Brunei Overview People
- People - Health - Crime - Age Structure - Education - Population Comparisons
Government - Politics Geography Economy News - Weather History National Symbols Photos Videos Travel and Tourism Link-to-CountryReports Sources   United States Edition

Brunei Demographics

What is the population of Brunei?

Population 464,478
Population Growth Rate 1.67%
Urban Population 76%
Population in Major Urban Areas BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) 241,000

Note: the boundaries of the capital city were expanded in 2007, greatly increasing the city area; the population of the capital increased tenfold
Nationality Noun Bruneian(s)
Nationality Adjective Bruneian
Ethnic Groups Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Languages Spoken Malay (official), English, Chinese

Brunei Health Information

What are the health conditions in Brunei?

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population 3.43
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP 2.5%
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 0.07%
HIV/Aids Deaths 150
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population 2.8
Infant Mortality Rate - female deaths/1,000 live births 8.64
Infant Mortality Rate - male deaths/1,000 live births 12.89
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births 10.81
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 24
Obesity - adult prevalence rate 7.5%
People Living with HIV/AIDS 175
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population 1.36
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 1.83

Brunei Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Brunei?

Life Expectancy at Birth 76 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - female 78 Years
Life Expectancy at Birth - male 74 Years
Median Age 29 Years
Median Age - female 29 Years
Median Age - male 28 Years

Brunei Infant Mortality - per 1,000 live births

Brunei median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population 18
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population 3.43
Median Age 29 Years
Median Age - female 29 Years
Median Age - male 28 Years
Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population 2.51
Population Growth Rate 1.67%
Sex Ratio 0-14 Years - male/female 1.07
Sex Ratio 15-24 Years - male/female .98
Sex Ratio 25-54 Years - male/female .94
Sex Ratio 55-64 Years - male/female .99
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female 1.05
Sex Ratio of Total Population - male/female 1
Sex Ratio Over 64 Years - male/female .95

Brunei Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Brunei?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

There is adequate care for basic medical conditions in Brunei; however, for certain elective surgery or complicated care, the best medical care in the region is obtained in Singapore. Brunei has a number of public hospitals and clinics. The biggest ones are RIPAS Hospital in Bandar Seri Begawan and Tutong Hospital in the district of the same name. The largest private hospital is Jerudong Park Medical Center about 20 minutes by car outside of Bandar Seri Begawan, which is a facility comparable to those in the U.S. Brunei also hosts a number of private clinics, many of which are staffed by expatriates. More information can be found at the U.S. Embassy Website at Medication and prescriptions are readily available, but may not be the same brands as those found in the U.S. There are no major health concerns in Brunei.

Brunei Education

What is school like in Brunei?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP 3.5%
Literacy - female 91.4%
Literacy - male 96.3%
Literacy - total population 92.7%
Literacy Definition Age 15 and over can read and write
School Life Expectancy - female 15 Years
School Life Expectancy - male 14 Years
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary) 15 Years

Brunei Literacy

Can people in Brunei read?

Literacy - female 91.4%
Literacy - male 96.3%
Literacy - total population 92.7%
Literacy Definition Age 15 and over can read and write
Predominant Language Malay (official), English, Chinese

Brunei Crime

Is Brunei a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

Most crimes that occur in Brunei are non-violent and crimes of opportunity, including residential burglaries and vehicle break-ins. While traveling or residing in Brunei, you can easily avoid being a victim of a crime of opportunity by simply practicing good security awareness. For example, securing valuables (remove from plain view), avoiding secluded locations, properly securing your residence and vehicle, and not traveling alone late at night.

Crime in Brunei peaks in July and December, due to the holidays and schools being out of session. Overall, many crimes carry severe penalties, and punishments such as jail, fines, caning, or deportation (for foreigners).

Brunei Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Brunei, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but are still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods, which are prevalent in Brunei. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Brunei, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

If you violate Brunei laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use of, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Brunei are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences, heavy fines, and, possibly, death. Brunei has a mandatory death penalty for many narcotics offenses. Under the current law, possession of heroin, ecstasy, and morphine derivatives of more than 15 grams, Cocaine of more than 30 grams, Cannabis of more than 500 grams, Syabu (Methamphetamine) of more than 50 grams, or Opium of more than 1.2 kg., carries the death penalty. Possession of lesser amounts can result in a minimum twenty-year jail term and caning. Importation of firearms is prohibited; the illegal possession of firearms or explosives and drug use/possession carry severe penalties, including the possibility of the death penalty. Any attempts to circumvent alcohol controls can result in arrest and criminal prosecution. Gambling in Brunei is illegal.

Prostitution is illegal and harsh penalties can result from engaging in the solicitation of prostitution. In addition, due to the conservative Muslim culture, any extramarital relations between a Muslim and non-Muslim, from simple acts such as holding hands or public displays of affection to sexual activity may be considered a crime in Brunei.

If you are arrested in Brunei, authorities of Brunei are required to alert the U.S. Embassy of your arrest. If you are concerned the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should request the police to notify the closest U.S. Embassy of your arrest.

Brunei Population Comparison

World Regions
Africa Asia Central America Europe Middle East North America Oceania South America The Caribbean
Most Popular
United States of America China France Italy Canada Spain India Brazil Mexico
All Countries
Afghanistan Akrotiri Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Clipperton Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Coral Sea Islands Costa Rica Cote d’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dhekelia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Gaza Strip Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Jan Mayen Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Svalbard Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States (US) Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands Wake Island Wallis and Futuna West Bank Western Sahara World Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe