Bruneibroo-NY, Malay: [brunaɪ] ( listen)), formally Brunei Darussalam[a] (Malay: Negara Brunei Darussalam,Jawi: دارالسلالام بروني نݢارا, lit.'Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace'[12]), is a country located on the north coast of the island ofBorneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its South China Sea coast, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is separated into two parts by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainderof the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia. As of 2020, its population was 460,345,[6] of whom about 100,000 live inthe capital and largest city, Bandar Seri Begawan. The government is an absolute monarchy ruled by its Sultan, entitled the Yangdi-Pertuan, and implements a combination of English common law and sharia law, as well as general Islamic practices.

At the peak of the Bruneian Empire, Sultan Bolkiah (reigned 1485–1528) is claimed to have had control over most regions ofBorneo, including modern-day Sarawak and Sabah, as well as the Sulu Archipelago off the northeast tip of Borneo, and the islandsoff the northwest tip of Borneo. Claims also state that they had control over Seludong (or the Kingdom of Maynila, where themodern-day Philippine capital Manila now stands) but Southeast Asian scholars believe this refers to a settlement Mount Selurongin Indonesia.[13] The maritime state of Brunei was visited by Spain's Magellan Expedition in 1521 and fought against Spain in the1578 Castilian War.

During the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to decline. The Sultanate ceded Sarawak (Kuching) to James Brooke andinstalled him as the White Rajah, and it ceded Sabah to the British North Borneo Chartered Company. In 1888, Brunei became aBritish protectorate and was assigned a British resident as colonial manager in 1906. After the Japanese occupation during WorldWar II, in 1959 a newconstitution was written. In 1962, a small armed rebellion against the monarchy was ended with the help ofthe British.

Brunei has been led by the Sultanate of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah since 1967, and had gained its independence as a Britishprotectorate on 1 January 1984. The country is an autocratic absolute monarchy. Economic growth during the 1990s and 2000s,with the GDP increasing 56% from 1999 to 2008, transformed Brunei into an industrialised country. It has developed wealth fromextensive petroleum and natural gas fifields. Brunei has the second-highest Human Development Index among the Southeast Asiannations, after Singapore, and is classifified as a developed country. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Brunei isranked fififth in the world by gross domestic product per capita at purchasing power parity. The IMF estimated in 2011 that Bruneiwas one of two countries (the other being Libya) with a public debt at 0% of the national GDP.

National development plans

A series of National Development Plans was initiated by the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddien III.The fifirst was introduced in 1953.[88] A total sum of B$100 million was approved by the Brunei State Council for the plan. E.R. Bevington, from the Colonial Offifice in Fiji, wasappointed to implement it.[89] A US$14 million Gas Plant was built under the plan. In 1954, survey and exploration work wereundertaken by the Brunei Shell Petroleum on bothoffshore and onshore fifields. By 1956, production reached 114,700 bpd.

The plan also aided the development of public education. By 1958, expenditure on education totalled at $4 million.[89] Communicationswere improved, as new roads were built and reconstruction at Berakas Airport was completed in 1954.[90]The second National Development Plan was launched in 1962.[90] A major oil and gas fifield was discovered in 1963. Developments in theoil and gas sector have continued, and oil production has steadily increased since then.[91] The plan also promoted the production ofmeat and eggs for consumption by citizens. The fifishing industry increased its output by 25% throughout the course of the plan. Thedeepwater port at Muara was also constructed during this period. Power requirements were met, and studies were made to provideelectricity to rural areas.[91] Efforts were made to eradicate malaria, an endemic disease in the region, with the help of the World HealthOrganization. Malaria cases were reduced from 300 cases in 1953 to only 66 cases in 1959.[92] The death rate was reduced from 20 perthousand in 1947 to 11.3 per thousand in 1953.[92] Infectious disease has been prevented by public sanitation and improvement ofdrainage, and the provision of piped pure water to the population

Geography

Brunei is a southeast Asian country consisting of two unconnected parts with a total area of 5,765 square kilometres(2,226 sq mi) on the island of Borneo. It has 161 kilometres (100 mi) of coastline next to the South China Sea, and it shares a 381 km (237 mi) border with Malaysia. It has 500 square kilometres (193 sq mi) of territorial waters, and a 200-nautical-mile(370 km; 230 mi) exclusive economic zone. [38]About 97% of the population lives in the larger western part (Belait, Tutong, and Brunei-Muara), while only about 10,000people live in the mountainous eastern part (Temburong District). The total population of Brunei is approximately 408,000 as of July 2010, of which around 150,000 live in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. [101] Other major towns are the port town ofMuara, the oil-producing town of Seria and its neighbouring town, Kuala Belait. In Belait District, the Panaga area is home tolarge numbers of Europeans expatriates, due to Royal Dutch Shell and British Army housing, and several recreational

facilities are located there.[102]

Most of Brunei is within the Borneo lowland rain forests ecoregion, which covers most of the island. Areas of mountain rainforests are located inland.[103]The climate of Brunei is tropical equatorial that is a Tropical rainforest climate[38] more subject to the IntertropicalConvergence Zone than the trade winds and with no or rare cyclones. Brunei is exposed to the risks stemming from climatechange along with other ASEAN member states.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Brunei

Brunei is divided into four districts (daerah), namely Brunei-Muara, Belait, Tutong and Temburong. Brunei-Muara District is the smallest yet the most populous, and home to thecountry's capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Belait is the birthplace and centre for the country's oil and gas industry. Temburong is an exclave and separated from the rest of thecountry by the Brunei Bay and Malaysian state of Sarawak.Tutong is home to Tasek Merimbun, the country's largest natural lake.Each district is divided into several mukims. Altogether there are 39 mukims in Brunei. Each mukim encompasses several villages (kampung or kampong).

Bandar Seri Begawan and towns in the country (except Muara and Bangar) are administered as Municipal Board areas (kawasan Lembaga Bandaran). Each municipal area mayconstitute villages or mukims, partially or as a whole. Bandar Seri Begawan and a few of the towns also function as capitals of the districts where they are located.A district and its constituent mukims and villages are administered by a District Offifice (Jabatan Daerah). Meanwhile, municipal areas are governed by Municipal Departments(Jabatan Bandaran). Both District Offifices and Municipal Departments are government departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Economy

Main articles: Economy of Brunei and Tourism in Brunei

Brunei has the second-highest Human Development Index among the Southeast Asian nations, after Singapore, and isclassifified as a developed country. [138][139] Crude oil and natural gas production account for about 90% of its GDP.[83] About167,000 barrels (26,600 m3) of oil are produced every day, making Brunei the fourth-largest producer of oil in SoutheastAsia.[83] It also produces approximately 25.3 million cubic metres (890 ×106 cu ft) of liquifified natural gas per day, makingBrunei the ninth-largest gas exporter in the world.[83] Forbes also ranks Brunei as the fififth-richest nation out of 182, based onits petroleum and natural gas fifields.[140]

Substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. Most of these investments aremade by the Brunei Investment Agency, an arm of the Ministry of Finance.[83] The government provides for all medical services,[141] and subsidises rice[142] and housing.[83]

The national air carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines, is trying to develop Brunei as a hub for international travel between Europe andAustralia/New Zealand. Central to this strategy is the position that the airline maintains at London Heathrow Airport. It holds adaily slot at the highly capacity-controlled airport, which it serves from Bandar Seri Begawan via Dubai. The airline also hasservices to major Asian destinations including Shanghai, Bangkok, Singapore and Manila.

Brunei depends heavily on imports such as agricultural products (e.g. rice, food products, livestock, etc.),[143] vehicles and electricalproducts from other countries.[144] Brunei imports 60% of its food; of that amount, around 75% come from other ASEAN countries.[143]Brunei's leaders are concerned that increasing integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion and havetherefore pursued an isolationist policy. However, it has become a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 AsiaPacifific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Brunei's leaders plan to upgrade the labour force, reduce unemployment, which was at6.9% in 2014;[145] strengthen the banking and tourism sectors, and, in general, broaden the economic base.[146] A long-termdevelopment plan aims to diversify growth.[147]

The government of Brunei has also promoted food self-suffificiency, especially in rice. Brunei renamed its Brunei Darussalam Rice 1 asLaila Rice during the launch of the "Padi Planting Towards Achieving Self-Suffificiency of Rice Production in Brunei Darussalam"ceremony at the Wasan padi fifields in April 2009.[148] In August 2009, the Royal Family reaped the fifirst few Laila padi stalks, after yearsof attempts to boost local rice production, a goal fifirst articulated about half a century ago.[149] In July 2009 Brunei launched its nationalhalal branding scheme, Brunei Halal, with a goal to export to foreign markets.[150]In 2020, Brunei's electricity production was largely based on fossil fuels; renewable energy accounted for less than 1% of producedelectricity in the country

Infrastructure

As of 2019, the country's road network constituted a total length of 3,713.57 kilometres (2,307.51 mi), out of which 86.8% werepaved. [152] The 135-kilometre (84 mi) highway from Muara Town to Kuala Belait is a dual carriageway. [106]Brunei is accessible by air, sea, and land transport. Brunei International Airport is the main entry point to the country. Royal BruneiAirlines[153] is the national carrier. There is another airfifield, the Anduki Airfifield, located in Seria. The ferry terminal at Muara servicesregular connections to Labuan (Malaysia). Speedboats provide passenger and goods transportation to the Temburong district.[154] Themain highway running across Brunei is the Tutong-Muara Highway. The country's road network is well developed. Brunei has one mainsea port located at Muara.[83]

The airport in Brunei is currently being extensively upgraded.[155] Changi Airport International is the consultant working on thismodernisation, which planned cost is currently $150 million.[156][157] Thisproject is slated to add 14,000 square metres (150,000 sq ft) ofnew flfloorspace and includes a new terminal and arrival hall.[158] With the completion of this project, the annual passenger capacity of the airport is expected to double from 1.5 to3 million.[156]

With one private car for every 2.09 persons, Brunei has one of the highest car ownership rates in the world. This has been attributed to the absence of a comprehensive transportsystem, low import tax, and low unleaded petrol price of B$0.53 per litre.[106]A new 30-kilometre (19 mi) roadway connecting the Muara and Temburong districts of Brunei is slated to be completed in 2019.[159] Fourteen kilometres (9 mi) of this roadwaywould be crossing the Brunei Bay. [160] The bridge cost is $1.6 billion.[161]

Banking

Bank of China received permission to open a branch in Brunei in April 2016. Citibank, which entered in 1972, closed its operations in Brunei in 2014. HSBC, which had entered in1947, closed its operation in Brunei in November 2017.[162] May Bank of Malaysia, RHB Bank of Malaysia, Standard Chartered Bank of United Kingdom, United Overseas Bankof Singapore and Bank of China are currently operating in Brunei.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Brunei

Ethnicities indigenous to Brunei include the Belait, Brunei Bisaya (not to be confused with the Bisaya/Visaya of the nearby Philippines),indigenous Bruneian Malay, Dusun, Kedayan, Lun Bawang, Murut and Tutong.The population of Brunei in 2021 was 445,373,[163][164] of which 76% live in urban areas. The rate of urbanisation is estimated at 2.13%per year from 2010 to 2015. The average life expectancy is 77.7 years.[165] In 2014, 65.7% of the population were Malay, 10.3% areChinese, 3.4% are indigenous, with 20.6% smaller groups making up the rest.[166] There is a relatively large expatriate community.[167]Most expats come from non-Muslim countries such as Australia, United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, The Philippines, Thailand,Cambodia, Vietnam and India.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Brunei

Islam is the offificial religion of Brunei,[38] specififically that of the Sunni denomination and the Shafifi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence. More than80% of the population, including the majority of Bruneian Malays and Kedayans identify as Muslim. Other faiths practised are Buddhism(7%, mainly by the Chinese) and Christianity (7.1%).[5] Freethinkers, mostly Chinese, form about 7% of the population. Although most ofthem practise some form of religion with elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, they prefer to present themselves as havingpractised no religion offificially, hence labelled as atheists in offificial censuses. Followers of indigenous religions are about 2% of the population.[168]

Languages

Main article: Languages of Brunei

The offificial language of Brunei is Standard Malay, for which both the Latin alphabet (Rumi) and the Arabic alphabet (Jawi) are used.[169]Initially, Malay was written in Jawi script before it was switched in to Latin alphabet around 1941.[170]The principal spoken language is Melayu Brunei (Brunei Malay). Brunei Malay is rather divergent from standard Malay and the rest of theMalay dialects, being about 84% cognate with standard Malay,[171] and is mostly mutually intelligible with it.[172]

English is widely used as a business and offificial language and it is spoken by a majority of the population in Brunei. English is used inbusiness as a working language and as the language of instruction from primary to tertiary education.[173][174][175][176]Chinese languages are also widely spoken, and the Chinese minority in Brunei speak a number of varieties of Chinese.Arabic is the religious language of Muslims and is taught in schools, particularly religious schools, and also in institutes of higher learning. As of 2004, there are six Arabicschools and one religious teachers' college in Brunei. A majority of Brunei's Muslim population has had some form of formal or informal education in the reading, writing andpronunciation of the Arabic language as part of their religious education.Other languages and dialects spoken include Kedayan Malay dialect, Tutong Malay dialect, Murut, and Dusun. [171]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Brunei

The culture of Brunei is predominantly Malay (reflflecting its ethnicity), with heavy inflfluences from Islam, but is seen as much moreconservative than Indonesia and Malaysia. [177] Inflfluences to Bruneian culture come from the Malay cultures of the Malay Archipelago.Four periods of cultural inflfluence have occurred: animist, Hindu, Islamic, and Western. Islam had a very strong inflfluence, and was adopted as Brunei's ideology and philosophy.[178]

As a Sharia country, the sale and public consumption of alcohol is banned.[179] Non-Muslims are allowed to bring in a limited amount ofalcohol from their point of embarkation overseas for their own privateconsumption.