Brunei

Over

Countries

Since 1924

Years

(NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM)

(WIPO code: BN)

(WIPO code: BN) (last revised January 2024)

by DREW & NAPIER LLC, Singapore

General Information

Area

5,770 sq. km.

Population

484,991 (2023).

Capital

Bandar Seri Begawan.

Currency

Brunei dollar (BND).

Language(s)

Malay (official), English, Chinese (various dialects).

Ethnic groups

63.8% Malay, 10% Chinese, 23.3% others.

Religion

Islam (official) 78.8%, Buddhism 7.8%, Christianity 8.7%, others 4.7%.

General Remarks

Geography: Brunei is situated on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo. It is bound by the South China Sea on the north and by Sarawak, a Malaysian State on all other sides. Sarawak divides Brunei into two separate enclaves, with the main part to the west.

Other major cities: Kuala Belait, Seria, Tutong.

Climate: tropical; hot, rainy and humid. There are no well-defined seasons. Terrain: hilly lowland in the west; flat coastal plains that rise to mountains in the east.

Government: Brunei is a Constitutional Sultanate, independent since January 1, 1984. Chief of State and Head of Government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir Hassanal Bolkiah (since October 5, 1967). Legal system: based on English common law. For Muslims, Islamic Shari’a law supersedes civil law in some areas.

Economy: GDP: U.S.$ 12.779 billion (estimated 2021). External debt: Brunei has no public external debt. Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas and construction. Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas and timber. Imports: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and chemicals. Exports: crude oil, natural gas and refined products. Major trade partners: Japan, Indonesia, South Korea, various ASEAN countries, Australia, U.S.A.