Brunei

The southeast Asian nation of Brunei, formally known as Brunei Darussalam, is located on Borneo’s northern shore. With the exception of its South China Sea coastline, the whole state of Sarawak, Malaysia, encircles it; the district of Limbang in Sarawak divides its area in half. Borneo’s multi-landmass neighbors, Malaysia and Indonesia, share the remaining portion of the island, leaving Brunei as the sole sovereign state occupying the entire island.

The population of the nation was 455,858 as of 2023, with over 180,000 people living in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital and largest city. Malay is the official language, and Islam is the official religion of the nation, but there is some notional tolerance for other faiths. The Sultan of Brunei is in charge of the country’s constitutional absolute monarchy, which combines English common law with Islamic jurisprudence, including sharia.

During Sultan Bolkiah’s rule (1485–1528), the Bruneian Empire reached its zenith and is said to have ruled over much of Borneo, including what is now Sarawak and Sabah, the Sulu archipelago, and the islands off the northwest coast of Borneo. There are additional claims to its historical sovereignty over Seludong, the site of the present Philippine capital of Manila, however, Southeast Asian academics think the name of the region in issue is really in reference to Mount Selurong, in Indonesia. The remaining members of the Magellan Expedition reached the maritime nation of Brunei in 1521, and it engaged in combat with Spain in the Castilian War in 1578.

The collapse of the Bruneian Empire started in the 19th century. The Sultanate gave James Brooke the title of White Rajah and gave him Sarawak (Kuching). It also gave Sabah to the British North Borneo Chartered Company. Brunei was designated a protectorate of the United Kingdom in 1888, and in 1906 a British citizen was appointed as the colonial manager.

1959 saw the drafting of a new constitution following the Japanese occupation during World War II. With British support, a minor armed uprising against the monarchy in 1962—which was loosely linked to the conflict between Indonesia and Malaysia—was put down, and the pro-independence Brunei People’s Party was outlawed. The Sultan’s choice to abstain from joining the Malaysian Federation during its formation was also impacted by the uprising. On January 1, 1984, Brunei gained full sovereignty and ended its protectorate over Britain.

Since 1967, Brunei has been governed by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. The Legislative Council, the unicameral legislature of the nation, is composed entirely of appointees who serve as consultative bodies. The vast reserves of natural gas and petroleum in the nation are the source of its prosperity. Brunei’s economy expanded during the 1990s and 2000s, resulting in an industrialized nation.

From 1999 to 2008, the country’s GDP grew by 56%. The House of Bolkiah preserves political stability by offering its residents a welfare state that includes substantial or free subsidies for housing, healthcare, and education. The Human Development Index (HDI) gives it a “very high” ranking, making it the second-highest state in Southeast Asia behind Singapore, with whom it has strong ties and a Currency Interchangeability Agreement.

When considering buying power parity, Brunei’s gross domestic output per capita places it ninth in the world, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In addition to the United Nations, Brunei is a part of the World Trade Organization, the Commonwealth of Nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the East Asia Summit, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Etymology

Local history states that Awang Alak Betatar, who would eventually become Sultan Muhammad Shah, created Brunei during his rule of around 1400 AD. He discovered Brunei after he relocated from Garang in the Temburong District to the Brunei River estuary. Legend has it that he said, “Baru nah,” which means “that’s it!” or “there,” as soon as he landed. This is where the term “Brunei” originated. He was Brunei’s first Muslim monarch. It is said that Buddhist kings ruled Brunei prior to the establishment of the Bruneian Empire under the Muslim Bolkiah dynasty.

The Sanskrit term “varuṇ” (वरुण), which means “seafarers,” may have had some impact on the name change to “Barunai” in the fourteenth century. Its origins are shared with the word “Borneo”. The word “country” in Malay is negara, while Darussalam (Arabic: دار السلام) means “abode of peace” in the nation’s full name, Negara Brunei Darussalam. The Malay official name “Brunei Darussalam” has also become widely used, especially in formal settings. It may be found in the official ASEAN and Commonwealth lists, the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names geographical database, and other official sources.

The first Western recording of Brunei dates back to Ludovico di Varthema, an Italian. based on his records dating from 1550;

When we finally reached the island of Bornei, also known as Brunei or Borneo, we saw that it was considerably lower and significantly bigger than the Maluch, which is around two hundred miles [three hundred kilometers] away. They are kind-hearted men who practice pagan religion. They are whiter in color than the other kind, and justice is carried out properly on this island.

History

Early history

According to archeological study, parts of what is now Brunei were involved in the Maritime Jade Road. From 2000 BC to 1000 AD, a period of 3,000 years, the commerce network was in existence. The town known as Vijayapura was a vassal-state to the Buddhist Srivijaya empire and was considered to be located in Borneo’s Northwest which thrived in the 7th Century.

Earlier in its history, Vijayapura was the remnant of the Austronesian, Austroasiatic, and Indian Funan Civilization, which had been centered in what is now Cambodia. Arabic texts called this alternate Srivijaya, often referred to as Vijayapura and alluding to Brunei, “Sribuza”.

The letter from the ruler of Boni, which some academics believe to be referring to Borneo, to the Chinese emperor in 977 AD is one of the oldest Chinese accounts of an autonomous kingdom in Borneo. The start of a fight between the Javanese and the Sumaters gave the Bruneians their freedom back from Srivijaya.

According to Zhao Rukuo, a Chinese official, Boni possessed 100 vessels to defend its commerce and was a wealthy kingdom in 1225. In his memoirs, Marco Polo suggested that the Great Khan, the head of the Mongol Empire, made several unsuccessful attempts to invade “Great Java,” the term used in Europe to refer to Borneo under Bruneian sovereignty.

Wang Zhenping claims that in the 1300s, the “Yuan dynasty Dade period southern sea records,” known as the Yuan Dade nanhai zhi, or “Yuan dynasty Dade period southern sea records,” mentioned that Brunei governed Sarawak and Sabah, along with the Philippine kingdoms of Butuan, Sulu, Ma-i (Mindoro), Malilu 麻裏蘆 (Manila), Shahuchong 沞胡重 (Siocon or Zamboanga), Yachen 啞陳 Oton, and 文杴陵 Wenduling (Mindanao), all of which would eventually regain their independence.

Barune was listed as a component state of Hindu Majapahit in the 14th-century Javanese text Nagarakretagama, published by Prapanca in 1365. Barune was required to pay an annual tribute of 40 katis of camphor. In 1369, Sulu which was also once part of Majapahit, had successfully revolted and then assaulted Boni, invaded the Northeast Coast of Borneo, and later robbed the capital of its richness and money including looting two precious pearls.

Although a Majapahitan fleet was able to drive the Sulus away, the attack left Boni weakened. A Chinese report from 1371 depicted Boni as impoverished and entirely dominated by Majapahit. Early in the 15th century, Chinese admiral Zheng He visited Brunei and established a significant commercial port with Chinese merchants engaged in active trade with China.

Following their breakaway from Majapahit in the fifteenth century, the Boni people turned to Islam. becoming the sovereign Sultanate of Brunei as a result. When Brunei accepted Sharif Ali, the Arab Emir of Mecca, as her third sultan, the country became a Hashemite state.

The Luzon royal dynasty married into the Bruneian reigning families, as is usual in Southeast Asia for strong ties and alliances. Southeast Asian governments have used intermarriage as a tactic to increase their power. However, Islamic Brunei’s dominance was not unopposed in Borneo, as it faced competition from a Hindu state named Kutai in the south, which was established by Indians and which they subdued but left intact.

Nevertheless, by the 16th century, Islam was firmly planted in Brunei, and the country had erected one of its greatest mosques. Spanish explorer Alonso Beltrán reported in 1578 that it was constructed on the river and had five floors.

War with Spain and decline

When the Portuguese conquered Malacca and drove the rich and powerful but uprooted Muslim refugees there to move to neighboring Sultanates like Brunei, Brunei temporarily gained notoriety in Southeast Asia.

Then, the Bruneian Sultan interfered in a territorial dispute between Muslim Manila and Hindu Tondo in the Philippines by designating Rajah Ache of Manila, who is descended from Brunei, as admiral of the Bruneian navy in a competition against Tondo and as the defender of Bruneian interests in the country.

When he later came across the Magellan expedition, Antonio Pigafetta reported that Ache had previously sacked the Buddhist city of Loue in Southwest Borneo on orders from his grandfather, the Sultan of Brunei, for upholding the old religion and defying the Sultanate’s authority.

However, when Brunei entered a period of decline exacerbated by internal struggle over royal succession, European influence progressively ended Brunei’s regional prominence. The Ottoman Caliphate supported the struggling Southeast Asian Sultanates against these incursions by European Christian powers by designating Aceh as a protectorate and sending missions to reinforce, equip, and train the local mujahideen.

The reports of Manila Oidor Melchor Davalos in his 1585 report, which stated that Turks, including defeated veterans of the Battle of Lepanto, were regularly traveling to Sumatra, Borneo, and Ternate, are indicative of the regular migration of Turks to Brunei.

In 1578, Spain launched war on Brunei with the intention of attacking and seizing the country’s capital, Kota Batu. This was founded in part on the help of two Bruneian noblemen, Pengiran Seri Lela, and Pengiran Seri Ratna. The former had visited Manila, the colonial capital of Spain at the time. After being taken from Brunei, Manila was converted to Christianity and annexed by the Viceroyalty of New Spain, which had its capital in Mexico City. Pengiran Seri Lela arrived to propose Brunei as a vassal of Spain in exchange for assistance in regaining the kingdom that his brother, Saiful Rijal, had taken. Pengiran Seri Lela would become the sultan and Pengiran Seri Ratna would become the new Bendahara, the Spanish agreed upon upon their conquest of Brunei.

A new Spanish armada had arrived from Mexico in March 1578 and made landfall in the Philippines. De Sande assumed the role of Capitán-General and led them. With the help of 1,500 local Filipinos, 300 Borneans, and 400 Spaniards and Mexicans, he planned an expedition departing from Manila for Brunei.

There were further campaigns, with activities taking place in Mindanao and Sulu. The Christian side was composed of a variety of racial groups, including Mestizos, Mulattoes, and Amerindians (Aztecs, Mayans, and Incans), who were brought in from Mexico under the leadership of Spanish officers who had previously fought alongside native Filipinos in Southeast Asian military campaigns.

The Muslim side was likewise equally racially varied. Apart from the indigenous Malay fighters, the Ottomans had frequently dispatched military missions to the adjacent Aceh. The majority of the participants in the voyages were Turks, Egyptians, Somalis, Sindhis, Gujaratis, and Malabars. These expeditionary armies also extended to neighboring Sultanates, including Brunei, where they imparted new skills in cannon forging and combat tactics.

Ultimately, with the assistance of Pengiran Seri Lela and Pengiran Seri Ratna, the Spanish took control of the capital on April 16, 1578. Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Abdul Kahar and Sultan Saiful Rijal were compelled to escape to Meragang and subsequently Jerudong. They plotted at Jerudong to drive the invading troops out of Brunei. A cholera or dysentery outbreak was causing a high death toll, thus the Spanish decided to leave Brunei and returned to Manila on June 26, 1578, following a 72-day stay.

In August or September of 1578, Pengiran Seri Lela passed away, most likely from the same disease that his Spanish friends had contracted. There were rumors that the reigning sultan could have poisoned the legitimist sultan. After leaving with the Spanish, Putri, the daughter of Seri Lela, gave up her claim to the throne and wed Agustín de Legazpi de Tondo, a Christian Tagalog. Agustin de Legaspi along with his family and allies were soon involved in the Conspiracy of the Maharlikas, an effort by Filipinos to link up with the Brunei Sultanate and Japanese Shogunate to evict the Spaniards from the Philippines.

But once the Spanish put an end to the plot, the pre-colonial Manila’s Bruneian elite was banished to Guerrero, Mexico, which subsequently turned into a focal point of Mexico’s independence struggle against Spain.

Local Bruneian narratives of the Castilian War diverge significantly from the official version of events. Considered a heroic event, the Castilian War saw a thousand native soldiers commanded by Bendahara Sakam—rumored to be a brother of the reigning sultan—drive the Spaniards away. The majority of historians believe that this is a folk-hero story that most likely originated decades or perhaps centuries later.

Eventually, chaos overtook Brunei. A civil war struck the nation between 1660 and 1673.

British intervention

The British have frequently meddled in Brunei’s internal affairs. Brunei was attacked by Britain in July 1846 as a result of internal disputes over the true Sultan.

The Bruneian Empire’s downfall persisted throughout the 1880s. James Brooke had assisted the sultan in putting down a revolt, therefore the sultan gave him territory (now Sarawak) and permission to form the Raj of Sarawak. More property was leased or acquired by Brooke and his nephews, who succeeded him, over time. He and his dynasty, known as the White Rajahs, caused Brunei to lose a great deal of its land.

Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin pleaded with the British to halt the Brookes’ further expansion. Sir Hugh Low negotiated and signed the “Treaty of Protection” on September 17, 1888. According to the treaty, Brunei became a British-protected state (which lasted until 1984) and the sultan “could not cede or lease any territory to foreign powers without British consent.” This gave Britain significant authority over Brunei’s exterior affairs. Nonetheless, the British did little to halt the annexation of Brunei’s Pandaruan District by the Raj of Sarawak in 1890.

According to the Treaty of Protection, they did not consider the Raj of Sarawak or Brunei to be “foreign.” Following its ultimate conquest by Sarawak, Brunei was divided into two pieces and retained its current tiny landmass.

In 1906, Brunei welcomed its first British citizens as part of the Supplementary Protectorate Agreement. On all administrative problems, the inhabitants were expected to counsel the sultan. The resident eventually had greater executive authority than the sultan. 1959 marked the conclusion of the residential system.

Discovery of oil

In 1929, petroleum was found after many unsuccessful efforts. In late 1926, two men, F. F. Marriot and T. G. Cochrane, detected the smell of oil close to the Seria River. A geophysicist was notified, and he carried out a survey there. There were reports of gas seepages in the region in 1927. On July 12, 1928, Seria Well Number One (S-1) was drilled. At 297 meters (974 feet) on April 5, 1929, oil was discovered. Drilling for Seria Well Number 2 began on August 19, 1929, and it was still producing oil in 2009. The discovery of more oil fields throughout the 1930s led to a significant rise in oil output. The amount of oil produced in 1940 exceeded six million barrels.

On July 22, 1922, the British Malayan Petroleum Company—now known as Brunei Shell Petroleum Company—was established. In 1957, the first offshore well was dug. Since the late 20th century, Brunei’s progress and prosperity have been based on oil and natural gas.

Economy

After Singapore, Brunei has the second-highest Human Development Index among the countries in Southeast Asia. Crude oil and natural gas production contributes for nearly 90% of its GDP. With an average daily production of about 167,000 barrels (26,600 m3), Brunei ranks fourth among oil producers in Southeast Asia. In addition, Brunei is the ninth-largest gas exporter in the world, producing about 25.3 million cubic meters (890 million cubic feet) of liquified natural gas each day. Due to its abundant natural gas and petroleum resources, Forbes also lists Brunei as the fifth richest country in the world out of 182. In 2023, Brunei came in at number 87 on the Global Innovation Index.

money from domestic production is supplemented by a significant amount of money from foreign investment. The Brunei Investment Agency, a division of the Ministry of Finance, is responsible for the majority of these investments. The government finances housing and rice subsidies in addition to providing all medical services.

The goal of Brunei’s national airline, Royal Brunei Airlines, is to establish the country as a hub for international flights between Australia and New Zealand, and Europe. The airline’s presence at London Heathrow Airport is crucial to this plan. It owns a daily slot at the heavily capacity-controlled airport, which it services from Bandar Seri Begawan via Dubai. Major Asian locations served by the airline include Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, and Manila.

Brunei is mostly dependent on imports of automobiles, electrical goods, and agricultural products (such as rice, food items, animals, etc.) from other nations. About 75% of the 60% of food imported into Brunei comes from other ASEAN nations.

The government of Brunei has maintained an isolationist strategy because it fears that further integration into the global economy may erode social cohesiveness inside the country. Nonetheless, it has elevated to a more important role by chairing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in 2000. The goals of Brunei’s government are to modernize the labor force, lower the country’s 6.9% unemployment rate from 2014, bolster the banking and tourist industries, and expand the country’s economy overall. Development planning for the long term seeks to diversify growth.

The Bruneian government has also encouraged food self-sufficiency, particularly with regard to rice. During the “Padi Planting Towards Achieving Self-Sufficiency of Rice Production in Brunei Darussalam” event held in the Wasan padi fields in April 2009, Brunei rebranded its Brunei Darussalam Rice 1 as Laila Rice. The Royal Family began to harvest Laila padi stalks in August 2009, following years of efforts to increase local rice production—an objective that was initially stated around fifty years prior. With the intention of exporting to outside markets, Brunei introduced its national halal branding initiative, Brunei Halal, in July 2009.

Less than 1% of Brunei’s power output in 2020 came from renewable sources. The majority of the country’s electrical production was derived from fossil fuels.

Infrastructure

The length of the nation’s road network as of 2019 was 3,713.57 kilometers (2,307.51 mi), of which 86.8% were paved. The roadway that runs from Muara Town to Kuala Belait is 135 kilometers (84 miles) long and has two lanes.

You may go to Brunei via land, sea, or air. The primary point of entrance into the nation is Brunei International Airport. The national airline is called Royal Brunei Airlines. Seria is home to another airstrip, called Anduki airstrip. There are frequent ferry connections to Labuan (Malaysia) from the Muara ferry station. The Temburong region is served by speedboats for the movement of passengers and cargo. The Tutong-Muara Highway is the primary route that traverses Brunei. The nation boasts a well-developed road network. The primary seaport of Brunei is situated at Muara.

Huge renovations are presently underway at Brunei’s airport. The consultant for this $150 million proposed modernization project is Changi Airport International. A new terminal and arrival hall will be included in the 14,000 square meters (150,000 square feet) of extra floor space that this project is expected to add. After this project is finished, the airport’s yearly passenger capacity should increase from 1.5 million to 3 million.

One private vehicle per 2.09 people makes Brunei one of the countries with the highest rates of automobile ownership worldwide. This has been ascribed to the lack of an extensive transportation network, a low import duty, and the cheap price of B$0.53 per liter of unleaded gasoline.

A new 30-kilometer (19 mi) expressway connecting the Muara and Temburong districts was opened to traffic on March 17, 2020. A stretch of this route that would traverse Brunei Bay would be fourteen kilometers (9 mi). $1.6 billion is the cost of the bridge.

Banking

In April 2016, the Bank of China was granted authorization to establish a branch in Brunei. After opening in Brunei in 1972, Citibank left the country in 2014. In November 2017, HSBC, which had first opened business in Brunei in 1947, ceased operations there. Currently doing business in Brunei are Maybank of Malaysia, RHB Bank of Malaysia, Standard Chartered Bank of the United Kingdom, United Overseas Bank of Singapore, and Bank of China.

Demographics

The Belait, Brunei Bisaya (not to be confused with the Bisaya/Visaya of the neighboring Philippines), indigenous Malay of Brunei, Dusun, Kedayan, Lun Bawang, Murut, and Tutong are among the ethnic groups native to the island nation.

With 445,373 people living there in 2021, 76% of them are urban dwellers. From 2010 to 2015, the predicted annual pace of urbanization is 2.13%. One may expect to live for an average of 77.7 years. The population in 2014 was composed of 65.7% Malay people, 10.3% Chinese people, 3.4% Indigenous people, and 20.6% smaller groups. The community of expatriates is sizable. The majority of expatriates are from non-Muslim nations including Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Australia, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.

Languages

Both the Arabic (Jawi) and Latin (Rumi) alphabets are used for Standard Malay, the official language of Brunei. Malay was originally written using the Jawi script, but in 1941 it moved to the Latin alphabet.

Melayu Brunei, or Brunei Malay, is the main language spoken there. Although Brunei Malay is around 84% cognate and mutually intelligible with standard Malay, it differs significantly from standard Malay and the other Malay dialects.

Most people in Brunei speak English, which is also the official language of the country and is used extensively in commerce. English serves as both the principal language of teaching in elementary through tertiary education and a working language in business.

There is also a large Chinese-speaking population in Brunei, and they speak several dialects of the language.

Muslims practice their religion in Arabic, which is taught at educational institutions and especially in religious schools. In Brunei, there was one college for religious instructors and six Arabic schools as of 2004. The majority of Muslims in Brunei have received religious education that includes official or informal instruction in the reading, writing, and pronunciation of Arabic.

Other languages and dialects spoken are Murut, Dusun, Kedayan Malay, and Tutong Malay.

Culture

Although Brunei’s culture is heavily influenced by Islam and is mostly Malay, as befits its heritage, it is seen to be far more conservative than that of Indonesia and Malaysia. The Malay civilizations of the Malay Archipelago have influenced Bruneian culture. There have been four distinct cultural eras of influence: Western, Hindu, Islamic, and animist. Islam had a profound impact and became the guiding ideology and philosophy of Brunei.

Alcohol sales and use in public are prohibited in this Sharia-compliant nation. Non-Muslims are permitted to import a certain quantity of alcohol for personal use from their foreign port of embarkation.

Media

It’s stated that the media in Brunei supports the government; criticism of the king and administration is uncommon. According to Freedom House, the nation is “Not Free” in the media. Nonetheless, the press is not blatantly antagonistic toward different opinions and is not constrained to publishing just items regarding the administration. In 1953, the government approved the formation of Brunei Press PLC, a printing and publishing business. The Borneo Bulletin, an English daily, is still printed by the corporation. In 1990, this weekly community publication changed to a daily. The Borneo Bulletin is not the only local Malay newspaper available; Media Permata and Pelita Brunei are also published daily. Another independent English newspaper that has been published in Brunei since 2006 is called The Brunei Times.

The government of Brunei owns and runs five radio stations (National FM, Pilihan FM, Nur Islam FM, Harmony FM, and Pelangi FM) as well as three television channels (RTB Perdana, RTB Aneka, and RTB Sukmaindera) through the state broadcaster Radio Television Brunei (RTB). Both one private radio station, Kristal FM, and cable television (Astro-Kristal) are provided by a private corporation. Additionally, it has UBD FM, an online campus radio station that broadcasts from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, the institution’s first university.

Sport

Association football is the most played sport in Brunei. Although it joined FIFA in 1969, Brunei’s national football squad has not had much success. Under the direction of the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD), Brunei’s premier football competition is called the Brunei Super competition. The martial arts style known as “Silat Suffian Bela Diri” is unique to the country.

With the exception of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Brunei has participated in every Summer Olympics since making its debut in 1996. The nation has participated in track and field, swimming, shooting, badminton, and shooting but has not yet taken home any medals. The National Olympic Committee of Brunei is known as the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council.

With four bronze medals at the Asian Games, Brunei has had a little better success. The 1999 Southeast Asian Games were the first significant international athletic event to be held in Brunei. Bruneians have won 14 gold, 55 silver, and 163 bronze medals at the Southeast Asian Games overall, according to the medal table.

About Sultan

Brunei’s political system is controlled by the constitution and the national tradition of the Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja; MIB). The Islamic faith, Malay culture, and the monarchical governmental system are all covered in the three parts of MIB. Its legal system is derived from English common law, yet in some circumstances Islamic law, or sharia, takes precedence. Although there is a parliament in Brunei, elections are not conducted there; the most recent one was in 1962.

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the head of state and has complete executive authority as per the 1959 constitution. This authority was expanded to include emergency powers during the 1962 Brunei Revolt; these powers are renewed every two years, thus legally Brunei has been under martial rule ever since. In addition, Hassanal Bolkiah is the state’s finance, defense, and prime minister.

Hassanal Bolkiah: The Sultan of Brunei

Here are 80 facts about Brunei:

1. Official Name: The country is officially called Nation of Brunei, Abode of Peace (Negara Brunei Darussalam).
2. Capital City: The capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan.
3. Location: Brunei is located on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia.
4. Geography: It is bordered by Malaysia and has a coastline along the South China Sea.
5. Population: Brunei has a population of around 450,000 people.
6. Language: The official language is Malay (Bahasa Melayu), but English is widely spoken.
7. Religion: Islam is the official religion of Brunei, specifically the Shafi’i school of Sunni Islam.
8. Currency: The official currency is the Brunei dollar (BND).
9. Monarch: Brunei is an absolute monarchy ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
10. Rich in Oil and Gas: Brunei’s economy is heavily dependent on oil and natural gas exports.
11. One of the Richest Countries: Brunei is one of the wealthiest nations in the world due to its hydrocarbon resources.
12. Sultan’s Wealth: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is known as one of the wealthiest individuals in the world.
13. Zero Public Debt: Brunei has zero public debt, thanks to its wealth from oil and gas.
14. Strict Sharia Law: Brunei introduced Sharia law in phases, with punishments that include stoning and amputation for certain crimes.
15. Sultan’s Birthday: The Sultan’s birthday, July 15, is a national holiday in Brunei.
16. Brunei Malay Sultanate: The Brunei Sultanate dates back to the 14th century.
17. Size: Brunei covers an area of approximately 5,765 square kilometers.
18. Two Parts: Brunei is divided into two disconnected parts, separated by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
19. Brunei Bay: The Brunei Bay is an important geographic feature and a natural harbor.
20. Environmental Conservation: Around 75% of Brunei’s land is covered by rainforests.
21. No Income Tax: Citizens of Brunei do not pay income tax.
22. Education System: Education is free for Bruneian citizens.
23. Healthcare: Brunei offers free healthcare services to its citizens.
24. Monarchy Lineage: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is the 29th Sultan in the line of Brunei’s monarchy.
25. Longest-Serving Monarch: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is one of the longest-reigning monarchs in the world, having ascended the throne in 1967.
26. Official Title: The Sultan’s full title includes “His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam”.
27. Islamic Sultanate: Brunei is one of the few remaining Islamic monarchies in the world.
28. Brunei Shell Petroleum: The largest company in Brunei is Brunei Shell Petroleum, a joint venture with Royal Dutch Shell.
29. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque: The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan is a major landmark.
30. Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque: Another prominent mosque is the Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, named after the current Sultan.
31. Alcohol Ban: The sale and public consumption of alcohol are banned in Brunei, though non-Muslims can bring limited quantities for private use.
32. Legal System: Brunei’s legal system is based on English common law, with Islamic law governing personal and family matters.
33. National Anthem: The national anthem is “Allah Peliharakan Sultan,” which means “God Bless the Sultan.”
34. Literacy Rate: Brunei boasts a high literacy rate, around 97.5%.
35. Official Residence: The Sultan’s official residence, Istana Nurul Iman, is the largest residential palace in the world.
36. UN Member: Brunei became a member of the United Nations in 1984.
37. ASEAN Membership: Brunei is a founding member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
38. Strong Military: Brunei has a well-funded military, which is supported by British military personnel through defense agreements.
39. Transportation: There is no railway system in Brunei; most transportation is by car or boat.
40. Brunei International Airport: The country’s main airport is Brunei International Airport.
41. Automobile Use: Brunei has a high rate of car ownership per capita, as public transportation is limited.
42. National Day: Brunei celebrates its National Day on February 23, marking its independence from British protection in 1984.
43. Bruneian Cuisine: Traditional Bruneian cuisine is similar to Malay and features dishes like nasi lemak and satay.
44. Climate: Brunei has a tropical rainforest climate, with high humidity and year-round rainfall.
45. Temburong National Park: The Ulu Temburong National Park is a protected area known for its biodiversity.
46. Biodiversity: Brunei is home to rich biodiversity, including species like the proboscis monkey and sun bear.
47. No National Debt: Brunei is one of the few countries in the world with no national debt.
48. Highest Peak: The highest peak in Brunei is Bukit Pagon, standing at 1,850 meters.
49. Monarchical Control: The Sultan holds absolute control over the government and the economy.
50. No Political Parties: Brunei does not have political parties and is governed by the monarchy.
51. Women’s Rights: Women in Brunei have access to free education and healthcare, but Sharia law impacts some rights.
52. Brunei River: The Brunei River flows through the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
53. Kampong Ayer: Known as the “Venice of the East,” Kampong Ayer is a historic water village in Bandar Seri Begawan, home to thousands of people living in stilt houses.
54. Time Zone: Brunei operates on Brunei Darussalam Time (BNT), which is UTC+8.
55. Limited Tourism: Brunei’s tourism sector is small compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors but focuses on eco-tourism and cultural attractions.
56. Islamic Finance: Brunei has a growing Islamic finance sector, in line with its Sharia-compliant economy.
57. Natural Gas: Brunei is one of the world’s largest exporters of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
58. BIMP-EAGA: Brunei is part of the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), a subregional economic zone.
59. Diverse Ethnic Groups: Brunei’s population is made up of Malays, Chinese, and indigenous groups such as the Iban and Dusun.
60. Cultural Preservation: The government actively promotes Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja) as the guiding philosophy of the nation.
61. Brunei’s National Flower: The national flower of Brunei is the Simpor, which grows in its rainforests.
62. Brunei’s Main Export Markets: Brunei exports oil and gas to countries like Japan, South Korea, and India.
63. Life Expectancy: The life expectancy in Brunei is relatively high, around 77 years.
64. Royal Regalia Museum: The Royal Regalia Museum in Bandar Seri Begawan displays the Sultan’s royal regalia and artifacts related to the monarchy.
65. Education Language: While Malay is the official language, English is widely used as the medium of instruction in schools.
66. Petroleum Resources: Brunei’s petroleum resources have been crucial to its economic prosperity since the discovery of oil in 1929.
67. Folk Dances: Traditional Bruneian folk dances include the Adai-Adai and Jipin, performed at cultural events.
68. Brunei’s National Emblem: The national emblem of Brunei features symbols of Islam, royalty, and prosperity, including the crescent moon and parasol.
69. Education Ranking: Brunei consistently ranks highly for its education system in Southeast Asia.
70. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium: The Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan is the largest sports stadium in the country.
71. Coral Reefs: Brunei is home to rich marine life and coral reefs along its coast.
72. Electricity Access: Almost the entire population of Brunei has 100% access to electricity.
73. Fish and Seafood: Seafood is a staple in Bruneian cuisine, thanks to its proximity to the South China Sea.
74. Economic Diversification Efforts: Brunei is working on diversifying its economy beyond oil and gas, focusing on sectors like halal food production and Islamic tourism.
75. Public Holidays: Major public holidays include Hari Raya Aidilfitri, National Day, and the Sultan’s Birthday.
76. Education System: Brunei’s education system is based on the British system, and many students pursue higher education abroad.
77. Literacy Campaigns: Brunei has a national emphasis on literacy and offers scholarships for higher education.
78. Television and Media: Brunei’s media is state-controlled, and television and radio stations are mostly government-owned.
79. No Land Taxes: Citizens do not pay land taxes in Brunei.
80. Tourist Visa: Citizens of many countries can visit Brunei visa-free for short stays.

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