Country Profile: Brunei

Geography

Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia. Equivalent to 76 by 76 kilometers or 47.5 by 47.5 miles. Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan

History and Government

Became a British protectorate in 1888. Independence: 1984. Local power by the same family for more than six centuries.

A constitutional sultanate. The Sultan is both chief of state and head of government. A 21-seat legislature, members appointed by his majesty.

Economy

Figures unless otherwise stated are from the CIA Factbook.

Factbook: "Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for just over half of GDP and more than 90% of exports."

Estimated per capita GDP (2009 U.S. dollars)

2009: $50,100 (ranks 9th, ahead of the U.S. with $46,500)
2008 $51,900
2007: $53,900

GDP growth rate:
2009: -1.9%
2008: -1.9%
2007: 0.2%

Unemployment rate

2008: 3.7%

Oil production: 175,20 barrels per day (2008)

Population

Living in an urban area: 75%

July 2009: 388,190. Growth rate: 1.759% (ranks 75th)

Density in 2005: 70 persons per square kilometer.

Migration

2009: More arriving than leaving, a net gain of 2.69 per 1,000 population.

Health

Infant mortality (deaths before the age of one year per 1,000 live births)

2009: 12.27
2008: 12.69
2005: 12.61

Average life expectancy at birth

2009: 75.52 years
2008: 75.52
2005: 74.8

Living with
HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: less than 0.1 percent (2003)

Ethnicity and Religion as of 2005

Malay 67 percent, Chinese 15 percent, other 18 percent.

Officially Muslim, 67 percent. Buddhist 13 percent. Christian 10 percent. Other 10 percent.

SOURCES:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/