Brunei Guide

January 31, 2021 findjobdescriptions

Brunei – country information

Country name	Brunei
Official name	Brunei Darussalam
Capital	Bandar Seri Begawan
Continent	Asia
Area	5,765 km²
Population	393,162 (2011)
Foundation of a state	1/1/1984
The highest mountains	Pagonprick 1850 m
State system	a monarchy with an appointed advisory body
The biggest cities	Bandar Seri Begawan 90,000 (Capital) (Agglomeration 125,000)
Official language	malay language
Ethnicity/National Composition	Malays 69%, Chinese 18%, Indians 8%, indigenous people (Dayaks) and others 5%
Religious affiliation	Muslim 68%, Buddhist 12%, Christian 9%, no religion 9%, other 2%
Currency	1 Brunei dollar (B$) = 100 cents
gross domestic product (GDP)	US$54,114 (2012)
Average life expectancy of the population	75.01 years (2006)
Structure of GDP	agriculture, forestry and fishing 2%, mining and industry 42%, construction 3%, services 53%

Brunei – Neighboring States

State	Capital	Area	Population
Malaysia	Kuala Lumpur	329,847 km²	30,041,000

Country overview

Brunei – “Home of Peace”, as its unique official name goes – is an independent sultanate on the northwest coast of Borneo, surrounded and bisected by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

According to Abbreviationfinder, Brunei is a sultanate in Southeast Asia, on the northwestern coast of the island of Borneo. Shared borders with Malaysia.

The capital is Bandar Seri Begawan. The official language is Malay. The official religion is Islam.

Brunei is located 443 kilometers north of the equator. The country consists of two separate regions, separated by approximately 30 km of Malaysian territory. In the western part of Brunei there is a mountainous area that rises up to 3 km above sea level. In the eastern part, you can see mountains overgrown with jungle.

Approximately 85% of the entire area of the country is covered with tropical forests with valuable tree species. The main rivers – Belait, Tutong, Pandaruan and Temburong – flow into the South China Sea.

The climate of Brunei is equatorial. Average temperature +28*С +30*С, air humidity 82%. During the monsoon period (November-December), the climate is slightly cooler, but humid. Periodically, about once every 10 years, the following droughts continue for several months.

There was an idea of Brunei as a country in which there are few attractions. The state system is an absolute monarchy. The head of state and government is the Sultan. He is also the religious leader of the country’s Muslims. The government consists predominantly of his close relatives.

Interesting facts about Brunei

Brunei, which once occupied the entire island of Borneo and the southwestern Philippines, is now one of the smallest countries in the world.

The main places to visit by tourists include the capital Bandar Seri Begawan, where the Sultan’s palace with 1700 rooms and the Omar Ali Mosque are located.

The country occupies one of the leading places in the world in terms of production of liquefied natural gas.

The Sultan of Brunei is one of the richest people in the world.

Country data

Location: Southeast Asia

Time zone: CET + 7 (during summer time: CET + 6)

Total area: 5,765 km²

Land area: 5,265 km²

Water area: 500 km²

Length of the state border: 266 km

including: Malaysia: 266 km

Coastline: 161 km

Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan

Districts: 4
Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Electric current: 220 V / 50 Hz

Telephone code: 00 673 (Source: Allcitycodes)

Highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Population

Population: approx. 423,000 residents (Countryaah, 2021)

Population growth: 1.7% per year

Population density (residents per km²): 73

Life expectancy: 74 (male), 79 (female)

Official language: Malay

Religions:

79% Muslim
9% Christians
8% Buddhists
4% other

Climate

There is an always humid tropical climate. Temperatures are around 26 ° C all year round, with an average humidity of around 80%.

Precipitation must be expected all year round. However, intensified in the monsoon season from November to January.

Currency / finance

Currency unit: Brunei Dollar (BND)

Division: 1 dollar = 100 cents

ATMs: Available in almost all banks and shopping centers.

International credit cards: These are accepted by many larger hotels and shops.

Regulations: Foreign currencies can be imported and exported in unlimited amounts. There is an obligation to declare.

The national currency can be imported and exported up to an amount of 1,000 BND.

The importation of Indian and Indonesian currencies is prohibited.

Customs regulations

The following may be carried duty-free:

200 cigarettes or 250 g of other tobacco products
1 liter of alcoholic beverages (only for non-Muslims)
small amounts of perfume

(Information applies to people aged 18 and over)

Tourists and people in transit can bring items of personal use with them duty-free.

Important:
Possession of all kinds of drugs (even small amounts) and trading in them leads to drastic penalties. People are often sentenced to long prison terms (under very poor conditions) or even to death! The same applies to the possession of all kinds of weapons.

Travel advice

There is currently no country-specific safety notice for Brunei Darussalam.

Behavioral advice

During Ramadan, even non-Muslims are not allowed to eat, drink or smoke during the day.

You should never take luggage with you for strangers (as a favor) without knowing the exact contents. Possession and trafficking in drugs are severely punished.

Smoking in public should be avoided.