Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

2 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.bn

Internet users [time series]

35,000 (2002)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios [time series]

329,000 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia domestic: every service available international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines (2001)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

79,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

43,524 (1996)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1997)

Televisions [time series]

201,900 (1998)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo

Budget [time series]

revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

Bruneian dollar (BND)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

BND

Debt - external [time series]

$0

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$4.3 million (1995) (1995)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly 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 rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

2.065 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

2.22 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0%

Exchange rates [time series]

Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.8388 (January 2002), 1.8917 (2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Exports [time series]

$3 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

crude oil, natural gas, refined products

Exports - partners [time series]

Japan 42%, US 17%, South Korea 14%, Thailand 3% (1999)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (2001 est.)

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

agriculture: 5% industry: 45% services: 50% (2001 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2001 est.)

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

3% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1.4 billion c.i.f. (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Singapore 34%, UK 15%, Malaysia 15%, US 5% (1999)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

4% (1997 est.)

Industries [time series]

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1% (1999 est.)

Labor force [time series]

143,400 (1999 est.); note - includes foreign workers and military personnel note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991) (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Unemployment rate [time series]

10% (2001 est.)

Area [time series]

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

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 [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 signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

4 30 N, 114 40 E

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 (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 0.57% permanent crops: 0.76% other: 98.67% (1998 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

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Bandar Seri Begawan

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

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTY embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507 telephone: [673] (2) 229670 FAX: [673] (2) 225293

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador PUTEH ibni Mohammad Alam FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838 chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

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

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch 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 monarch) elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years

National holiday [time series]

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

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

Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988, it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)

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

NA

Suffrage [time series]

none

Background [time series]

The Sultanate of Brunei's heyday occurred 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. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the less developed countries. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries.

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

Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$343 million (FY98)

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

5.1% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 108,921 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 62,864 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 3,005 (2002 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 30.2% (male 54,038; female 51,833) 15-64 years: 67% (male 125,051; female 110,257) 65 years and over: 2.8% (male 4,609; female 5,110) (2002 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

20.06 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.38 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

13.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Languages [time series]

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.06 years female: 76.56 years (2002 est.) male: 71.68 years

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]

3.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Population [time series]

350,898 (July 2002 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.06% (2002 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.4 children born/woman (2002 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984, but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs

Illicit drugs [time series]

drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty

Airports [time series]

2 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Heliports [time series]

3 (2002)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 1,712 km paved: 1,284 km unpaved: 428 km (1996)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT ships by type: liquefied gas 7 note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: United Kingdom 7 (2002 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 (2001 est.)

Waterways [time series]

209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m