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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
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.
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:
2008 $53,100 (ranks 8th, the leader in East Asia, just ahead of Singapore.)
2007 $53,700
2006 $54,400
GDP growth rate:
2008: 0.4%
2007: 0.6%
2006: 5.1%
Unemployment rate:
2008: 3.7%
For 2008: deaths: 3.28. Births: 18.39, down from 19.02 in 2005.
Estimate for July 2008: 381,371. Growth rate estimated for 2008: 1.785 percent per year. Density in 2005: 70 persons per square kilometer.
More arriving than leaving, a net gain of 2.74 per 1,000 population.
Infant mortality estimated for 2008: 12.69, up from 12.61 in 2005 (deaths before the age of one year, per 1,000 live births).
Average life expectancy at birth estimated for 2008: 75.52, up from 74.8 in 2005
Living with HIV/AIDS, ages 15 to 49: less than 0.1 percent (2003)
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/
Copyright © 2008 by Frank E. Smitha. All rights reserved.