East & Southeast Asia :: Brunei page last updated on November 29, 2011

Introduction ::Brunei Background: 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 Asia.

Geography ::Brunei

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E Map references: Southeast Asia Area: total: 5,765 sq km country comparison to the world: 173 land: 5,265 sq km water: 500 sq km Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware Land boundaries: total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km Coastline: 161 km Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line 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: 2.08% permanent crops: 0.87% other: 97.05% (2005) Irrigated land: 10 sq km (2008) Total renewable water resources:

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): total: 0.09 per capita: 243 cu m/yr (1994) Natural hazards: People and Society ::Brunei typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) Environment - current issues: adjective: Bruneian seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia Ethnic groups: Environment - international agreements: Malay 66.3%, ChineseClimate 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.) party to: Biodiversity, Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution Languages: signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Malay (official), English, Chinese Geography - note: Religions: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts Muslim (official) 67%, 13%, Christian 10%, other Malaysia (includes indigenous beliefs) 10% physically separated by Buddhist Malaysia; almost an enclave within Population: 401,890 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 Age structure: 0-14 years: 25.5% (male 52,944/female 49,729) 15-64 years: 70.9% (male 141,121/female 143,977) 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 6,881/female 7,238) (2011 est.) Median age: total: 28.4 years male: 28.3 years female: 28.6 years (2011 est.) Population growth rate: 1.712% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 65 Birth rate: 17.87 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 106 Death rate: 3.35 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 213 Net migration rate: 2.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 33 Urbanization: urban population: 76% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 2.2% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.) Major cities - population: BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) 22,000 (2009) Sex ratio:

under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female total population: 1 male(s)/female (2011 est.) Maternal mortality rate: 21 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 124 Infant mortality rate: total: 11.51 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 140 male: 13.74 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 76.17 years country comparison to the world: 75 male: 73.91 years female: 78.53 years (2011 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.86 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 148 Health expenditures: 3% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 177 Physicians density: 1.417 physicians/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 85 Hospital bed density: 2.71 beds/1,000 population (2008) country comparison to the world: 82 HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 159 HIV/AIDS - deaths: fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 Education expenditures: NA Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.7% male: 95.2% female: 90.2% (2001 census)