The World Factbook (1982)/Brunei

by the Central Intelligence Agency

BRUNEI

(See reference map IX)

LAND

5,776 km²; 3% cultivated; 22% industry, waste, urban or other; 75% forested

Land boundaries: 381 km

WATER

Limits of territorial waters (claimed): 3 nm

Coastline: 161 km

PEOPLE

Population: 252,000 (July 1982), average annual growth rate 5.6%

Nationality: noun—Bruneian(s); adjective—Bruneian

Ethnic divisions: 65% Malays, 24% Chinese, 11% other

Religion: 60% Muslim (Islam official religion); 8% Christian; 32% other (Buddhist and animist)

Language: Malay and English official, Chinese

Literacy: 45%

Labor force: 32,155; 30.5% agriculture; 32.8% industry, manufacturing, and construction; 33.8% trade, transport, services; 2.9% other

Organized labor: 8.4% of labor force

GOVERNMENT

Official name: State of Brunei

Type: British protectorate; constitutional sultanate

Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan

Political subdivisions: four administrative districts

Legal system: based on Islamic law; constitution promulgated by the Sultan in 1959

Branches: Chief of State is Sultan (advised by appointed Privy Council) who appoints Executive Council and Legislative Council

Government leader: Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH

Suffrage: universal age 21 and over; three-tiered system of indirect elections; popular vote cast for lowest level (district councilors)

Elections: last elections—March 1965; further elections postponed indefinitely

Political parties and leaders: antigovernment, exiled Brunei People's Party, Chairman A. M. N. Azahari

Communists: information not available

ECONOMY

GNP: $460 million (1975 est.), $2,970 per capita

Agriculture: main crops—rubber, rice, pepper, must import most food

Major industry: crude petroleum, liquefied natural gas

Electric power: 147,000 kW capacity (1981); 404 million kWh produced (1981), 1,740 kWh per capita

Exports: $1,900 million (f.o.b., 1978); 95% crude petroleum and liquefied natural gas

Imports: $261 million (c.i.f., 1978); 25% machinery and transport equipment, 46% manufactured goods, 16% food

Major trade partners: exports of crude petroleum and liquefied natural gas to Japan; imports from Japan 30%, US 24%, UK 15%, Singapore 9%

Budget: (1979) revenues $1 billion, expenditures $507 million, surplus $493 million; 70% defense

Monetary conversion rate: 2.2 Brunei dollars=US$1

Fiscal year: calendar year

COMMUNICATIONS

Railroads: 13 km narrow gauge (0.610 m) private line

Highways: 1,090 km total; 370 km paved (bituminous treated), with another 52 km under construction, 720 km gravel or unimproved

Inland waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 meters

Ports: 1 major (Muara), 4 minor

Pipelines: crude oil, 135 km; refined products, 56 km; natural gas, 56 km; crude oil and natural gas, 241 km under construction

Civil air: 4 major transport aircraft

Airfields: 3 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Telecommunications: service throughout country is adequate for present needs; international service good to adjacent Sabah and Sarawak; radiobroadcast coverage good; 15,672 telephones (8.8 per 100 popl.); Radio Brunei broadcasts from 6 AM/FM stations and 1 TV station

DEFENSE FORCES

Military manpower: males 15-49, 62,000; 36,000 fit for military service; about 2,600 reach military age (18) annually