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. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.
Population
395,027 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:175
Nationality
Noun:Bruneian(s)
Adjective:Bruneian
Ethnic groups
Malay 66.3%, Chinese 11.2%, indigenous 3.4%, other 19.1% (2004 est.)
Religions
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%
Languages
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Country Name
Conventional long form:Brunei Darussalam
Conventional short form:Brunei
Local long form:Negara Brunei Darussalam
Local short form:Brunei
Government Type
constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy)
Capital
Name:Bandar Seri Begawan
Geographic coordinates:4 53 N, 114 56 E
Time difference:UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei-Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence
1 January 1984 (from the UK)
National Holiday
National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection
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 English common law; for Muslims, Islamic sharia law supersedes civil law concerning Muslim marriages and inheritance; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age for village elections; universal
Executive branch
Chief of state:Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
Head of government:Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
Cabinet:Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
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Elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary
Legislative branch
The Sultan appointed a Legislative Council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005; the council has met in March of each year since then
Elections:last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)
note: The Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; it passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members
Judicial branch
Supreme Court - chief justice and judges are sworn in by monarch for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London is final court of appeal for civil cases; Sharia courts deal with Islamic laws (2006)
Political Parties and Leaders
National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi]
note: Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin Chuchu] and People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad] were deregistered in 2007; parties are small and have limited activity
Political pressure groups and leaders
NA
International organization participation
ADB, APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador Yusoff Abd HAMID
Chancery:3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
FAX:[1] (202) 885-0560
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission:Ambassador William E. TODD
Embassy:Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8811
Mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
Telephone:[673] 222-0384
FAX:[673] 222-5293
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
