Brunei
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Brunei is a small nation in southeast Asia on the northern coast of Borneo. Brunei is two parts which are physically separated by Malaysia and surrounded landward by Malaysia which includes about one-third of the island within its territory.
Its major environmental issues include: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia. Brunei is susceptible to typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding, though these are rare.
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. Brunei is close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Geographic Coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Area: 5,765 km2 (5,265 km2 land and 500 km2 water)
arable land: 2.08%
permanent crops: 0.87%
other: 97.05% (2005)
Land Boundaries: 381 km. Border countries: Malaysia.
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime Claims: Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles. Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles or to median line.
Natural Hazards: Typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Terrain: Flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west. The highest point is [[Bukit Pagon]] (1,850 m</span>).
Climate: Tropical; hot, humid, rainy.
Ecology and Biodiversity
See:
Government
Government Type: constitutional sultanate. (The sultan is both the chief of state and head of government)
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Independence Date:1 January 1984 (from the UK)
Legal System: Based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Sharia law supersedes civil law in a number of areas; has not accepted compulsory International Court of Justice jurisdiction
International Environmental Agreements
Brunei is party to international agreements on Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, and Ship Pollution.
People and Society
Population: 388,190 (July 2009 est.)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 26.6% (male 53,282/female 50,141)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 135,640/female 136,292)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 6,199/female 6,636) (2009 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 1.759% (2009 est.)
Birthrate: 18.2 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death Rate: 3.29 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
Net Migration Rate: 2.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Urbanization: 75% of total population (2008) increasing at a rate of 2.6% per year (2005-10 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth: 75.74 years
Total Fertility Rate: 1.91 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy: 92.7% (male: 95.2%; female: 90.2%) (2001 census)
Water
Total Renewable Water Resources: 8.5 cu km (1999)Freshwater Withdrawal: Total: 0.09 cu km/year. Per capita: 243 cu m/yr (1994)
Agriculture
Agricultural products: Rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs
Irrigated Land: 10 km2 (2003)
Resources
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, and timber.
Energy
Oil - production: 192,600 bbl/day (1st quarter 2008 est.) (42nd largest in the world)
Oil - consumption: 13,200 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - proved reserves: 1.1 billion bbl (1 January 2008 est.)
Natural gas - production: 13.8 billion cu m (2006 est.) (36th largest in the world)
Natural gas - consumption: 3.99 billion cu m (2006 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.) (36th largest in the world)
Economy
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 into 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, increasing agricultural production, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP: (Purchasing Power Parity): $20.25 billion (2008 est.)
GDP: (Official Exchange Rate): $14.55 billion (2008 est.)
GDP-real growth rate: 0.6% (2008 est.)
GDP- per capita (PPP): $53,100 (2008 est.)
GDP- composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 75%
services: 25% (2005 est.)
Industries: Petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, and construction.
Currency: Bruneian dollars (BND)