1.
[syn: Brunei, Negara Brunei Darussalam]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Brunei \Brunei\ n.
a sultanate in Northwestern Borneo.
[WordNet 1.5]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
Brunei
n 1: a sultanate in northwestern Borneo; became independent of
Great Britain in 1984 [syn: Brunei, Negara Brunei
Darussalam]
CIA World Factbook 2002:
Brunei
Introduction Brunei
-------------------
Background: The Sultanate of Brunei's heyday
occurred between the 15th and 17th
centuries, when its control extended
over coastal areas of northwest
Borneo and the southern Philippines.
Brunei subsequently entered a period
of decline brought on by internal
strife over royal succession,
colonial expansion of European
powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei
became a British protectorate;
independence was achieved in 1984.
Brunei benefits from extensive
petroleum and natural gas fields,
the source of one of the highest per
capita GDPs in the less developed
countries. The same family has now
ruled Brunei for over six centuries.
Geography Brunei
----------------
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the
South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 5,770 sq km
water: 500 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM or
to median line
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to
mountains in east; hilly lowland in
west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 0.57%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 98.67% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe
flooding are very rare
Environment - current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from
forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international party to: Endangered Species, Law of
agreements: the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of
the selected agreements
Geography - note: close to vital sea lanes through
South China Sea linking Indian and
Pacific Oceans; two parts physically
separated by Malaysia; almost an
enclave of Malaysia
People Brunei
-------------
Population: 350,898 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 30.2% (male 54,038;
female 51,833)
15-64 years: 67% (male 125,051;
female 110,257)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 4,609;
female 5,110) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.06% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 20.06 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 3.38 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 3.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2002 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/
female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female
(2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 13.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.06 years
female: 76.56 years (2002 est.)
male: 71.68 years
Total fertility rate: 2.4 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ less than 100 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous
6%, other 12%
Religions: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%,
Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs
and other 10%
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 88.2%
male: 92.6%
female: 83.4% (1995 est.)
Government Brunei
-----------------
Country name: conventional long form: Negara
Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
Government type: constitutional sultanate
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular
- daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara,
Temburong, Tutong
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984);
note - 1 January 1984 was the date
of independence from the UK, 23
February 1984 was the date of
independence from British protection
Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions
suspended under a State of Emergency
since December 1962, others since
independence on 1 January 1984)
Legal system: based on English common law; for
Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law
supersedes civil law in a number of
areas
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime
Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since
5 October 1967); note - the monarch
is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime
Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since
5 October 1967); note - the monarch
is both the chief of state and head
of government
cabinet: Council of Cabinet
Ministers appointed and presided
over by the monarch; deals with
executive matters; note - there is
also a Religious Council (members
appointed by the monarch) that
advises on religious matters, a
Privy Council (members appointed by
the monarch) that deals with
constitutional matters, and the
Council of Succession (members
appointed by the monarch) that
determines the succession to the
throne if the need arises
elections: none; the monarch is
hereditary
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or
Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy
council that serves only in a
consultative capacity; NA seats;
members appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held in March 1962
note: in 1970 the Council was
changed to an appointive body by
decree of the monarch; an elected
Legislative Council is being
considered as part of constitutional
reform, but elections are unlikely
for several years
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (chief justice and
judges are sworn in by the monarch
for three-year terms)
Political parties and leaders: Brunei Solidarity National Party or
PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA bin
Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; the
PPKB is the only legal political
party in Brunei; it was registered
in 1985, but became largely inactive
after 1988, it was revived in 1995
and again in 1998; it has less than
200 registered party members; other
parties include Brunei People's
Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and
Brunei National Democratic Party
(registered in May 1965,
deregistered by the Brunei
Government in 1988)
Political pressure groups and NA
leaders:
International organization APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-
participation: 77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador PUTEH
ibni Mohammad Alam
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
chancery: 3520 International Court
NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Sylvia
US: Gaye STANFIELD
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan
Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
Begawan
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO
AP 96507
telephone: [673] (2) 229670
FAX: [673] (2) 225293
Flag description: yellow with two diagonal bands of
white (top, almost double width) and
black starting from the upper hoist
side; the national emblem in red is
superimposed at the center; the
emblem includes a swallow-tailed
flag on top of a winged column
within an upturned crescent above a
scroll and flanked by two upraised
hands
Economy Brunei
--------------
Economy - overview: This small, wealthy economy is a
mixture of foreign and domestic
entrepreneurship, government
regulation, welfare measures, and
village tradition. 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 subsidizes rice and
housing. Brunei's leaders are
concerned that steadily increased
integration in the world economy
will undermine internal social
cohesion although it became a more
prominent player by serving as
chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian
Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum.
Plans for the future include
upgrading the labor force, reducing
unemployment, strengthening the
banking and tourist sectors, and, in
general, further widening the
economic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.2
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,000
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5%
industry: 45%
services: 50% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1% (1999 est.)
Labor force: 143,400 (1999 est.); note - includes
foreign workers and military
personnel
note: temporary residents make up
41% of labor force (1991)
Labor force - by occupation: government 48%, production of oil,
natural gas, services, and
construction 42%, agriculture,
forestry, and fishing 10% (1999
est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion,
including capital expenditures of
$1.35 billion (1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining,
liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 4% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production: 2.22 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 2.065 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens,
water buffalo
Exports: $3 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil, natural gas, refined
products
Exports - partners: Japan 42%, US 17%, South Korea 14%,
Thailand 3% (1999)
Imports: $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment,
manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: Singapore 34%, UK 15%, Malaysia 15%,
US 5% (1999)
Debt - external: $0
Economic aid - recipient: $4.3 million (1995)
Currency: Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code: BND
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars per US dollar -
1.8388 (January 2002), 1.8917
(2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950
(1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848
(1997); note - the Bruneian dollar
is at par with the Singapore dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
Communications Brunei
---------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 79,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 43,524 (1996)
Telephone system: general assessment: service
throughout country is excellent;
international service good to
Europe, US, and East Asia
domestic: every service available
international: satellite earth
stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian
Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital
submarine cable links to Malaysia,
Singapore, and Philippines (2001)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 329,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 201,900 (1998)
Internet country code: .bn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 28,000 (2001)
Transportation Brunei
---------------------
Railways: total: 13 km (private line)
narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge
(2001 est.)
Highways: total: 1,712 km
paved: 1,284 km
unpaved: 428 km (1996)
Waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing
less than 1.2 m
Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products
418 km; natural gas 920 km
Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait,
Muara, Seria, Tutong
Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT
ships by type: liquefied gas 7
note: includes some foreign-owned
ships registered here as a flag of
convenience: United Kingdom 7 (2002
est.)
Airports: 2 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Heliports: 3 (2001)
Military Brunei
---------------
Military branches: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal
Brunei Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 108,921 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 62,864 (2002 est.)
service:
Military manpower - reaching males: 3,005 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $343 million (FY98)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 5.1% (FY98)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Brunei
---------------------------
Disputes - international: Brunei established an exclusive
economic fishing zone encompassing
Louisa Reef in southern Spratly
Islands in 1984, but makes no public
territorial claim to the offshore
reefs
Illicit drugs: drug trafficking and illegally
importing controlled substances are
serious offenses in Brunei and carry
a mandatory death penalty