A small Islamic sultanate, Brunei is one of the few remaining countries in the world without personal income tax. Located on the northwestern coast of the island of Borneo, it was a powerful state in the 16th century, with authority over the whole island. Area 2,226 square miles (5,765 square kilometers). Population (2020 est.) 467,000.
The sultanate is bounded on the north by the South China Sea and on its landlocked sides by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The geographic position of Sarawak also divides Brunei into two separate portions.
The climate in this hilly and rugged country is determined by the equatorial monsoons, or rain-bearing winds. Rainfall is heavy and is distributed throughout the year. Annual precipitation varies from 100 inches (250 centimeters) in the coastal areas to more than 200 inches (500 centimeters) in parts of the interior. Temperatures average between 76° and 86° F (24° and 30° C). Dense tropical rain forests cover three fourths of the country and are characterized by a variety of hardwood species. Brunei’s animal life includes lions, tigers, monkeys, birds, insects, snakes, and lizards.
The principal language is Malay, but Chinese and English are widely spoken. Most of the people live near the petroleum fields at Seria and Kuala Belait. Brunei is a major petroleum producer and enjoys one of the highest standards of living in Southeast Asia. The state’s economy depends almost entirely on its petroleum production.
The largest concentration of urban population is in Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan. Whereas wooden houses are found in the rural areas, Bandar Seri Begawan has modern apartment buildings, hotels, a shopping center, a commercial center, and port facilities. Alongside the modern section of the capital is the older section known as Kampong Ayer, where people live in small houses on stilts along the inlets of a broad, winding river. These houses are interconnected by footbridges, and small boats provide transport. Since roads are poorly developed, rivers are the main means of transportation in Brunei. At Bandar Seri Begawan is an international airport.
Brunei’s economy is based on the exploitation of petroleum and natural gas. Agricultural and forestry products include rubber, pepper, wood, and cork and account for about 1 percent of the export earnings. Other agricultural products, including rice, sago (a starch), and local fruits, are grown on a small scale.
Brunei became a British protectorate under treaties made with its sultan in the 19th century, when the state was troubled by piracy. The sultan signed a new treaty in 1979, making Brunei a fully sovereign and independent state on January 1, 1984.