Brunei
Brunei claims the 9th spot worldwide for internet access. That 99.0% figure is hard to beat. How well do you really know Brunei?
Brunei is a country in Asia with a population of 491.9K and an area of 5,765 km². Life expectancy is 75.3 years.
At a Glance
The numbers that define this country
CO2 Per Capita
26.046How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Internet Users (%)
99.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
GDP Per Capita
$79.2KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
GDP Per Capita (PPP)
89.9KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
Human Development Index
0.84The Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Life Expectancy
75.3 yearsHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
Where They Stand Out
Global rankings worth knowing
🌱CO2 Per Capita
26.046How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
📡Internet Users (%)
99.0%The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
💰GDP Per Capita
$79.2KGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
🛡️Military Spend (% GDP)
3.0%Military expenditures as percent of GDP from CIA World Factbook.
🌍Lowest Elevation
0Lowest point elevation from CIA World Factbook.
Did You Know?
Facts that catch players off guard
Ranks #3 in co2 per capita (lower is better)
CO2 Per Capita: 26.046
How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Our World in Data 2023Only ranks #192 in health spending (% gdp)
Health Spending (% GDP): 1.8%
Total health spending as a percentage of GDP.
World Bank 2023Has one of the highest rates of government debt (% gdp)
Government Debt (% GDP): 2.8%
How much money the central government owes as a percentage of GDP.
World Bank 2023Has one of the highest rates of inflation rate
Inflation Rate: -0.4%
How much prices increased over the year, based on the cost of everyday goods and services.
World Bank 2023Ranks #9 globally in internet users (%)
Internet Users (%): 99.0%
The percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Surprised? See how you stack up.
Play NowHow Brunei Compares
Country vs continent vs world averages
GDP per Capita
Above avgGDP per person, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) so costs of living are comparable across countries.
World Bank 2023Life Expectancy
Above avgHow many years a newborn can expect to live, based on current mortality rates.
World Bank 2023Human Development Index
Above avgThe Human Development Index (HDI), combining life expectancy, education, and income into a single score from 0 to 1.
Our World in Data 2023Internet Users
Above avgThe percentage of people who have used the internet in the last 3 months.
World Bank 2023Think you can guess which countries rank higher?
Test Your IntuitionAbout Brunei
The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy subsequently brought on a period of decline. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries, and in 2017, the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH's accession to the throne. Brunei has one of the highest per-capita GDPs in the world, thanks to extensive petroleum and natural gas fields.
- Location
- Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid, rainy
- Terrain
- flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, natural gas, timber
- Natural Hazards
- typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
- Size Comparison
- slightly smaller than Delaware
- Languages
- Malay (Bahasa Melayu) (official), English, Chinese dialects
- Religions
- Muslim (official) 82.1%, Christian 6.7%, Buddhist 6.3%, other 4.9% (2021 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Malay 67.4%, Chinese 9.6%, other 23% (2021 est.)
- Major Cities
- 266,682 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2021)
- Government Type
- absolute monarchy or sultanate
- Capital
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Capital Coordinates
- 4 53 N, 114 56 E
- Capital Timezone
- UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Official Name
- Brunei Darussalam
- Name Origin
- derivation of the name is unclear; the name may come from the Sanskrit word bhumi, meaning "land" or "region"
- Independence
- 1 January 1984 (from the UK)
- National Symbols
- royal parasol
- National Anthem
- "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)
- Overview
- almost exclusively an oil and gas economy; high income country; expansive and robust welfare system; the majority of the population works for the government; promulgating a nationalized halal brand; considering establishment of a bond market and stock exchange
- Industries
- petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, aquaculture, transportation
- Agricultural Products
- chicken, eggs, fruits, vegetables, rice, bananas, beans, cucumbers/gherkins, pineapples, beef (2023)
- Export Partners
- Australia 21%, Japan 17%, China 17%, Singapore 16%, Malaysia 6% (2023)
- Export Commodities
- refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, hydrocarbons, fertilizers (2023)
- Import Partners
- Malaysia 23%, UAE 10%, China 10%, UK 10%, Australia 6% (2023)
- Import Commodities
- crude petroleum, gold, refined petroleum, coal, cars (2023)
- Military Forces
- Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) or Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB): Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) (2025)
- Military Service
- 18-25 years of age for voluntary military service (2025)
- Energy Mix
- fossil fuels: 99.9% of total installed capacity (2023 est.); solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- Broadcast Media
- state-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 5 channels; 3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite systems; RTB operates 5 radio networks and broadcasts on multiple frequencies; British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides radio broadcasts on 2 FM stations; some radio broadcast stations from Malaysia are available via repeaters
Deep Dive
64 of 80 metricsEvery stat we track, organized by category
Related Countries
Neighboring Countries
Malaysia
Indonesia
Philippines
SingaporeCountries with Similar GDP
Cayman Islands
United States
Switzerland
Netherlands
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CambodiaShare a Fact
Share something surprising about Brunei!
How many tonnes of CO2 the average person produces per year.
Frequently Asked Questions about Brunei
Brunei has a population of 491.9K, ranking #172 globally by population.
Brunei is located in Asia. It has an area of 5,765 km².
Life expectancy in Brunei is 75.3 years, ranking #98 globally.
Brunei's GDP per capita (PPP) is 89.9K, ranking #9 globally.
Brunei ranks particularly high in CO2 Per Capita (#3), Internet Users (%) (#9), GDP Per Capita (#9).
Brunei has an HDI of 0.837, ranking #60 globally. The HDI combines life expectancy, education, and income indicators.
Brunei has a population density of 87.1 people per km², ranking #114 globally.
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