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INTRODUCTION
Background: 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 now ruled
in Brunei for over six centuries.
GEOGRAPHY
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the
South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Area: total: 5,770 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
water: 500 sq km
Land boundaries: total: 381 km, border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Geography - note: 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: 343,653 (July 2001 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.77% (male 53,977; female 51,772)
15-64 years: 66.52% (male 121,601; female 107,007)
65 years and over: 2.71% (male 4,449; female 4,847) (2001 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.11% (2001 est.)
Birth rate: 20.45 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Death rate: 3.38 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 73.82 years
male: 71.45 years
female: 76.31 years (2001 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.44 children born/woman (2001 est.)
Ethnic groups: Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Religions: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous
beliefs and other 10%
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
Government type: constitutional sultanate
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular -
daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday: 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.
Legal system: based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic
Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas.
Executive branch:
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.
ECONOMY
Economy - overview: This small, wealthy economy
is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government
regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. Export of
crude oil and natural gas account for over 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, a further widening of the economic base
beyond oil and gas.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $5.9 billion (2000
est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $17,600 (2000 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (1996 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or Consumption
by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 144,000 (1995 est.); note -
includes foreign workers and military personnel
note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force
(1991)
Labor force - by occupation:
government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction
42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 4.9% (1995 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35
billion (1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas,
construction
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, vegetables,
fruits, chickens, water buffalo
Exports: $2.55 billion (f.o.b., 1999 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners: Japan 42%, US 17%, South Korea 14%, Thailand
3% (1999)
Imports: $1.3 billion (c.i.f., 1999 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured
goods, food, chemicals.
Imports - partners: Singapore 34%, UK 15%, Malaysia 15%, US 5% (1999)
Debt - external: $0
Currency: Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code: BND
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.7365 (January
2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997),
1.4100 (1996); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore
dollar.
Fiscal year: calendar year
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