Country information

---

Area: 5,770 sq km (2,226 sq mi)
Population: 385,000, (est 2007)
Capital City: Bandar Seri Begawan
People: 67% Malay, 15% Chinese, 6% other indigenous groups, and 12% other communities
Languages: Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin, Hokkein, Hakka and Cantonese)
Religion: Islam
Currency: Brunei Dollar, pegged at par to the value of the Singapore Dollar
Major Political Parties:There is one legal political party (a further two were deregistered in 2007 and 2008), which play little role in the day to-day life of the country.
Government: Since an abortive uprising in 1962, Brunei has been governed by an absolute, but benevolent, monarchy under a State of Emergency. The underpinning political philosophy is that of a ‘Malay Muslim Monarchy’. The Sultan is both Head of State and the Executive; he also holds the portfolios of Defence and Finance Minister. Acting as Prime Minister, he appoints a Cabinet of 11 other ministers. The non-royal members were reshuffled in May 2005, bringing in new blood and giving them a fixed five-year term. In 2004, the Sultan revived an appointed Legislative Council and brought in a series of Constitutional Amendments which envisage that in future it will partly be elected, increasing its consultational role. The Council has since met annually to discuss and approve the State Budget. Meanwhile, the State of Emergency remains in place.
Head of State: His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei is also Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Finance Minister.
Senior Minister: Crown Prince Billah
Foreign Minister: Prince Mohamed Bolkiah
Membership Of International Organisations: Brunei is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia –Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), the Commonwealth, the United Nations (UN), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Next Page: Economy

Country information

See entire profile

Change country

Pick another country Afghanistan Australia Bangladesh British Indian Ocean Territory (British Overseas Territory) Bhutan Burma Cambodia China East Timor Fiji Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Kazakhstan Kiribati Kyrgyzstan Laos Macao Malaysia Maldives Marshall Islands Micronesia Mongolia Nauru Nepal New Zealand Korea, DPR (North Korea) Pakistan Palau Papua New Guinea Philippines Pitcairn Islands (British Overseas Territory) Samoa Singapore Solomon Islands Korea, Republic of (South Korea) Sri Lanka Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Tonga Turkmenistan Tuvalu Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vietnam