Brunei

I

Introduction

Brunei, in full Kingdom of Brunei, Abode of Peace (Malay, Negara Brunei Darussalam), Islamic sultanate located on the northern coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. It is bounded on the north by the South China Sea, and on all other sides by Malaysia. Brunei’s petroleum reserves have made the small nation very wealthy. It was the only state in the region that chose to remain a British dependency in the early 1960s, finally becoming an independent nation in 1984.

Brunei consists of two lobes of territory, a larger western one and a smaller eastern one. Each part has a seafront but is otherwise enclosed by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The total area of Brunei is 5,765 sq km (2,226 sq mi).

II

Land and Resources

The terrain of Brunei consists of a narrow coastal plain and a hilly interior. There are extensive swamps, especially in the west and northeast. Most streams flow north to the coast, including the Belait River, the longest in the country. Brunei has a humid, tropical climate, with an average annual temperature of about 27°C (about 80°F). The annual rainfall is heavy and is concentrated in the monsoon season of November to March, but there is no dry season.

Dense tropical rain forests cover much of the interior, occupying 53 percent of the country’s total area. Brunei is rich in wildlife, including monkeys and diverse birds and reptiles. Petroleum and natural gas are the primary mineral resources. Some species are threatened, but considerable revenue from oil sales has kept the pressure off of Brunei’s forests. Nearly 20 percent (1996) of the land area is now protected, and the country has ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

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III

Population and Education

About two-thirds of the population of Brunei is Malay (see Malayan Peoples). Minorities include Chinese, Indians, and various indigenous peoples, such as Dayaks and Belaits. The official language is Malay, but English is also used for official purposes. Islam is the state religion, and the majority of the people are Muslims. Brunei’s 2007 estimated population was 386,511, yielding an overall population density of 73 persons per sq km (190 per sq mi). The capital and chief town is Bandar Seri Begawan.

Medical and educational services are relatively well developed and are largely financed by revenues from petroleum production. Education is compulsory for children aged 5 to 16 years and it is free at all levels. Primary and secondary education is provided in Malay, English, or Chinese. The University of Brunei Darussalam (1985) is located in Bandar Seri Begawan. There are also vocational schools and a teacher-training institution. In addition, the government pays the tuition of Brunei students who study at overseas universities.

IV

Economy

The economy of Brunei is overwhelmingly dependent on the production of petroleum and natural gas. Oil fields were first discovered in 1929 at Seria, in western Brunei, but production has since expanded to offshore fields. Crude oil output in 2004 was 62 million barrels. The Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) is responsible for investing petroleum and natural gas profits and represents another important source of national revenue. Of minor importance to the economy is the production of textiles and rubber. Local production of fish and rice does not meet national needs. Exploitation of the country’s forest reserves is increasing.

The country has 1,150 km (715 mi) of roads, mostly along the coast. Rivers form the principal network of transportation into the interior. The chief ports are Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, and Muara. Royal Brunei Airlines, the state-owned carrier, provides service to a number of international destinations.

Brunei’s unit of currency is the Brunei dollar (1.70 Brunei dollars equal U.S.$1; 2005 average). The gross domestic product (GDP) of $17,120.60 per capita in 2005 was among the world’s highest, although much of this wealth is concentrated in relatively few hands.