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NAVIGATION
Negara Brunei Darussalam
Brunei
GOVERNMENT
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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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unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held in March 1962 note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years |
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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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Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988, it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988) |
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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, ARF, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador PUTEH ibni Mohammad Alam
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560 telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838 chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTY
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507 telephone: [673] (2) 229670 FAX: [673] (2) 225293 |
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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 |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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This small, wealthy economy is 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 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:
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purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2001 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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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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1% (1999 est.) |
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Labor force:
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143,400 (1999 est.); note - includes foreign workers and military personnel
note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991) (1999 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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10% (2001 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (1997 est.) |
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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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4% (1997 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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2.22 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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2.065 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo |
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Exports:
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$3 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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crude oil, natural gas, refined products |
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Exports - partners:
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Japan 42%, US 17%, South Korea 14%, Thailand 3% (1999) |
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Imports:
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$1.4 billion c.i.f. (2000 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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Singapore 34%, UK 15%, Malaysia 15%, US 5% (1999) |
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Debt - external:
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$0 |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$4.3 million (1995) (1995) |
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Currency:
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Bruneian dollar (BND) |
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Currency code:
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BND |
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Exchange rates:
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Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.8388 (January 2002), 1.8917 (2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |