Brunei

Brunei

Last remnant of an empire that once included Borneo and the southwestern Philippines, Brunei Sultanate, is now one of the smallest countries in the world. It represents two tiny earth chips located on the north coast of Sarawak. This small country is blessed with one of the largest oil fields in South Asia with one of the richest rulers of our planet. With its underground riches, Brunei was able to save most of its natural resources area, the country and has one of most intact primary tropical forests of Borneo. It shares the island with Malaysia and Indonesia. It is surrounded by the South China Sea and Malaysia, and directed since 1968 by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Former British protectorate, it is one of six members of the Commonwealth which has its own monarchy.

General

Official name: Brunei Darussalam
Type of government: absolute monarchy
Head of State (since 1967) and the Government (Prime Minister since 1984): Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah

Geography

Area: 5765 km²
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Main cities: Kuala Belait, Tutong, Jerudong
Official Language: Malay
common languages: Malay, English, Chinese
Currency: Bruneian dollar, the Singapore dollar equivalent (1 EUR = 1.60 BND 31.12.2014
National Day: February 23 (late British protectorate and independence in 1984)

Located on the northern coast of Borneo (which bears his name), the Brunei Sultanate extends over 5765 km², between the South China Sea and Malaysian Sarawak. Its territory is composed of two distinct parts separated by the Limbang valley, which belongs to Malaysia. The western part, floodplain and marshland, is the largest; it is divided into three districts: Brunei-Muara District, Tutong and Belait. The eastern part, more mountainous, culminating at nearly 2000 meters at Mount Pagon, forms the district of Temburong. The equatorial forest covers more than three quarters of the country. Located in the Asian equatorial zone, however, escaping the typhoons, the Sultanate enjoys a warm and humid climate, with frequent rain in all seasons.

Demography

Population: 417,000 inhabitants
Density: 71,4hb / km²
Population growth: 1.4%
Life expectancy at birth: 75.9 for women, 78.8 for men
Literacy rate: 97.6%
Religions: Islam (official religion; 75%),
Buddhism (8.5%),
Christianity (9.4%)
Human Development Index: 0.855 (very high, 30th in the world)

Brunei’s population is Malay majority (66%), but also has a Chinese community (10%) and indigenous ethnic groups: Kedayan, Tutong, Belait, Dusun, Murut, Dayak, Bisayah … (20%).

This population is very young: more than 50% less than twenty-four.