Brunei

More Information

Brunei's Information


Capital	Bandar Seri Begawan
Languages	Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects
Ethnic Groups	Malay 65.7%, Chinese 10.3%, other indigenous 3.4%, other 20.6% (2011 est.)
Religion	Muslim (official) 78.8%, Christian 8.7%, Buddhist 7.8%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 4.7% (2011 est.)
Government	Absolute monarchy or sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)
Independance	1 January 1984 (from the UK)
Area	5,765.00 km²
Water Area	500.00 km²
Land Area	5,265.00 km²
Population	436,620.00
Location	Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
No. Bordering Countries	1
Bordering Countries	Malaysia 266 km
GDP(PPP)	$33,730,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$79,700.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are Japan, South Korea, and Thailand.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are mineral fuels and organic chemicals.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are Singapore, China, and Malaysia.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include machinery, mechanical appliance parts, and mineral fuels.
Climate	Tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain	Flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west

Where is Brunei?

Located in Southeastern Asia, Brunei has a 266.00 km border with Malaysia. It has a 161.00 km coastline. In 2010, Malaysia ceded two hydrocarbon consession blocks to Brunei in exchange for Brunei's sultan dropping claims to the Limbang corridor.

The capital city of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan which is located in the northern part of the country. This city has roots that can be traced back as far as the seventh century and the area was colonized and settled by the British in the late 19th century. The total population of the area is very close to 280,000, but 180,000 of these people live in rural areas surrounding the city. The climate of Brunei and Bandar Seri Begawan is a tropical rainforest environment that is characterized by hot and humid weather accompanied by rain. The average temperature in Bandar Seri Begawan varies from 23 to 32 degrees Celsius (73-86 degrees Fahrenheit).

Geography

Brunei has a mean elevation of 478 m above sea level.

It has a tropical climate that is hot, humid and rainy. Its terrain is preominantly made up of plains which rise to mountains in the east.

Population

Brunei has a population of 436,620 making it the 173rd largest in the world.

Malay is the official language. The major ethnic groups reported are Malay and Chinese. The population is mostly Muslim with a large Christian minority.

The official languages of Brunei are English and Malay, both of which are widely spoken throughout the region. The Malay language was officially adopted in 1959 when the Constitution of Brunei was signed. Around 62% of the population of Brunei, 270,000 people, speak a dialect of Malay known as Brunei Malay. This language is very compatible with Standard Malay. As well as officially recognizing English and Malay, the country is home to many other languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Indian, Nepalese, and native languages such as Tutong, Belait, Dusun, Bisaya, and Lun Bawang ('Murut').

Government

Brunei is an independent country. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. Its constitution was last ratified in 1959.

The government of Brunei is classified as an absolute monarchy in which the Sultan of Brunei is the head of state as well as the head of government. The Sultan is advised by five different councils: the Council of Ministers, Council of Succession, Legislative Council, Privy Council, and the Religious Council. The Sultan of Brunei, whose name is Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, has ruled for over 50 years. Only one national election has taken place in the country under the 1959 Constitution of Brunei, and technically this country is still in a state of martial law. The state of the martial law allows a tighter grip on power for the Sultan as well as being able to make every decision concerning the country. In 2004, the Sultan announced elections for a portion of the seats in the Legislative Council but no date has ever been set.

Economy

Factoring in Purchasing Power Parity, Brunei's GDP is $33,730,000,000.00 (USD) with $79,700.00 (USD) per capita. This makes it the 125th largest economy and its citizens the 9th richest in the world. The currency of Brunei is the Dollar (BND).

Its major export partners are Japan, South Korea, and Thailand. Its main exports are mineral fuels and organic chemicals. Its major import partners are Singapore, China, and Malaysia. Its major imports include machinery, mechanical appliance parts, and mineral fuels.

Flag

The current flag of Brunei has been in use since 1959 and consists of a yellow background that is intersected diagonally by both a white and black stripe. In the center of the flag, there is a red crest symbolizing Brunei in the middle. The crest consists of hands around the edges holding an Islamic style crescent that is facing upwards towards a parasol. This flag was designed by Yura Halim who also wrote the lyrics to the country's national anthem. Previous versions of the flag have been used a base for the current design, and the flag's colors and symbols have deep meaning within the culture of the nation.