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Background:
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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 the
developing world. |
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Location:
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Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and
Malaysia |
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Geographic coordinates:
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4 30 N,
114 40 E |
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Map references:
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Southeast
Asia |
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Area:
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total:
5,770 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
water: 500 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly
smaller than Delaware |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
381 km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km |
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Coastline:
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161 km
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
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Climate:
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tropical;
hot, humid, rainy |
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Terrain:
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flat
coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland
in west |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, timber |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 0.57%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 98.67% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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10 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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typhoons,
earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare |
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Environment - current issues:
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seasonal
smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected
agreements |
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Geography - note:
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close to
vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian
and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by
Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia |
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Population:
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372,361
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14
years: 28.6% (male 54,342/female 52,084)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 134,908/female 119,814)
65 years and over: 3% (male 5,301/female 5,912)
(2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total:
27.04 years
male: 27.63 years
female: 26.4 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.9%
(2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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19.01
births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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3.42
deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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3.45
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at
birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total:
12.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total
population: 74.8 years
male: 72.36 years
female: 77.36 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.3
children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than
0.1% (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than
200 (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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less than
200 (2003 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun:
Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian |
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Ethnic groups:
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Malay
67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12% |
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Religions:
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Muslim
(official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous
beliefs and other 10% |
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Languages:
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Malay
(official), English, Chinese |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 91.4% (2002) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei |
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Government type:
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constitutional sultanate |
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Capital:
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Bandar
Seri Begawan |
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Administrative divisions:
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4
districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait,
Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong |
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Independence:
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1 January
1984 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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National
Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the
date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was
the date of independence from British protection |
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Constitution:
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29
September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State
of Emergency since December 1962, others since
independence on 1 January 1984) |
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Legal system:
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based on
English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law
supersedes civil law in a number of areas |
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Suffrage:
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none |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL
Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is
both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir
HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 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; note - there is also a Religious Council
(members appointed by the monarch) that advises on
religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by
the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and
the Council of Succession (members appointed by the
monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if
the need arises
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary |
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Legislative branch:
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Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first
time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the
Sultan; passed constitutional amendments calling for a
45-seat council with 15 elected members; Sultan
dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a
new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005
elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next
election NA) |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the
monarch for three-year terms) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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National
Development Party (NDP) [YASSIN Affendi]; National Unity
Party of Brunei (PPKB) [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal
Abidin]; People's Awareness Party (PAKAR) [Awang Haji
MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad]
note: parties are small and inactive (2005) |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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APEC,
APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB,
IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEH
chancery: 3520 International Court NW,
Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief
of mission: Ambassador Emil SKODON
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan
Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan, BS8811
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507
telephone: [673] (2) 220-384
FAX: [673] (2) 225-293 |
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Flag description:
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yellow
with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double
width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the
national emblem in red is superimposed at the center;
the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a
winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll
and flanked by two upraised hands |
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Economy - overview:
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This
small, well-to-do economy encompasses a mixture of
foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government
regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition.
Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly
half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other
Third World countries, 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 in the
world economy will undermine internal social cohesion,
although it became a more prominent player by serving as
chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic
Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include
upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment,
strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in
general, further widening the economic base beyond oil
and gas. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$6.842
billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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NA |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.2%
(2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $23,600 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 5%
industry: 45%
services: 50% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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158,000
note: includes foreign workers and military
personnel; temporary residents make up about 40% of
labor force (2002 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, production of
oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%,
government 48% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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3.2%
(2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0.3%
(2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $4.9 billion
expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital
expenditures of $1.35 billion (2003 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice,
vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo |
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Industries:
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petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas,
construction |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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5% (2002
est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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2.659
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.473
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh
(2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh
(2003) |
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Oil - production:
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196,400
bbl/day (2003) |
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Oil - consumption:
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12,000
bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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199,000
bbl/day (2003) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2003)
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Oil - proved reserves:
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1.255
billion bbl (1 January 2002) |
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Natural gas - production:
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10.35
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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1.35
billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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9 billion
cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m
(2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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315
billion cu m (1 January 2002) |
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Exports:
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$4.514
billion f.o.b. (2004 est.) |
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Exports - partners:
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Japan
38.1%, South Korea 14%, Australia 11.2%, US 8.6%,
Thailand 7.9%, Indonesia 5.9%, China 4.5% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$1.641
billion c.i.f. (2004 est.) |
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Imports - partners:
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Singapore
32.7%, Malaysia 21.2%, UK 8.3%, Japan 7.2% (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$0 |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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NA $4.3
million (1995) |
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Currency (code):
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Bruneian
dollar (BND) |
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Exchange rates:
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Bruneian
dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422
(2003), 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar
year |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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90,000
(2002) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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137,000
(2002) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: service throughout the country
is excellent; international service is good to East
Asia, Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: country code - 673; satellite
earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1
Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to
Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 3, FM
10, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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2 (1997)
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Internet country code:
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.bn |
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Internet hosts:
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6,409
(2003) |
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Internet users:
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35,000
(2002) |
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Airports:
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2 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2005 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2005 est.) |
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Heliports:
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3 (2005
est.) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 665
km; oil 439 km (2004) |
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Roadways:
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total:
1,150 km
paved: 399 km
unpaved: 751 km (1999) |
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Waterways:
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209 km
(navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2004) |
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Merchant marine:
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total:
8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 8 (United Kingdom 8) (2005) |
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Ports and terminals:
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Lumut,
Muara, Seria |
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Military branches:
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Royal
Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal
Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age (est.) (2004) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 103,885 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: approx. 85,045 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
3,478 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$290.7
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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5.1%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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in 2003
Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in
their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and
negotiations have stalemated prompting consideration of
international legal adjudication; Malaysia's land
boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute;
Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone
encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in
1984 but makes no public territorial claim to the
offshore reefs; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of
Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in
the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding
"code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants
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Illicit drugs:
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drug
trafficking and illegally importing controlled
substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a
mandatory death penalty |
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