Brunei

I

Introduction

Brunei, officially Nation of Brunei, Abode of Peace (Malay, Negara Brunei Darussalam), sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo, eastern Asia, bounded on the north by the South China Sea, and on all other sides by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, which also divides the country into two parts. The total area is 5,765 sq km (2,226 sq mi). The capital is Bandar Seri Begawan.

II

Land and Resources

The terrain of Brunei consists of a narrow coastal plain and a hilly interior. There are extensive swamps, especially in the west and north-east. Most streams flow north to the coast, including the Belait River, the longest in the country. Brunei has a humid, tropical climate, with an average annual temperature of about 26.7° C (80° F). The annual rainfall is heavy and is concentrated in the monsoon season of November to March, but there is no dry season. Dense tropical rainforests cover much of the interior, occupying nearly half of the country’s total area. Wildlife includes monkeys and diverse birds and reptiles. Petroleum and natural gas are the primary mineral resources.

Considerable revenue from oil sales has limited the deforestation of Brunei. Forests cover about 33 per cent of the land but were nearly double this area only two decades ago. Brunei is rich in wildlife, some of which is threatened. Nearly 20 per cent of the land area is now protected, and the country has ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

III

Population

The population of Brunei is 381,371 (2008 estimate). The capital and chief town is Bandar Seri Begawan (population, 2003 estimate, 61,000). The overall population density is about 72 people per sq km (188 per sq mi). Brunei had an 8 per cent annual rate of population increase in the late 1980s, reflecting a trend of immigration to the country. The population growth rate in 2008 was 1.78 per cent. About two thirds of the population of Brunei are Malay. Minorities include Chinese, Indians, and various indigenous peoples, such as Dayaks, Ibans, and Belaits. Life expectancy in 2008 was 75.5 years.

A

Religion

Islam is the state religion; 63 per cent of the people are Muslims; 14 per cent, Buddhists; 8 per cent, Christians; and 15 per cent follow indigenous beliefs.