General Profile

Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia Area: total: 5,770 sq km. land: 5,270 sq km. water: 500 sq km. Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy Terrain: flat coastal plain rise to mountain in east; hilly lowland in west Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong Population: 372,361 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups: Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, other 18% Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese Religions: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other 10% Literacy: 93.9%

Political Profile

Government type: constitutional sultanate Executive branch: • chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since October 1967) • head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government • cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters National Holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984) ACD Member: ACD Member since 2002 Prime Mover (PM) on Working Group: None Co-Prime Mover on Working Group: None Brunei government official web site: www.brunei.gov.bn

Economical Profile

Currency (code): Bruneian dollar (BND) GDP: $6.842 billion GDP per capita: $ 23,600 (2003 est.) Exports - commodities: crude oil, natural gas, refined products Exports - partners: Japan , South Korea , Australia , US , Thailand , Indonesia , China Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals Imports - partners: Singapore , Malaysia , UK , Japan Agrculture - products: rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction Source : The World Fact Book 2005 (www.cia.gov)


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