The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines.

Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy.

In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries.

Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.

Source: CIA World Fact Book

Population: 374,577 (July 2007 est.)

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Age structure: 0-14 years: 27.8% (male 53,512/female 50,529) 15-64 years: 69% (male 130,134/female 128,488) 65 years and over: 3.2% (male 5,688/female 6,226) (2007 est.)

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Median age: total: 27.2 years male: 27.3 years female: 27.1 years (2007 est.)

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Population growth rate: 1.81% (2007 est.)

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Birth rate: 18.56 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Death rate: 3.26 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Net migration rate: 2.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

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Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.059 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.013 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.914 male(s)/female total population: 1.022 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

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Infant mortality rate: total: 13.12 deaths/1,000 live births male: 15.72 deaths/1,000 live births female: 10.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

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Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.3 years male: 73.12 years female: 77.59 years (2007 est.)

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Total fertility rate: 1.97 children born/woman (2007 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 200 (2003 est.)

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HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)

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Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s) adjective: Bruneian

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Ethnic groups: Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%

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Religions: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%

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Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese

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Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 92.7% male: 95.2% female: 90.2% (2001 census)

Brunei has a small well-to-do economy that encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for just over half of GDP and more than 90% of exports. Per capita GDP is among the highest in Asia, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.

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GDP (purchasing power parity): $9.557 billion (2006 est.)

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GDP (official exchange rate): $9.531 billion (2005 est.)

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GDP - real growth rate: 0.4% (2005 est.)

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GDP - per capita (PPP): $25,600 (2005 est.)

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GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.9% industry: 71.6% services: 27.5% (2005 est.)

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Labor force: 180,400 (2006 est.)

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Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.9% industry: 61.1% services: 36% (2003 est.)

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Unemployment rate: 4% (2006)

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Population below poverty line: NA%

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Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

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Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.1% (2005)

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Budget: revenues: $3.765 billion expenditures: $4.815 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (2004 est.)

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Agriculture - products: rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats, eggs

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Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

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Industrial production growth rate: 1.8% (2005 est.)

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Electricity - production: 2.913 billion kWh (2005)

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Electricity - consumption: 2.726 billion kWh (2005 est.)

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Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2005)

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Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2005)

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Oil - production: 219,300 bbl/day (2006)

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Oil - consumption: 14,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

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Oil - exports: 205,600 bbl/day (2006)

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Oil - imports: 660.1 bbl/day (2004)

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Oil - proved reserves: 1.35 billion bbl (1 January 2005)

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Natural gas - production: 11.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - consumption: 2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - exports: 9.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - imports: 0 cu m (2004 est.)

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Natural gas - proved reserves: 390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

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Exports: $6.247 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

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Exports - commodities: crude oil, natural gas, refined products, clothing

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Exports - partners: Japan 31.2%, Indonesia 20.3%, South Korea 13.3%, Australia 11.7%, US 7.9% (2006)

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Imports: $1.481 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.)

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Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

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Imports - partners: Singapore 30.9%, Malaysia 18.6%, UK 7.9%, Japan 5.4%, China 5.4%, Thailand 4.5%, South Korea 4.1% (2006)

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Debt - external: $0 (2005)

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Economic aid - recipient: $NA

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Currency (code): Bruneian dollar (BND)

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Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002)

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Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March