Exploring Brunei's Population Density: Understanding The Nation's Demographics

Brunei, officially the Nation of Brunei, is a small sovereign state on the north coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It has a population of around 456,000 people and a population density of 80-88 people per square kilometre. Brunei's population has been steadily growing since the 1960s and is projected to reach 560,000 by 2030. The country is divided into four districts, with nearly 97% of its population living in the western area, including the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan, where around 200,000 people reside.

Population density in 2024

Brunei's population density in 2024 is estimated to be between 80 and 88 people per square kilometre. This is based on a total population of around 450,000 to 460,000 and a land area of 5,270 to 5,770 square kilometres.

Population density is calculated by dividing the total population by the land area. It refers to the average number of people living in a certain country or area per square kilometre. The higher the population density, the more crowded an area is likely to be.

Brunei's population density is relatively low compared to other countries. For context, the population density of the Philippines, a neighbouring country in Southeast Asia, is around 363 people per square kilometre.

Brunei's population has been steadily increasing since the 1960s, and this trend is projected to continue. By 2030, the United Nations projects that Brunei's population will reach 560,000. This growth is due to a combination of factors, including births, deaths, and migration. In 2024, Brunei is estimated to have a net increase of one person every 160 minutes, with a positive natural increase (the number of births exceeding the number of deaths) and a positive net migration.

Urbanisation rate

In 2022, the urban population of Brunei Darussalam was 78.85%, a slight increase from 2021. This figure represents the share of the total population living in an urban setting, and it reached its highest value in the observed period in 2022.

Over the last 50 years, the urban population of Brunei has grown substantially, rising at an increasing annual rate. This rate reached its peak of 0.78% in 1993 before decreasing to 0.38% in 2022. The urbanisation rate in Brunei has been consistently high over the last decade, fluctuating between 78% and 79%.

The definition of what constitutes an 'urban centre' varies internationally, which can lead to inconsistencies when comparing urbanisation rates between countries. These discrepancies can arise due to differences in criteria, such as population size, area, or space between dwellings. Despite these variations, the urbanisation rate in Brunei remains significant, reflecting a larger proportion of the population residing in urban areas compared to rural ones.

Brunei's urbanisation rate has implications for various aspects of the country's development. It can influence economic growth, with higher urbanisation often associated with industrial and service sector expansion. Additionally, urbanisation can impact social and cultural factors, such as access to education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Understanding the urbanisation rate is crucial for policymakers and planners to effectively manage resources, ensure sustainable development, and cater to the needs of the growing urban population in Brunei.

Population growth

Brunei's population has been steadily growing since the 1960s. As of 2024, the population density in Brunei is between 80 and 88 people per square km or 207 to 227 people per square mile. The total land area of Brunei is around 5,270 km2 (2,035 sq. miles), or 5,770 km2 (2,228 sq. miles) according to one source. This makes it the 172nd or 175th largest country in the world by population.

The current population of Brunei is estimated to be between 437,259 and 464,001. The population is expected to reach 468,219 by the beginning of 2025, with a projected increase of 6,756 people. The UN estimates that by 2030, the population will reach 560,000.

The population growth rate in Brunei has been declining, reaching 0.78% in 2023, the lowest in the observed period. The population growth rate is influenced by factors such as fertility, mortality, and migration. In 2024, the net increase in population was one person every 160 minutes, with one birth every 90 minutes, one death every 205.72 minutes, and a net gain of one person due to migration every 24 hours.

Brunei has a relatively low total dependency ratio of 41%, indicating that the dependent population is less than half of the working population. The country has a median age of 32.2 years, with an expanding population pyramid typical of developing countries with high birth and death rates. The sex ratio is slightly higher than the global average, with 1,020 males per 1,000 females as of 2023.

Population distribution

Brunei's population has been steadily increasing since the 1960s. The current population of Brunei is estimated to be between 437,259 and 461,463, with a median estimate of 456,055. The population density of Brunei is estimated to be between 80 and 88 people per square kilometre, with a peak of 84.51 in 2021. This is calculated based on a total land area of 5,270 square kilometres.

Brunei is divided into four districts, with the largest being Brunei-Maura, which is home to more than half of the country's population. Nearly 97% of Brunei's population lives in the western area, including the districts of Brunei-Muara, Tutong, and Belait, while only about 10,000 people live in the mountains of the east. The capital and largest city, Bandar Seri Begawan, has a population of about 200,000.

In terms of urban and rural distribution, Brunei is heavily urbanised, with 77.6% to 79.7% of its population living in urban areas. The urban population is growing at a rate of more than 2% per year, with an annual rate of urbanisation of 1.66%.

Brunei has a relatively balanced sex ratio, with males making up 50.5% of the population and females 49.5%. The median age is 32.2 years, and the total fertility rate is 2.1, which is the replacement-level fertility rate. The country has a low dependency ratio of 41%, with a child dependency ratio of 36% and an aged dependency ratio of 5%.

The population of Brunei is predominantly Malay, with Chinese and indigenous minorities. The official language is Malay, and Islam is the dominant and official religion, with 66% to 82% of the population practising it. Other faiths include Buddhism, Christianity, and indigenous religions.

Population density calculation

To calculate the population density of Brunei, you need to divide the total population by the total land area.

Define the area

First, you need to define the boundaries of the region. In this case, we are looking at the country of Brunei, which has a total land area of 5,270 km2 (2,035 sq. miles) or 5,765 km2 (2,228 sq. miles), according to different sources.

Determine the population

Next, we need to find the total population of the area. According to the latest United Nations data, the population of Brunei in 2024 is estimated to be between 455,858 and 461,463.

Balance your data

Before performing the calculation, we need to ensure that the population and land area are in corresponding units. In this case, we can use 455,858 people and 5,270 km2, or we can convert the population to the nearest thousand (460,000) to match the land area figure of 5,770 km2.

Plug your data into the formula

Now we can plug the data into the formula: Population Density = Number of People / Land Area. This gives us:

Population Density = 460,000 people / 5,770 km2

Divide the population by the area size

Finally, we perform the calculation. 460,000 divided by 5,770 is approximately 79.7 people per km2.

Therefore, the population density of Brunei is approximately 79.7 people per km2, or 80 people per km2 to the nearest whole number.

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