The 1996 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

service

       domestic: NA

       international: submarine cable to Bermuda

      Radio broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0

      Radios: 9,000 (1992 est.)

      Television broadcast stations: 1

      Televisions: 4,000 (1992 est.)

      Defense———

      Defense note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

      ======================================================================

      @Brunei———

      Map—

      Location: 4 30 N, 114 40 E—Southeastern Asia, bordering the

       South China Sea and Malaysia

      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

      Geography————

      Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and

       Malaysia

      Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E

      Map references: Southeast Asia

      Area:

       total area: 5,770 sq km

       land area: 5,270 sq km

       comparative area: slightly larger than Delaware

      Land boundaries: total: 381 km border country: Malaysia 381 km

      Coastline: 161 km

      Maritime claims:

       exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line

       territorial sea: 12 nm

      International disputes: may wish to purchase the Malaysian salient that divides the country; all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef, but has not publicly claimed the island

      Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy

      Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly

       lowland in west

       lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

       highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

      Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber

      Land use:

       arable land: 1%

       permanent crops: 1%

       meadows and pastures: 1%

       forest and woodland: 79%

       other: 18%

      Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1989 est.)

      Environment:

       current issues: NA

       natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very

       rare

       international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Ozone Layer

       Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling; signed, but not ratified - Law

       of the Sea

      Geographic 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———

      Population: 299,939 (July 1996 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 33% (male 51,266; female 49,194)

       15–64 years: 62% (male 98,806; female 88,323)

       65 years and over: 5% (male 6,843; female 5,507) (July 1996 est.)

      Population growth rate: 2.56% (1996 est.)

      Birth rate: 25.5 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Death rate: 5.1 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Net migration rate: 5.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

      Sex ratio:

       at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

       under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

       15–64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female

       65 years and over: 1.24 male(s)/female

       all ages: 1.1 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 24.2 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 71.39 years male: 69.82 years female: 73.04 years (1996 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 3.39 children born/woman (1996 est.)

      Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian

      Ethnic divisions: Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%

      Religions: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

      Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese

      Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

       total population: 88.2%

       male: 92.6%

       female: 83.4%

      Government—————

      Name of country:

       conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam

       conventional short form: Brunei

      Data code: BX

      Type of government: 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)

      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 Islamic law

      Suffrage: none

      Executive branch:

       chief of state and head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister His

       Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji HASSANAL Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin

       Waddaulah (since 5 October 1967) is a traditional Islamic monarch

       cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers is composed chiefly of members

       of the royal family, appointed and presided over by the sultan;

       deals with executive matters

       Religious Council: is appointed by the sultan; advises on religious

       matters

       Privy Council: is appointed by the sultan; deals with constitutional

       matters

       the Council of Succession: is appointed by the sultan; determines

       the succession to the throne if the need arises

      Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council (Majlis Masyuarat Megeri): elections last held in March 1962; in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the sultan; an elected Legislative Council is being considered