Dictionary:
Bru·nei (brū-nī')  |
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| Brunei |
| (Mapping Specialists, Ltd.) |
A sultanate of northwest Borneo on the South China Sea. Formerly a self-governing British protectorate, it became fully independent on January 1, 1984. Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital. Population: 375,000.
Bruneian Bru·nei'an adj. & n.
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For more information on Brunei, visit Britannica.com.
| British History: Brunei |
Brunei rose as a powerful Islamic sultanate in the 15th cent. In 1888, surrounded by the Brookes' Sarawak and the domains of the British North Borneo Company, it was taken under a British protectorate. The sultan was restored to his government and, in 1963, declined to join the Malaysian Federation.
| Columbia Encyclopedia: Brunei |
Land and People
The mountains in the nation's east give way to a flat coastal plain; western Brunei consists of hilly lowlands. The tropical climate is typically hot and humid with frequent rain. About two thirds of the population are Malays, but the Chinese community, consisting of about 15% of the people, dominates the economy. Some 6% of the people are of indigenous descent. Malay is the official language, but English and Chinese are also spoken. Islam is the predominant and official religion; there are minorities of Buddhists, Christians, and those holding traditional beliefs.
Economy
Crude oil and liquefied natural gas are Brunei's main exports and the country's economic mainstays; petroleum products are also produced. The government is attempting to promote economic diversification; clothing is manufactured, and there are banking, tourism, and construction industries. Rice, vegetables, and fruits are grown, and chickens, water buffalo, cattle, and goats are raised. Forests are strictly protected, and timber cutting is allowed only for local use. Brunei imports machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, and chemicals. The main trading partners are Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and South Korea.
Government
Brunei is a constitutional sultanate governed under the constitution of 1959, although some provisions have been suspended. The sultan is both head of state and head of government. The unicameral legislature consists of the 29-member Legislative Council, whose members are appointed by the sultan. Administratively, the country is divided into four districts.
History
A native sultanate was established at Brunei in the 15th cent. At one time the sultan controlled nearly all of Borneo, but by the 19th cent. his power had declined and Brunei had become a haven for pirates. In 1888 the British established a protectorate over Brunei, administered by a British resident, although the sultan retained formal authority. The Japanese overran the area during World War II.
In 1959 a written constitution went into effect. Under it, the sultanate remained and the protectorate was governed by a chief minister, council of ministers, and elected legislative body. Following elections won by an antimonarchist left-wing party in 1962 and an abortive uprising by the party's military wing, a state of emergency was proclaimed and the legislature disbanded. Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah became sultan in 1967. In 1970 the legislature was made an appointed body. Following the signing of a treaty with the British in 1979, Brunei became fully independent in 1984, and the legislature was suspended the same year. After independence the sultan became an absolute monarch, and oil revenues were used to create a prosperous welfare state.
The 1997–98 Asian economic crisis affected Brunei, which lost billions of dollars in investments. In 1998 the sultan's son, Prince al-Muhtadee Billah, was installed as heir to the throne. After a 20-year hiatus, the sultan convened the appointed legislature in 2004 and signed a constitutional amendment calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members. However, the sultan dissolved the legislature in 2005 and appointed a new 29-member council.
| Statistics: Brunei |
Introduction
| Background: | 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. |
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: 5,770 sq km land: 5,270 sq km water: 500 sq km |
| Area - comparative: | slightly smaller than Delaware |
| Land boundaries: | total: 381 km border countries: Malaysia 381 km |
| Coastline: | 161 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line |
| Climate: | tropical; hot, humid, rainy |
| Terrain: | flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: South China Sea 0 m highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m |
| Natural resources: | petroleum, natural gas, timber |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.08% permanent crops: 0.87% other: 97.05% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 10 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare |
| Environment - current issues: | seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
| Environment - international agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
| Geography - note: | close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave within Malaysia |
People
| Population: | 374,577 (July 2007 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 27.8% (male 53,512/female 50,529) 15-64 years: 69% (male 130,134/female 128,488) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 5,688/female 6,226) (2007 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 27.2 years male: 27.3 years female: 27.1 years (2007 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.81% (2007 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 18.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death rate: | 3.26 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 2.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.059 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.013 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.914 male(s)/female total population: 1.022 male(s)/female (2007 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 13.12 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 75.3 years male: 73.12 years female: 77.59 years (2007 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.97 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | less than 200 (2003 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | less than 200 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian |
| Ethnic groups: | Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12% |
| Religions: | Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10% |
| Languages: | Malay (official), English, Chinese |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.7% male: 95.2% female: 90.2% (2001 census) |
Government
| 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 |
| 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 and Muara, Temburong, Tutong |
| Independence: | 1 January 1984 (from 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 Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: | none |
| 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 elections: none; the monarch is hereditary |
| Legislative branch: | Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005 elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA) |
| 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; Shariah courts deal with Islamic laws (2006) |
| Political parties and leaders: | Brunei National Solidarity Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin Chuchu]; National Development Party or NDP [YASSIN Affendi] note: People's Awareness Party or PAKAR [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad] was deregistered in 2007; parties are small and have limited activity |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | NA |
| International organization participation: | APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEH 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 Emil SKODON 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 |
Economy
| Economy - overview: | Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for just over half of GDP and more than 90% of exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $9.557 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $9.531 billion (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 0.4% (2005 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 0.9% industry: 71.6% services: 27.5% (2005 est.) |
| Labor force: | 180,400 (2006 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 2.9% industry: 61.1% services: 36% (2003 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 4% (2006) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 1.1% (2005) |
| Budget: | revenues: $3.765 billion expenditures: $4.815 billion (2004 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs |
| Industries: | petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 1.8% (2005 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 2.735 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 2.625 billion kWh (2005 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2005) |
| Oil - production: | 219,300 bbl/day (2006) |
| Oil - consumption: | 14,900 bbl/day (2006 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 205,600 bbl/day (2006) |
| Oil - imports: | 660.1 bbl/day (2004) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 1.35 billion bbl (1 January 2006) |
| Exports: | $6.247 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | crude oil, natural gas, refined products, clothing |
| Exports - partners: | Japan 30.5%, Indonesia 19.9%, South Korea 14.9%, Australia 11.5%, US 7.7% (2006) |
| Imports: | $1.481 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals |
| Imports - partners: | Singapore 31.6%, Malaysia 19%, UK 8.1%, Japan 5.6%, China 5.5%, Thailand 4.6% (2006) |
| Debt - external: | $0 (2005) |
| Economic aid - recipient: | $NA (2004) |
| Currency (code): | Bruneian dollar (BND) |
| Exchange rates: | Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002) |
| Fiscal year: | 1 April - 31 March |
Transportation
| Airports: | 2 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2007) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2007) |
| Heliports: | 3 (2007) |
| Pipelines: | gas 672 km; oil 463 km (2006) |
| Roadways: | total: 3,650 km paved: 2,819 km unpaved: 831 km (2005) |
| Waterways: | 209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2007) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT by type: liquefied gas 8 foreign-owned: 8 (UK 8) (2007) |
| Ports and terminals: | Lumut, Muara, Seria |
Military
| Military branches: | Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF): Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2005) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age (est.) for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2007) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 103,885 females age 18-49: 93,024 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 85,045 females age 18-49: 77,436 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower reaching military service age annually: | males age 18-49: 3,478 females age 18-49: 3,342 (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 4.5% (2006) |
Transnational Issues
| Disputes - international: | Brunei and Malaysia are still considering international adjudication over their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds, where hydrocarbon exploration was terminated in 2003 international legal adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands in 1984, but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants |
| Illicit drugs: | drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty |
| National Anthem: National Anthem of: Brunei |
Ya Allah lanjutkanlah usia
Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia
Adil berdaulat menaungi nusa
memimpin rakyat kekal bahagia
hidup sentosa negara dan sultan
Ilahi selamatkan Brunei Darussalam
| Wikipedia: Brunei |
| Negara Brunei Darussalam State of Brunei, Abode of Peace بروني دارالسلام
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| Motto: "Always in service with God's guidance" (translation) | ||||||
| Anthem: Allah Peliharakan Sultan God Bless the Sultan |
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| Capital (and largest city) |
Bandar Seri Begawan | |||||
| Official languages | Malay (Bahasa Brunei)[citation needed] | |||||
| Recognised regional languages | English, Indonesian | |||||
| Demonym | Bruneian | |||||
| Government | Islamic Absolute Monarchy | |||||
| - | Sultan | Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||
| - | Crown Prince | Al-Muhtadee Billah | ||||
| Formation | ||||||
| - | Sultanate | 14th century | ||||
| - | End of British protectorate |
January 1, 1984 | ||||
| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 5,765 km2 (172nd) 2,226 sq mi |
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| - | Water (%) | 8.6 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | January 2009 estimate | 388,190[1] | ||||
| - | Density | 66/km2 (134th) 168/sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $19.683 billion[2] (114th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $50,116[2] (5th) | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2008 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $14.553 billion[2] | ||||
| - | Per capita | $37,053[2] (24th) | ||||
| HDI (2008) | ▲ 0.919 (high) (27th) | |||||
| Currency | Brunei dollar (BND) |
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| Time zone | (UTC+8) | |||||
| Drives on the | left | |||||
| Internet TLD | .bn | |||||
| Calling code | +6731 | |||||
| 1 | Also 080 from East Malaysia | |||||
Brunei Darussalam, (pronounced /bruːˈnaɪ/ in English) officially the State of Brunei, Abode of Peace (Malay: Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: بروني دارالسلام), is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea it is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, and in fact it is separated into two parts by Limbang, which is part of Sarawak. This is an unusual instance of an enclave inside another country which is itself discontiguous (Malaysia is split in two by the South China Sea).
Brunei, the remnant of a very powerful sultanate, regained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984 and is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Contents |
The power of the Sultanate of Brunei was at its peak from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century.[3] The Sultanate's suzerainty is thought to have extended over the coastal regions of modern-day Sarawak and Sabah, the Sulu archipelago, and the islands off the northwest tip of Borneo. European influence gradually brought an end to this regional power. Later, there was a brief war with Spain, in which Brunei's capital was occupied. Eventually the sultanate was victorious but lost territories to Spain. The decline of the Bruneian Empire culminated in the nineteenth century when Brunei lost much of its territory to the White Rajahs of Sarawak, resulting in its current small landmass and separation into two parts. Brunei was a British protectorate from 1888 to 1984, and occupied by Japan from 1941 to 1945 during World War II.
There was a small rebellion against the monarchy during the 1960s, which was suppressed with help from the United Kingdom. This event became known as the Brunei Revolt and was partly responsible for the failure to create the North Borneo Federation. The rebellion partially affected Brunei's decision to opt out of the Malaysian Federation.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, whose title has allegedly passed within the same dynasty since the fifteenth century, is the head of state and head of government in Brunei. Brunei has a Legislative Council with 20 appointed members, that only has consultative tasks.
Under Brunei's 1959 constitution, His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah is the head of state with full executive authority, including emergency powers since 1962. The Sultan's role is enshrined in the national ideology known as Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), or Malay Muslim Monarchy. The country has been under hypothetical martial law since Brunei Revolt of 1962.
The media is extremely pro-government and the Royal family retains a venerated status within the country.
Brunei is a member of the United Nations, Commonwealth of Nations, ASEAN, APEC and Organization of the Islamic Conference, and other regional and international forum.
Brunei has been given "Not Free" status by Freedom House; press criticism of the government and monarchy is rare.[4]
Brunei claims some territories in Sarawak and it is one of many nations to lay claim to some of the disputed Spratly Islands, specifically small rocks exposed at high tide on Louisa Reef. However, Kuraman Island is recognized as Malaysia territory by Brunei.
The status of Limbang as part of Sarawak was disputed by Brunei since the area was first annexed in 1890.[5].
Brunei is divided into four districts (daerah):
The districts are subdivided into thirty-eight mukims.
Brunei Darussalam consists of two unconnected parts with a total area of 5,766 sq. kilometers (2,226 sq. miles). 87% of the population lives in the larger north eastern part, while only about 10,000 live in the mountainous south eastern part (the district of Temburong). The total population of Brunei Darussalam is about 600,000 of which around 130,000 live in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Other major towns are the port town of Muara, the oil producing town of Seria and its neighboring town, Kuala Belait. In the Belait district, the Panaga area is home to large numbers of expatriates due to Royal Dutch Shell and British Army housing and recreational facilities. The well-known Panaga Club is situated here. Jerudong Park, a well known amusement park, is located on the west of Bandar Seri Begawan.
Brunei Darussalam has a cool equatorial climate. The average annual temperature is 27.1°C (80.8°F), with the April-May average of 27.7°C (81.9°F) and the October-December average of 26.8°C (80.2°F).
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average High (°C) |
27.8 |
27.8 |
29.2 |
29.1 |
29.5 |
28.1 |
28.4 |
28.3 |
28.0 |
27.5 |
27.4 |
28.0 |
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| Average Low (°C) |
16.1 |
16.0 |
19.5 |
20.9 |
20.9 |
23.7 |
23.1 |
23.3 |
25.3 |
23.1 |
19.2 |
16.6 |
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| Average Rainfall (mm) | 277.7 | 138.3 | 113.0 | 200.3 | 239.0 | 214.2 | 228.8 | 215.8 | 257.7 | 319.9 | 329.4 | 343.5 |
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This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of its GDP. Substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Stated plans for the future include upgrading the labour force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourism sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base. The national airline, Royal Brunei, is trying to make Brunei a hub for international travel between Europe and Australia/New Zealand, and also has services to major Asian destinations. Brunei is increasingly importing from other countries.
All Brunei citizens have access to free healthcare from public hospitals. The largest hospital in Brunei is Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, and there is a private medical centre, the Jerudong Park Medical Centre. As of 2008, no hospitals in Brunei were undergoing international healthcare accreditation. However the health system of Brunei Darussalam was ranked fourth in the Asia-Pacific region and second in Asean after Singapore.[6]
There is currently no medical school in Brunei, and Bruneians wishing to study to become doctors must attend university overseas. However, the Institute of Medicines had been introduced at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam and a new building has been built for the faculty. The building, including research lab facilities, was completed in 2009. There has been a School of Nursing since 1951.[7]. 58 nurse managers were appointed in RIPAS to improve service and provide better medical care. [8]. In December 2008, The nursing college merged with the Institute of Medicines at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam to produce more nurses and midwives.[9]
The Health Promotion Centre opened in November 2008 and serves to educate the public on the importance of having a healthy lifestyle.[10]
Brunei is accessible via sea and land travel, also by hovercraft. The main highway running across Brunei is the Pan Borneo Highway, which is a joint project with Malaysia. Besides the Pan Borneo Highway, Brunei can be accessed by air through Brunei International Airport. Royal Brunei is the main airline company in Brunei.
Brunei has several sea ports, mainly to export its petroleum products, as well as for import and export purposes.
| Rank | City | District | Population | Density (per mi2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bandar Seri Begawand[›] | Brunei-Muara | 134,000 | 26,403.8 |
| 2 | Gadong Town | Brunei-Muara | 109,000 | 7,876.4 |
| 3 | Jerudong | Brunei-Muara | 93,000 | 12,752.2 |
| 4 | Kuala Belait | Belait | 78,000 | 14,371.8 |
| 5 | Seria | Belait | 35,000 | 10,781.7 |
| 6 | Berakas Town | Brunei-Muara | 19,000 | 1,232.8 |
| 7 | Bangar | Temburong | 4,000 | 2,808.3 |
The official language of the nation is Malay (Malay: Bahasa Melayu), although an important minority speak Chinese languages (Min Nan, Mandarin, Min Dong, Yue, Hakka). The local variety of Malay (Kedayan or Bukit Malay), spoken natively by two thirds of the population, is quite divergent from and unintelligible to Standard Malay. The most important aboriginal languages are Iban, and two languages called Tutong, each with about 20,000 speakers. English is also widely spoken and there is a relatively large expatriate community with significant numbers of British and Australian citizens.
Islam is the official religion of Brunei at 67%, and the sultan is the head of the religion in the country. Other faiths practised are Buddhism 13% (mainly by the Chinese), 11% Christianity, other indigenous religions can be found in small isolated communities. By proportion the country has the largest number of Christians than any other country in the Asia Pacific after The Phillipines.
Food: Ambuyat Musical instrument: Gulingtangan
The culture of Brunei is predominantly Malay (reflecting its ethnicity), with heavy influences from Islam, but is seen as more conservative than Malaysia.[12]
Brunei also has a large number of foreign workers, including Indonesian and Filipino domestic workers, labourers from Thailand, Indonesia and the Indian subcontinent (particularly India and Bangladesh), and American and British professionals working in industry and education.
The sale and public consumption of alcohol is banned.[13] Foreigners and non-Muslims are allowed to bring in 12 cans of beer and 2 bottles of other alcohol (e.g., wine or spirits; no distinction is made for alcohol content). This limit used to apply to every entry; in 2007, however, this was changed to one limit every 48 hours. After the introduction of prohibition in the early 1990s, all pubs and nightclubs were forced to close.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the CIA World Factbook.
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Coordinates: 4°36′N 114°42′E / 4.6°N 114.7°E
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| British History. A Dictionary of British History. Copyright © 2001, 2004 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Statistics. The World Factbook 2005 is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency. Read more |
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