Demographics
The population of Brunei Darussalam is estimated to have been 383 000 in 2006 and is increasing at 3.5% per annum. With an area of 5 765 square kilometre, the country’s population density is 66 persons per square kilometre, although 73.5% of the population are considered urban.
The population comprises 203 300 (53.1%) males and 179 700 (46.9%) females, giving a gender ratio of 113 males per 100 females. The population structure is essentially that of a young population; about 12.8% and 31.6% of the population is under-five and under-15 years respectively, and only 2.7% are 65 years or over.
Brunei Darussalam has a multi-ethnic population, with Malays comprising 66.7%, the predominant ethnic community, and Chinese, with 11.2%, the next major group. Other races, such as Indians, other ethnic groups and expatriates, make up the rest of the population.
In 2006, life expectancy at birth was 74.1 years for males and 77.7 years for females, the crude birth rate had declined from 18.7 in 2005 to 17.1 per 1000 population, the crude death rate was 2.9 per 1000 population, and the total fertility rate was 2.2.
The country’s health services are ranked among the best in Asia. The Ministry of Health works hand in hand with WHO and continues to meet the targets of a better health status. The country has achieved almost all indicators stipulated by WHO, including those outlined in the Millennium Development Goals. For instance, the infant mortality rate decreased from 7.4 in 2005 to 6.6 per 1000 live births in 2006 and the under-five mortality rate from 9.4 in to 9.2 per 1000 live births, while the death rate among mothers giving birth was 15.3 per 100 000 live births.
Political situation
Brunei Darussalam is an independent sovereign Sultanate governed on the basis of a written constitution, and achieved full independence on 1 January 1984. The Head of State, the Head of Government and the Supreme Executive Authority is His Majesty, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan. His Majesty also holds the Defence and Finance portfolios in the Cabinet, and is the Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the Inspector-General of the Royal Brunei Police Force, and the supreme head of religious affairs in the Sultanate.
Brunei’s first written Constitution came into force in 1959 and has been subject to important amendments in 1971 and 1984. The 1959 Constitution provides for the Sultan as the Head of State, with full executive authority. The Sultan is assisted and advised by five councils—the Religious Council, the Privy Council, the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet), the Legislative Council and the Council of Succession.
The Council of Cabinet Ministers is appointed and presided over by His Majesty and handles executive matters. The Religious Council advises on religious matters, the unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Mesyuarat Negeri handles constitutional matters (legislative branch), and the Council of Succession determines the succession to the throne if the need arises. For the judicial branch, His Majesty swears in a Supreme Court (chief justice and judges) for a three-year term.
Socioeconomic situation
The 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 gross domestic product (GDP). Per capita GDP is far above most developing countries (US$ 30 490 in 2006), and substantial income from overseas investments supplements income from domestic production. The Government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing.
Human resources development (HRD) is a crucial element in implementation of the economy's five-year national development plan. As such, a sum of US$ 250 million or 3.4% of the Eighth National Development Plan's total allocation has been allocated to the HRD Fund (HRDF). Its main objective is to facilitate training, retraining and other HRD-related programmes and projects aimed at better career development of the economy's human resources. Among other things, the HRDF includes special schemes for undergraduate, postgraduate and specialized studies, and pre- and post-employment for local job-seekers, as well as pre-retirement programmes.
Plans for the future include upgrading the labour force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
Vulnerabilities and hazards
Natural hazards, such as typhoons, earthquakes and severe flooding, are very rare in Brunei Darussalam. However, there has been seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in neighbouring countries in recent years. A National Committee on Disaster Management has been formed to strengthen the country’s preparedness and planned response to any possible disaster.