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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.
Estimated per capita GDP:
2005 $33,600 (ranks 36th)
2003 $23,600
Factbook: "Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing."
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 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.