Brunei
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Brunei Geography Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 5,770 sq km land: 5,270 sq km water: 500 sq km AreaŃcomparative: slightly smaller than Delaware Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km Coastline: 161 km Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line territorial sea: 12 nm Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber Land use: arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 1% forests and woodland: 85% other: 12% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare EnvironmentŃcurrent issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia EnvironmentŃinternational agreements: party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements GeographyŃnote: 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 People Population: 315,292 (July 1998 est.) Age structure: 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.) Population growth rate: 2.44% (1998 est.) Birth rate: 24.92 births/1,000 population (1998 est.) Death rate: 5.17 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.) Net migration rate: 4.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.) Sex ratio: 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.) Infant mortality rate: 23.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.69 years male: 70.17 years female: 73.29 years (1998 est.) Total fertility rate: 3.35 children born/woman (1998 est.) Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian Ethnic groups: Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16% Religions: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981) Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 88.2% male: 92.6% female: 83.4% (1995 est.) Government Country name: conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam conventional short form: Brunei Data code: BX Government type: constitutional sultanate National capital: Bandar Seri Begawan Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singularŃdaerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK) National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984) Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984) Legal system: based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas Suffrage: none Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967); noteŃthe 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); noteŃthe 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 Legislative branch: 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 Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chief justice and judges are sworn in by the sultan for three-year terms Political parties and leaders: 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 International organization participation: 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 Diplomatic representation in the US: 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 FAX: [1] (202) 342-0158 Diplomatic representation from the US: 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 FAX: [673] (2) 225293 Flag description: 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 Economy EconomyŃoverview: 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. GDP: purchasing power parityŃ$5.4 billion (1997 est.) GDPŃreal growth rate: 3.5% (1997 est.) GDPŃper capita: purchasing power parityŃ$18,000 (1997 est.) GDPŃcomposition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49% (1996 est.) Inflation rateŃconsumer price index: 2% (1997 est.) Labor force: total: 144,000 (1995 est.); noteŃincludes 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) Unemployment rate: 4.8% (1994 est.) Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768 million (1995 est.) Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.) ElectricityŃcapacity: 646,000 kW (1997 est.) ElectricityŃproduction: 1.26 billion kWh (1995) ElectricityŃconsumption per capita: 4,311 kWh (1995) AgricultureŃproducts: rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo Exports: 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.) Imports: 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.) DebtŃexternal: $0 Economic aid: $NA Currency: 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1Ń1.7533 (January 1998), 1.4848 (1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993); noteŃthe Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar Fiscal year: calendar year Communications Telephones: 90,000 (1997 est.) Telephone system: service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia domestic: NA international: satellite earth stationsŃ2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) Radio broadcast stations: AM 4, FM 4, shortwave 0 Radios: 284,000 (1995 est.) Television broadcast stations: 1 (1984 est.) Televisions: 173,000 (1995 est.) Transportation Railways: total: 13 km (private line) narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge Highways: total: 1,150 km paved: 399 km unpaved: 751 km (1996 est.) Waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong Merchant marine: total: 7 liquefied gas tankers (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT (1997 est.) Airports: 2 (1997 est.) AirportsŃwith paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (1997 est.) AirportsŃwith unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.) Heliports: 3 (1997 est.) Military Military branches: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police Military manpowerŃmilitary age: 18 years of age Military manpowerŃavailability: males age 15-49: 87,048 (1998 est.) Military manpowerŃfit for military service: males: 50,408 (1998 est.) Military manpowerŃreaching military age annually: males: 3,126 (1998 est.) Military expendituresŃdollar figure: $312 million (1994) Military expendituresŃpercent of GDP: 6.2% (1994) Transnational Issues DisputesŃinternational: 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