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East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Brunei Print
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BRUNEI
  • Introduction :: Brunei
  • Background field listing
    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. 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. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the world. In 2017, Brunei celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH’s accession to the throne.
  • Geography :: Brunei
  • Location field listing
    Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
    Geographic coordinates field listing
    4 30 N, 114 40 E
    Map references field listing
    Southeast Asia
    Area field listing
    total: 5,765 sq km
    land: 5,265 sq km
    water: 500 sq km
    country comparison to the world: 173
    Area - comparative field listing
    slightly smaller than Delaware
    Land boundaries field listing
    total: 266 km
    border countries (1): Malaysia 266 km
    Coastline field listing
    161 km
    Maritime claims field listing
    territorial sea: 12 nm
    exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
    Climate field listing
    tropical; hot, humid, rainy
    Terrain field listing
    flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
    Elevation field listing
    mean elevation: 478 m
    elevation extremes: 0 m lowest point: South China Sea
    1850 highest point: Bukit Pagon
    Natural resources field listing
    petroleum, natural gas, timber
    Land use field listing
    agricultural land: 2.5% (2011 est.)
    arable land: 0.8% (2011 est.) / permanent crops: 1.1% (2011 est.) / permanent pasture: 0.6% (2011 est.)
    forest: 71.8% (2011 est.)
    other: 25.7% (2011 est.)
    Irrigated land field listing
    10 sq km (2012)
    Natural hazards field listing
    typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
    Environment - current issues field listing
    no major environmental problems, but air pollution control is becoming a concern; seasonal trans-boundary haze from forest fires in Indonesia
    Environment - international agreements field listing
    party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
    signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
    Geography - note field listing
    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
  • People and Society :: Brunei
  • Population field listing
    450,565 (July 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 174
    Nationality field listing
    noun: Bruneian(s)
    adjective: Bruneian
    Ethnic groups field listing
    Malay 65.7%, Chinese 10.3%, other 24% (2016 est.)
    Languages field listing
    Malay (Bahasa Melayu) (official), English, Chinese dialects
    Religions field listing
    Muslim (official) 78.8%, Christian 8.7%, Buddhist 7.8%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 4.7% (2011 est.)
    Age structure field listing
    0-14 years: 22.82% (male 52,995 /female 49,836)
    15-24 years: 16.8% (male 37,707 /female 37,985)
    25-54 years: 46.9% (male 100,740 /female 110,596)
    55-64 years: 8.3% (male 18,859 /female 18,551)
    65 years and over: 5.17% (male 11,336 /female 11,960) (2018 est.)
    population pyramid: population pyramid
    Dependency ratios field listing
    total dependency ratio: 38.4 (2015 est.)
    youth dependency ratio: 32.8 (2015 est.)
    elderly dependency ratio: 5.7 (2015 est.)
    potential support ratio: 17.6 (2015 est.)
    Median age field listing
    total: 30.5 years
    male: 30 years
    female: 31 years (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 115
    Population growth rate field listing
    1.55% (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 69
    Birth rate field listing
    16.9 births/1,000 population (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 106
    Death rate field listing
    3.7 deaths/1,000 population (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 214
    Net migration rate field listing
    2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 39
    Urbanization field listing
    urban population: 77.6% of total population (2018)
    rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
    Major urban areas - population field listing
    241,000 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2011)

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

    Sex ratio field listing
    at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    15-24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    25-54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    55-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)
    Maternal mortality rate field listing
    23 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 126
    Infant mortality rate field listing
    total: 9.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
    male: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
    female: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 141
    Life expectancy at birth field listing
    total population: 77.5 years (2018 est.)
    male: 75.2 years (2018 est.)
    female: 80 years (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 71
    Total fertility rate field listing
    1.77 children born/woman (2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 156
    Health expenditures field listing
    2.6% of GDP (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 186
    Physicians density field listing
    1.75 physicians/1,000 population (2015)
    Hospital bed density field listing
    2.7 beds/1,000 population (2015)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate field listing
    NA
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS field listing
    NA
    HIV/AIDS - deaths field listing
    NA
    Obesity - adult prevalence rate field listing
    14.1% (2016)
    country comparison to the world: 129
    Children under the age of 5 years underweight field listing
    9.6% (2009)
    country comparison to the world: 65
    Education expenditures field listing
    4.4% of GDP (2016)
    country comparison to the world: 98
    Literacy field listing
    definition: age 15 and over can read and write (2015 est.)
    total population: 96% (2015 est.)
    male: 97.5% (2015 est.)
    female: 94.5% (2015 est.)
    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) field listing
    total: 15 years (2015)
    male: 14 years (2015)
    female: 15 years (2015)
    Unemployment, youth ages 15-24 field listing
    total: 25.4% (2014 est.)
    male: 23.5% (2014 est.)
    female: 28.1% (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 44
  • Government :: Brunei
  • Country name field listing
    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; according to legend, MUHAMMAD SHAH, who would become the first sultan of Brunei, upon discovering what would become Brunei exclaimed "Baru nah," which roughly translates as "there" or "that's it"
    Government type field listing
    absolute monarchy or sultanate
    Capital field listing
    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)
    Administrative divisions field listing
    4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
    Independence field listing
    1 January 1984 (from the UK)
    National holiday field listing
    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 protectionthe Sultan's birthday, 15 June
    Constitution field listing
    history: drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959; note - some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a State of Emergency, others suspended since independence in 1984 (2017)
    amendments: 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; amended 1984, 2004, 2011 (2017)
    International law organization participation field listing
    has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
    Citizenship field listing
    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
    Suffrage field listing
    18 years of age for village elections; universal
    Judicial branch field listing
    highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of Court of Appeal and High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court of Appeal (consists of judges appointed by the monarch); 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
    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 of Appeal judges appointed by the monarch for life
    subordinate courts: Intermediate Court; Magistrate's Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts; lower sharia courts
    Executive branch field listing
    chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government
    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; note - 4 additional advisory councils appointed by the monarch are the Religious Council, Privy Council for constitutional issues, Council of Succession, and Legislative Council
    elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary
    Legislative branch field listing
    description: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei (36 seats; members appointed by the sultan including 3 ex-officio members - the speaker and first and second secretaries; members appointed for 5-year terms)
    elections: appointed by the sultan
    election results: NA; composition - men 33, women 3, percent of women 8.3%
    Political parties and leaders field listing
    National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]

    note: Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin Chuchu] and People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad] were deregistered in 2007; parties are small and have limited activity

    International organization participation field listing
    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
    Diplomatic representation in the US field listing
    chief of mission: Ambassador Serbini ALI (since 28 January 2016)
    chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
    telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
    FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
    consulate(s): New York
    Diplomatic representation from the US field listing
    chief of mission: Ambassador Craig B. ALLEN (since 9 March 2015)
    embassy: Simpang 336-52-16-9, Jalan Datu, Bandar Seri Begawan, BC4115
    mailing address: Unit 4280, Box 40, FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
    telephone: [673] 238-4616
    FAX: [673] 238-4604
    Flag description field listing
    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; yellow is the color of royalty and symbolizes the sultanate; the white and black bands denote Brunei's chief ministers; the emblem includes five main components: a swallow-tailed flag, the royal umbrella representing the monarchy, the wings of four feathers symbolizing justice, tranquility, prosperity, and peace, the two upraised hands signifying the government's pledge to preserve and promote the welfare of the people, and the crescent moon denoting Islam, the state religion; the state motto "Always render service with God's guidance" appears in yellow Arabic script on the crescent; a ribbon below the crescent reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace"
    National symbol(s) field listing
    royal parasol; national colors: yellow, white, black
    National anthem field listing
    name: "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)
    lyrics/music: Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Pengiran Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap

    note: adopted 1951

  • Economy :: Brunei
  • Economy - overview field listing

    Brunei is an energy-rich sultanate on the northern coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Brunei boasts a well-educated, largely English-speaking population; excellent infrastructure; and a stable government intent on attracting foreign investment. Crude oil and natural gas production account for approximately 65% of GDP and 95% of exports, with Japan as the primary export market.

    Per capita GDP is among the highest in the world, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic hydrocarbon production. Bruneian citizens pay no personal income taxes, and the government provides free medical services and free education through the university level.

    The Bruneian Government wants to diversify its economy away from hydrocarbon exports to other industries such as information and communications technology and halal manufacturing, permissible under Islamic law. Brunei’s trade increased in 2016 and 2017, following its regional economic integration in the ASEAN Economic Community, and the expected ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

    GDP (purchasing power parity) field listing
    $33.87 billion (2017 est.)
    $33.42 billion (2016 est.)
    $34.27 billion (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    country comparison to the world: 128
    GDP (official exchange rate) field listing
    $12.13 billion (2017 est.) (2017 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate field listing
    1.3% (2017 est.)
    -2.5% (2016 est.)
    -0.4% (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 178
    GDP - per capita (PPP) field listing
    $78,900 (2017 est.)
    $79,000 (2016 est.)
    $82,200 (2015 est.)

    note: data are in 2017 dollars

    country comparison to the world: 9
    Gross national saving field listing
    47.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
    50.1% of GDP (2016 est.)
    51.9% of GDP (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 3
    GDP - composition, by end use field listing
    household consumption: 25% (2017 est.)
    government consumption: 24.8% (2017 est.)
    investment in fixed capital: 32.6% (2017 est.)
    investment in inventories: 8.5% (2017 est.)
    exports of goods and services: 45.9% (2017 est.)
    imports of goods and services: -36.8% (2017 est.)
    GDP - composition, by sector of origin field listing
    agriculture: 1.2% (2017 est.)
    industry: 56.6% (2017 est.)
    services: 42.3% (2017 est.)
    Agriculture - products field listing
    rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs
    Industries field listing
    petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, aquaculture, transportation
    Industrial production growth rate field listing
    1.5% (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 142
    Labor force field listing
    203,600 (2014 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 170
    Labor force - by occupation field listing
    agriculture: 4.2%
    industry: 62.8%
    services: 33% (2008 est.)
    Unemployment rate field listing
    6.9% (2017 est.)
    6.9% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 102
    Population below poverty line field listing
    NA
    Household income or consumption by percentage share field listing
    lowest 10%: NA
    highest 10%: NA
    Budget field listing
    revenues: 2.245 billion (2017 est.)
    expenditures: 4.345 billion (2017 est.)
    Taxes and other revenues field listing
    18.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 158
    Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) field listing
    -17.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 218
    Public debt field listing
    2.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
    3% of GDP (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 207
    Fiscal year field listing
    1 April - 31 March
    Inflation rate (consumer prices) field listing
    -0.2% (2017 est.)
    -0.7% (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 9
    Commercial bank prime lending rate field listing
    5.5% (31 December 2017 est.)
    5.5% (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 133
    Stock of narrow money field listing
    $3.387 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $3.232 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 117
    Stock of broad money field listing
    $3.387 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $3.232 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 123
    Stock of domestic credit field listing
    $3.665 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $4.066 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 134
    Market value of publicly traded shares field listing

    NA

    Current account balance field listing
    $2.021 billion (2017 est.)
    $1.47 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 41
    Exports field listing
    $5.885 billion (2017 est.)
    $5.023 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 104
    Exports - partners field listing
    Japan 27.8%, South Korea 12.4%, Thailand 11.5%, Malaysia 11.3%, India 9.3%, Singapore 7.7%, Switzerland 5%, China 4.7% (2017)
    Exports - commodities field listing
    mineral fuels, organic chemicals
    Imports field listing
    $2.998 billion (2017 est.)
    $2.658 billion (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 148
    Imports - commodities field listing
    machinery and mechanical appliance parts, mineral fuels, motor vehicles, electric machinery
    Imports - partners field listing
    China 19.6%, Singapore 19%, Malaysia 18.8%, US 9.2%, Germany 5.9%, Japan 4.1%, UK 4% (2017)
    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold field listing
    $3.488 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
    $3.366 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 105
    Debt - external field listing
    $0 (2014)
    $0 (2013)

    note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable

    country comparison to the world: 204
    Exchange rates field listing
    Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -
    1.394 (2017 est.)
    1.3814 (2016 est.)
    1.3814 (2015 est.)
    1.3749 (2014 est.)
    1.267 (2013 est.)
  • Energy :: Brunei
  • Electricity access field listing
    population without electricity: 104,788 (2012)
    electrification - total population: 76% (2012)
    electrification - urban areas: 79% (2012)
    electrification - rural areas: 67% (2012)
    Electricity - production field listing
    4.014 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 127
    Electricity - consumption field listing
    3.771 billion kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 129
    Electricity - exports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 111
    Electricity - imports field listing
    0 kWh (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 129
    Electricity - installed generating capacity field listing
    821,000 kW (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 134
    Electricity - from fossil fuels field listing
    100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 5
    Electricity - from nuclear fuels field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 56
    Electricity - from hydroelectric plants field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 161
    Electricity - from other renewable sources field listing
    0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 179
    Crude oil - production field listing
    100,600 bbl/day (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 43
    Crude oil - exports field listing
    127,400 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 33
    Crude oil - imports field listing
    160 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 82
    Crude oil - proved reserves field listing
    1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 39
    Refined petroleum products - production field listing
    10,310 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 100
    Refined petroleum products - consumption field listing
    18,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 144
    Refined petroleum products - exports field listing
    0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 135
    Refined petroleum products - imports field listing
    6,948 bbl/day (2015 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 159
    Natural gas - production field listing
    12.74 billion cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 38
    Natural gas - consumption field listing
    3.936 billion cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 66
    Natural gas - exports field listing
    8.268 billion cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 23
    Natural gas - imports field listing
    0 cu m (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 97
    Natural gas - proved reserves field listing
    260.5 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 39
    Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy field listing
    10.04 million Mt (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 107
  • Communications :: Brunei
  • Telephones - fixed lines field listing
    total subscriptions: 74,213 (July 2016 est.)
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 148
    Telephones - mobile cellular field listing
    total subscriptions: 544,732 (2017 est.)
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 123 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 170
    Telephone system field listing
    general assessment: service throughout the country is good; international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East, Western Europe, and the US; while fixed-line is slowing down, mobile broadband has taken over in the advancement in the telecoms access market; broadband penetration slow to moderate growth predicted over the next five years to 2023 (2017)
    domestic: every service available; 17 per 100 fixed-line, 123 per 100 mobile-cellular (2017)
    international: country code - 673; landing point for the SEA-ME-WE-3 optical telecommunications submarine cable that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Europe; the Asia-America Gateway submarine cable network provides new links to Asia and the US; the South-East Asia Japan Cable System linking Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Philipines and Thailand; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2017)
    Broadcast media field listing
    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 (2017)
    Internet country code field listing
    .bn
    Internet users field listing
    total: 306,000 (July 2016 est.)
    percent of population: 71.2% (July 2016 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 161
    Broadband - fixed subscriptions field listing
    total: 41,209 (2017 est.)
    subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 9 (2017 est.)
    country comparison to the world: 134
  • Transportation :: Brunei
  • National air transport system field listing
    number of registered air carriers: 1 (2015)
    inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10 (2015)
    annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,150,003 (2015)
    annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 115.147 million mt-km (2015)
    Civil aircraft registration country code prefix field listing
    V8 (2016)
    Airports field listing
    1 (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 216
    Airports - with paved runways field listing
    total: 1 (2017)
    over 3,047 m: 1 (2017)
    Heliports field listing
    3 (2013)
    Pipelines field listing
    33 km condensate, 86 km condensate/gas, 628 km gas, 492 km oil (2013)
    Roadways field listing
    total: 2,976 km (2014)
    paved: 2,559 km (2014)
    unpaved: 417 km (2014)
    country comparison to the world: 166
    Waterways field listing
    209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong Rivers are major transport links) (2012)
    country comparison to the world: 96
    Merchant marine field listing
    total: 106 (2018)
    by type: general cargo 20, LNG tanker 5, other 81 (2018)
    country comparison to the world: 82
    Ports and terminals field listing
    major seaport(s): Muara
    oil terminal(s): Lumut, Seria
    LNG terminal(s) (export): Lumut
  • Military and Security :: Brunei
  • Military expenditures field listing
    2.87% of GDP (2017)
    3.54% of GDP (2016)
    3.28% of GDP (2015)
    3.08% of GDP (2014)
    2.28% of GDP (2013)
    country comparison to the world: 31
    Military branches field listing
    Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2013)
    Military service age and obligation field listing
    17 years of age for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve; recruits from the army, navy, and air force all undergo 43-week initial training (2013)
  • Transnational Issues :: Brunei
  • Disputes - international field listing
    per Letters of Exchange signed in 2009, Malaysia in 2010 ceded two hydrocarbon concession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which divides Bruneinonetheless, Brunei claims a maritime boundary extending as far as a median with Vietnam, thus asserting an implicit claim to Louisa Reef
    Refugees and internally displaced persons field listing
    stateless persons: 20,524 (2017); note - thousands of stateless persons, often ethnic Chinese, are permanent residents and their families have lived in Brunei for generations; obtaining citizenship is difficult and requires individuals to pass rigorous tests on Malay culture, customs, and language; stateless residents receive an International Certificate of Identity, which enables them to travel overseas; the government is considering changing the law prohibiting non-Bruneians, including stateless permanent residents, from owning land
    Illicit drugs field listing
    drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty