Brunei
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Population
- 491,900 (2024 est.)
- Area
- 5,765 sq km
- Government
- absolute monarchy or sultanate
- 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.)
- Currency
- Bruneian dollars (BND)
- Life Expectancy
- 78.9 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .bn
- Climate
- tropical; hot, humid, rainy
- Terrain
- flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
- Natural Resources
- petroleum, natural gas, timber
- Major Exports
- refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, hydrocarbons, fertilizers (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
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.