Brunei facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace Negara Brunei Darussalam نڬارا بروني دارالسلام
Flag Crest
Motto: "الدائمون المحسنون بالهدى" "Sentiasa membuat kebajikan dengan petunjuk Allah" "Always in service with God's guidance"  (translation)
Anthem: Allah Peliharakan Sultan God Bless the Sultan
Location of  Brunei  (red)
Capital and largest city	Bandar Seri Begawan 4°53.417′N 114°56.533′E / 4.890283°N 114.942217°E / 4.890283; 114.942217
Official languages	Malay
Recognised regional languages	6 languages English Tutong Belait Dusun Bisaya Murut
Recognised	English
Official scripts	Malay alphabet, Jawi alphabet
Demonym(s)	Bruneian
Government	Unitary Islamic absolute monarchy
• Sultan	Hassanal Bolkiah
• Crown Prince	Al-Muhtadee Billah
• Prime Minister	Hassanal Bolkiah
Legislature	Legislative Council
Formation
• Sultanate	14th century
• British protectorate	1888
• Independence	1 January 1984
Area
• Total	5,765 km2 (2,226 sq mi) (172nd)
• Water (%)	8.6
Population
• 2011 estimate	401,890 (174th)
• 2001 census	332,844
• Density	67.3/km2 (174.3/sq mi) (134th)
GDP (PPP)	2011 estimate
• Total	$21.237 billion (122nd)
• Per capita	$49,719 (5th)
GDP (nominal)	2011 estimate
• Total	$16.313 billion (166th)
• Per capita	$38,192 (26th)
HDI (2011)	0.838 very high · 33rd
Currency	Brunei dollar (BND)
Time zone	UTC+8
Driving side	right (by 2021)
Calling code	+673
Internet TLD	.bn
Malay is the official language as stated under the Constitution on Article 82: "Official language". Under the Constitution, English is mentioned for use for some particular purpose on Article 82: "Official language". Also 080 from East Malaysia.

Brunei (officially called the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace) is a country in Southeast Asia. It is north of Malaysia on the island of Borneo. The country is rather landlocked by Malaysia. To the north is the South China Sea and the Philippines to the northeast. The capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan. The country is small and has a small population. The leader of the country is the Sultan of Brunei. Due to the sale of his oil, he is one of the richest people in the world. The official religion in Brunei is Islam. There are also minorities of people who follow Buddhism or Animism. The native language of Brunei is Malay and English is the second language. Brunei is one of the smallest Muslim countries in the world.

History

From the 14th to the 16th centuries Brunei Darussalam was the seat of a powerful sultanate extending over Sabah, Sarawak and the southern Philippines. Thus, the current Sultan represents one of the oldest continuously ruling dynasties in the world. By the 19th century, the Brunei Darussalam Empire had been whittled away by wars, piracy and the colonial expansion of European powers.

In 1847, the sultan ended a treaty with Great Britain and in 1888 Brunei Darussalam officially became a British protectorate. In 1906, the Residential System was established in Brunei Darussalam. A British Resident was nominated as a representative of the British government to advise the sultan in all matters except Malay customs, traditions and Islamic religion.

The 1959 Agreement established a written constitution which gave Brunei Darussalam internal self-government. In 1971, the agreement was amended and revised to assert full internal independence except defence and external affairs.

In June 5, 1966 His Highness Sultan Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien abdicated in favour of his son Pengiran Muda Mahkota Hassanal Bolkiah. On January 1, 1984 Brunei Darussalam resumed full independence and the Sultan took office as Prime Minister, Finance Minister and Home Affairs Minister, presiding over a cabinet of six. In October 1986, the cabinet was expanded to 11 members, with His Majesty relinquishing the portfolios of Finance and Home Affairs and taking over the Defence portfolio which his late father had held since 1984. In 1988 another reshuffle brought about the elevation of the deputy minister to a full minister and the creation of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources designed to boost the country's development.

In spite of the sizable non-Muslim population (about 1/3 of the population) and criticism by the international community, the Sultan still announced Brunei's adoption of Sharia law in 2013 to fully enforce on the Muslim majority and partially enforce on non-Muslims. It was expected to take full effect in 2016 after 3 phases, and had begun partial enforcement in its first phase in 2014. It is the first country in East and Southeast Asia to practice Sharia law.

Divisions

Brunei is divided into four districts (daerahs) and 38 subdistricts (mukims).

The daerah of Temburong is physically separated from the rest of Brunei by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

Over 90% of Brunei's total population lives in 15 of the 38 mukims.

Cities

Map of Brunei

Officially, there are no places in Brunei that have "city" status. Some of the important places are:

• Bandar Seri Begawan (Pop. ~181,500, Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Council)
• Kuala Belait (Pop. ~38,000, Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Council)
• Seria (Pop. ~35,400, Kuala Belait/Seria Municipal Council)
• Jerudong (Pop. ~30,000, Kuala Belait/Seria Municipal Council)
• Tutong (Pop. ~27,500, Tutong Municipal Council)
• Bangar - administrative centre of the Temburong district
• Muara Town - has the only deep sea port of Brunei
• Sukang
• Panaga

Revenue

Given that Brunei is an oil-rich country, Brunei gets most of its income from selling natural resources. .

Currency

Brunei uses the Brunei Ringgit to trade. However, the Singapore dollar can be used here as both currencies are of the same value.

Related pages

• Brunei at the Olympics
• Brunei national football team
• List of rivers of Brunei

Images for kids

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  Boundaries of Brunei (green) since 1890

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  British adventurer James Brooke negotiating with the Sultan of Brunei, which led to the signing of the Treaty of Labuan, 1846

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  Ahmad Tajuddin, the 27th Sultan of Brunei, with members of his court in April 1941, eight months before the Japanese invaded Brunei

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  Nagato, Tone, Yamato and Musashi in Brunei Bay in October 1944

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  Major-General Wootten of the Australian 9th Division with Lieutenant-General Masao Baba (signing) of the Japanese 37th Division at the surrender ceremony at Labuan on 10 September 1945

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  Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III

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  British soldiers in the British protectorate of Brunei on guard in the Seria oilfield, January 1963

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  Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (right) in 2004

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  A topographic and geographic limits map of Brunei

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  Headscarves called tudong are compulsory for Brunei's Muslim schoolgirls

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  Brunei International Airport Mosque

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  BIMP-EAGA meeting in the office of Brunei Prime Minister on 25 April 2013. From left: Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Malaysian Representative and Filipino President Benigno Aquino III. Brunei is part of the BIMP-EAGA, a subregional economic co-operation initiative in Southeast Asia.

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  Royal Brunei Boeing 787 Dreamliner at London Heathrow Airport.

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  Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque at night.

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  Royal Regalia Museum