Brunei: A Statistical Overview Of The Nation

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a small country in Southeast Asia with a population of around 455,858 as of 2023. It is located on the northern coast of the island of Borneo and is surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Brunei is an absolute monarchy with one of the wealthiest economies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the second-highest gross domestic product per capita. The country has a very high ranking on the Human Development Index (HDI) and its citizens enjoy a high quality of life, with access to subsidised healthcare and education. Brunei's economy is primarily based on the exploitation of its vast petroleum and natural gas reserves, which has ensured a prosperous lifestyle for its citizens, with an average wealth per adult of about $43,000. The country also boasts one of the lowest national debts and inflation rates worldwide.

Population: ~455,000 as of 2023, with ~180,000 in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei has a population of around 455,000 as of 2023, with approximately 180,000 people living in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. This equates to about two-thirds of the country's population. Bandar Seri Begawan is the country's largest urban centre and, nominally, its only city. It is also the country's commercial and cultural centre.

Bandar Seri Begawan is located on the Brunei River, around 9 miles from its mouth on Brunei Bay, an inlet of the South China Sea. The city is known for its tranquil atmosphere, pleasant greenery, and neat arrangements of buildings. It is home to Istana Nurul Iman, the largest residential palace in the world, as well as the iconic Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.

The population of Bandar Seri Begawan has grown significantly over the years. In 2007, the city's population was estimated to be 100,700, and by 2011, the urban agglomeration population had reached 237,981. The growth of the city can be attributed to its role as the country's administrative and financial centre, as well as its port at the nearby Muara River.

The Brunei–Muara District, where Bandar Seri Begawan is located, is the smallest yet most populous district in the country. It is home to over 70% of the country's population and has experienced substantial urban development. The district features low hills, marshy coastal plains, and narrow alluvial valleys along key rivers, including the Belait, Tutong, and Brunei rivers.

Economy: Wealthy, with a GDP of ~$31,410 per capita in 2022

Brunei's economy is one of the wealthiest in the ASEAN region, with a GDP per capita of around $31,410 in 2022. The country's wealth is derived from its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, which have been the basis of its development and prosperity since the late 20th century. Brunei's average wealth per adult is approximately $43,000, and the industry sector accounts for over half of the nation's GDP.

The country has one of the lowest national debts in the world, as well as one of the lowest inflation rates. Revenues from fuels and mining products constitute the majority of Brunei's export earnings and have generated trade surpluses for over a decade. The nation's primary export partners are in Asia, including Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.

Brunei's economy has experienced significant growth during the 1990s and 2000s, transforming the country into an industrialised nation. Between 1999 and 2008, its GDP increased by 56%. The country also ranks very high on the Human Development Index (HDI), second only to Singapore among Southeast Asian nations. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Brunei is ranked ninth in the world for GDP per capita at purchasing power parity.

The Bruneian government provides substantial subsidies for its citizens in areas such as housing, healthcare, and education. The quality of life in Brunei is among the highest in the world, and its citizens enjoy heavily subsidised healthcare and universal education. As a result, Brunei has the second-highest life expectancy in ASEAN, and its population is highly literate.

Geography: Located on Borneo, surrounded by Malaysia, with a coastline on the South China Sea

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. It is completely surrounded by Malaysia, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Brunei has a coastline on the South China Sea, with a total coastline of 161 kilometres (100 mi). It has 500 square kilometres (193 sq mi) of territorial waters, and a 200-nautical-mile (370 km; 230 mi) exclusive economic zone.

The country is divided into two unconnected parts, with a total area of 5,765 square kilometres (2,226 sq mi). About 97% of the population lives in the larger western part (Belait, Tutong, and Brunei-Muara), while only about 10,000 people live in the mountainous eastern part (Temburong District). The total population of Brunei is approximately 408,000 as of July 2010, with a population density of 79 persons per square km as of 2024.

Politics: Constitutional absolute monarchy, ruled by the Sultan

Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan. The current Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, has been the head of state since 1967 and also serves as the country's prime minister, finance minister and defence minister. The Sultan holds full executive authority and has ruled by decree since a 1962 rebellion, which means that Brunei has technically been under martial law for over six decades.

The Sultan is the supreme head of state, and the country's political system is governed by the constitution and the national tradition of the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB). This framework has three components: Malay culture, the Islamic religion, and the political framework under the monarchy.

Brunei gained independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984 and became a member of the United Nations on 22 September 1984. The country has a unicameral legislature, the Legislative Council, which is simply advisory and whose members are all appointed by the Sultan. There have been no elections held since 1962.

The country's legal system is based on English common law, although Islamic law (sharia) takes precedence in some cases. The Sultan can award commoners titles such as Pehin (equivalent to a life peerage in the UK), Dato (equivalent to a knighthood), and Datin (equivalent to a damehood).

Brunei's official language is Malay, and Islam is the state religion, although other religions are tolerated. The country's population is approximately 455,000 as of 2023, with an estimated 180,000 people residing in the capital and largest city, Bandar Seri Begawan.

Religion: Predominantly Sunni Muslim, with Islam as the state religion

Brunei is a constitutionally absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, with Islam as the state religion. The country's population of just under half a million is predominantly Sunni Muslim, although other religions are nominally tolerated. The country's official language is Malay, and the culture is deeply rooted in Malaysia's.

The country's wealth is derived from its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, and its citizens enjoy a high quality of life, with heavily subsidised healthcare and universal education. As a result, Brunei has the second-highest life expectancy in the ASEAN region and one of the highest qualities of life worldwide.

The country's legal system is based on English common law, although Islamic law (sharia) supersedes this in some cases. In 2013, the Sultan announced his intention to impose a penal code from Sharia on the country's Muslims, who make up roughly two-thirds of the population. This would make Brunei the first and only country in East Asia to introduce Sharia into its penal code.

Malay is the official language of Brunei, and the country's population is approximately 82% Muslim, including the majority of Bruneian Malays and Kedayans. Other faiths practised include Christianity (6.7%), Buddhism (6.3%, mainly by the Chinese), and indigenous religions (2%).

Brunei's culture is predominantly Malay, with heavy influences from Islam, and is considered much more conservative than Indonesia and Malaysia. As a Sharia country, the sale and public consumption of alcohol are banned.

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