

Independence [time series]

1 January 1984 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the sultan for three-year terms

Legal system [time series]

based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the sultan) elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Bandar Seri Begawan

National holiday [time series]

National Day, 23 February (1984)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Brunei United National Party (inactive), Anak HASANUDDIN, chairman; Brunei National Solidarity Party (the first legal political party and now banned), Mohamad HATTA bin Maji Zainal Abidin, secretary general; Brunei Peoples Party (banned), Sheik A. M. AZAHARI, leader; Brunei National Democratic Party or BNDP (deregistered), Haji Abdul LATIF bin Abdul Hamad, president

Suffrage [time series]

none

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$312 million (1994)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

6.2% (1994)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 87,048 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 50,408 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 3,126 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 33% (male 53,219; female 50,906) 15-64 years: 63% (male 103,949; female 93,370) 65 years and over: 4% (male 7,569; female 6,279) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

24.92 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

5.17 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

23.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.69 years male: 70.17 years female: 73.29 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.2% male: 92.6% female: 83.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian

Net migration rate [time series]

4.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

315,292 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.44% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.11 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.21 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.35 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country; possibly involved in a complex dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands, but has not publicly claimed the island BULGARIA

Transportation

Airports [time series]

2 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Heliports [time series]

3 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,150 km paved: 399 km unpaved: 751 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT (1997 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong

Railways [time series]

total: 13 km (private line) narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge

Waterways [time series]

209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m