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East and Southeast Asia
Page last updated: April 24, 2024
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. Internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy subsequently brought on a period of decline. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries, and in 2017, the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sultan Hassanal BOLKIAH’s accession to the throne. Brunei has one of the highest per-capita GDPs in the world, thanks to extensive petroleum and natural gas fields.
Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
04°30' N, 114°40' E
Southeast Asia
Total: 5,765 km²
Land: 5,265 km²
Water: 500 km²
Slightly smaller than Delaware
Area comparison map:
Total: 266 km
Border countries (1): Malaysia 266 km
161 km
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line
Tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
Mean elevation: 478 m
Petroleum, natural gas, timber
Agricultural land: 2.5% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 71.8% (2018 est.)
Other: 25.7% (2018 est.)
10 km² (2012)
The vast majority of the population is found along the coast in the western part of Brunei, which is separated from the eastern portion by Malaysia; the largest population concentration is in the far north on the western side of the Brunei Bay, in and around the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan
Typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; the eastern part, the Temburong district, is an exclave and is almost an enclave within Malaysia
484,991 (2023 est.)
Note: immigrants make up approximately 26% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)
Noun: Bruneian(s)
Adjective: Bruneian
Malay 67.4%, Chinese 9.6%, other 23% (2021 est.)
Malay (Bahasa Melayu) (official), English, Chinese dialects
Major-language sample(s):
Buku Fakta Dunia, sumber yang diperlukan untuk maklumat asas. (Malay)
The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
Muslim (official) 82.1%, Christian 6.7%, Buddhist 6.3%, other 4.9% (2021 est.)
Brunei is a small, oil-rich sultanate of less than half a million people, making it the smallest country in Southeast Asia by population. Its total fertility rate – the average number of births per woman – has been steadily declining over the last few decades, from over 3.5 in the 1980s to below replacement level today at nearly 1.8. The trend is due to women’s increased years of education and participation in the workforce, which have resulted in later marriages and fewer children. Yet, the population continues to grow because of the large number of women of reproductive age and a reliance on foreign labor – mainly from Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, and South Asian countries – to fill low-skilled jobs.
Brunei is officially Muslim, and Malay is the official language. The country follows an official Malay national ideology, Malay Islamic Monarchy, which promotes Malay language and culture, Islamic values, and the monarchy. Only seven of Brunei’s native groups are recognized in the constitution and are defined as “Malay” – Brunei Malays, Belait, Kedayan, Dusun, Bisayak, Lun Bawang, and Sama-Baiau. Together they make up about 66% percent of the population and are referred to as the Bumiputera. The Bumiputera are entitled to official privileges, including land ownership, access to certain types of employment (Royal Brunei Armed Forces and Brunei Shell Petroleum), easier access to higher education, and better job opportunities in the civil service.
Brunei’s Chinese population descends from migrants who arrived when Brunei was a British protectorate (1888 and 1984). They are prominent in the non-state commercial sector and account for approximately 10% of the population. Most Bruneian Chinese are permanent residents rather than citizens despite roots going back several generations. Many are stateless and are denied rights granted to citizens, such as land ownership, subsidized health care, and free secondary and university education. Because of the discriminatory policies, the number of Chinese in Brunei has shrunk considerably in the last 50 years. Native ethnic groups that are not included in the Bumiputera are not recognized in the constitution and are not officially identified as “Malay” or automatically granted citizenship. Foreign workers constitute some quarter of the labor force.
0-14 years: 21.83% (male 54,523/female 51,334)
15-64 years: 71.07% (male 164,957/female 179,721)
65 years and over: 7.1% (2023 est.) (male 16,748/female 17,708)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 39.2
Youth dependency ratio: 31.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.1
Potential support ratio: 12.4 (2021 est.)
Total: 32 years (2023 est.)
Male: 31.1 years
Female: 32.8 years
1.43% (2023 est.)
16 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
3.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
The vast majority of the population is found along the coast in the western part of Brunei, which is separated from the eastern portion by Malaysia; the largest population concentration is in the far north on the western side of the Brunei Bay, in and around the capital of Bandar Seri Begawan
Urban population: 79.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
266,682 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (capital) (2021)
Note: the boundaries of the capital city were expanded in 2007, greatly increasing the city area; the population of the capital increased tenfold
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
44 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 10.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 12.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 78.6 years (2023 est.)
Male: 76.3 years
Female: 81.1 years
1.74 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.85 (2023 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: 99.7% of population
Rural: NA
Total: 99.9% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0.4% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0.1% of population (2020)
2.4% of GDP (2020)
1.61 physicians/1,000 population (2017)
2.9 beds/1,000 population (2017)
Improved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: NA
Unimproved: urban: NA
Rural: NA
Total: NA
14.1% (2016)
Total: 0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.04 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 16.2% (2020 est.)
Male: 30% (2020 est.)
Female: 2.3% (2020 est.)
NA
54.3% (2023 est.)
4.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 97.6%
Male: 98.3%
Female: 96.9% (2021)
Total: 14 years
Male: 14 years
Female: 14 years (2020)
No major environmental problems, but air pollution control is becoming a concern; seasonal trans-boundary haze from forest fires in Indonesia
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
Signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Agricultural land: 2.5% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 0.8% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 1.1% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 0.6% (2018 est.)
Forest: 71.8% (2018 est.)
Other: 25.7% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 79.1% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.44% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
0.05% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 6.86 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 7.66 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 8.4 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 216,253 tons (2016 est.)
Municipal: 150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
8.5 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Conventional long form: Brunei Darussalam
Conventional short form: Brunei
Local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
Local short form: Brunei
Etymology: derivation of the name is unclear; according to legend, MUHAMMAD SHAH, who would become the first sultan of Brunei, upon discovering what would become Brunei exclaimed "Baru nah," which roughly translates as "there" or "that's it"
Absolute monarchy or sultanate
Name: Bandar Seri Begawan
Geographic coordinates: 4 53 N, 114 56 E
Time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: named in 1970 after Sultan Omar Ali SAIFUDDIEN III (1914-1986; "The Father of Independence") who adopted the title of "Seri Begawan" (approximate meaning "honored lord") upon his abdication in 1967; "bandar" in Malay means "town" or "city"; the capital had previously been called Bandar Brunei (Brunei Town)
4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei dan Muara, Temburong, Tutong
1 January 1984 (from the UK)
National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection; the Sultan's birthday, 15 June
History: drafted 1954 to 1959, signed 29 September 1959; note - some constitutional provisions suspended since 1962 under a State of Emergency, others suspended since independence in 1984
Amendments: proposed by the monarch; passage requires submission to the Privy Council for Legislative Council review and finalization takes place by proclamation; the monarch can accept or reject changes to the original proposal provided by the Legislative Council; amended several times, last in 2010
Mixed legal system based on English common law and Islamic law; note - in April 2019, the full sharia penal codes came into force and apply to Muslims and partly to non-Muslims in parallel with present common law codes
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICC
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Brunei
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 12 years
18 years of age for village elections; universal
Chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both chief of state and head of government
Head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; note - 4 additional advisory councils appointed by the monarch are the Religious Council, Privy Council for constitutional issues, Council of Succession, and Legislative Council; Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah is also Minister of Finance, Defense, and Foreign Affairs and Trade
Elections/appointments: none; the monarchy is hereditary
Description: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei (33 seats; 20 members appointed by the sultan from ex-officio cabinet ministers, titled people, and prominent citizens in public service and various professional fields, 13 members from 4 multi-seat constituencies, and 3 ex-officio members - the speaker and first and second secretaries); members serve 5-year terms
Elections: January 2023 - appointed by the sultan
Election results: Legislative Council last appointed January 2023; composition as of March 2024 - men 30, women 4, percentage women 11.8%
Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court (consists the Court of Appeals and the High Court); note - Brunei has a dual judicial system of secular and sharia (religious) courts; the Judicial Committee of Privy Council (in London) serves as the final appellate court for civil cases only
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch to serve until age 65, and older if approved by the monarch; Sharia Court judges appointed by the monarch for life
Subordinate courts: Intermediate Court; Magistrates' Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts; lower sharia courts
National Development Party or NDP [Zainal Talib]
Note: the NDP is Brunei’s only registered party, but does not have representation in the Legislative Council, which is appointed
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIFIL, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; yellow is the color of royalty and symbolizes the sultanate; the white and black bands denote Brunei's chief ministers; the emblem includes five main components: a swallow-tailed flag, the royal umbrella representing the monarchy, the wings of four feathers symbolizing justice, tranquility, prosperity, and peace, the two upraised hands signifying the government's pledge to preserve and promote the welfare of the people, and the crescent moon denoting Islam, the state religion; the state motto "Always render service with God's guidance" appears in yellow Arabic script on the crescent; a ribbon below the crescent reads "Brunei, the Abode of Peace"
Royal parasol; national colors: yellow, white, black
Name: "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" (God Bless His Majesty)
Lyrics/music: Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Pengiran Abdul Rahim/Awang Haji BESAR bin Sagap
Note: adopted 1951
Almost exclusively an oil and gas economy; high income country; expansive and robust welfare system; the majority of the population works for the government; promulgating a nationalized halal brand; considering establishment of a bond market and stock exchange
$26.343 billion (2022 est.)
$26.779 billion (2021 est.)
$27.212 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
-1.63% (2022 est.)
-1.59% (2021 est.)
1.13% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$58,700 (2022 est.)
$60,100 (2021 est.)
$61,600 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
$16.682 billion (2022 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
3.68% (2022 est.)
1.73% (2021 est.)
1.94% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Agriculture: 1.2% (2017 est.)
Industry: 56.6% (2017 est.)
Services: 42.3% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 204; industry 5; agriculture 193
Household consumption: 25% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 24.8% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 32.6% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 8.5% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 45.9% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -36.8% (2017 est.)
Poultry, eggs, fruit, cassava, bananas, legumes, cucumbers, rice, pineapples, beef
Petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction, agriculture, aquaculture, transportation
-4.91% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
225,000 (2022 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
4.45% (2022 est.)
4.91% (2021 est.)
7.41% (2020 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 23.4% (2021 est.)
Male: 20.7%
Female: 27.6%
NA
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA
0.01% of GDP (2022 est.)
0.01% of GDP (2021 est.)
0.01% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $1.058 billion (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $3.189 billion (2020 est.)
-17.3% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
2.8% of GDP (2017 est.)
3% of GDP (2016 est.)
18.5% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
1 April - 31 March
$3.264 billion (2022 est.)
$1.57 billion (2021 est.)
$513.713 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$14.411 billion (2022 est.)
$11.202 billion (2021 est.)
$6.886 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Singapore 21%, China 20%, Japan 19%, Australia 14%, Malaysia 5% (2021)
Refined petroleum, natural gas, crude petroleum, industrial hydrocarbons, industrial alcohols (2021)
$10.106 billion (2022 est.)
$9.219 billion (2021 est.)
$6.382 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Singapore 18%, China 14%, Malaysia 12%, Nigeria 5%, United Arab Emirates 5%, United States 5% (2019)
Crude petroleum, refined petroleum, cars, tug boats, valves (2019)
$5.035 billion (2022 est.)
$4.982 billion (2021 est.)
$3.997 billion (2020 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$0 (2014)
$0 (2013)
Note: public external debt only; private external debt unavailable
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
1.379 (2022 est.)
1.344 (2021 est.)
1.38 (2020 est.)
1.364 (2019 est.)
1.349 (2018 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 1.261 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 4,140,140,000 kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 0 kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 497 million kWh (2019 est.)
Comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 130; transmission/distribution losses 84; imports 140; exports 123; consumption 132
Fossil fuels: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Production: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Total petroleum production: 107,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 18,800 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 103,100 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 1.1 billion barrels (2021 est.)
10,310 bbl/day (2015 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
6,948 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Production: 12,498,299,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Consumption: 4,166,987,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Exports: 7,774,406,000 cubic meters (2020 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 260.515 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
9.956 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 2.387 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 7.569 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
415.184 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 122,204 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 25 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 603,486 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 136 (2021 est.)
General assessment: Brunei’s mobile market experienced drop-off in subscriber numbers in 2020; in 2022 there was a concerted effort to build out the fixed-line infrastructure while progressing towards introducing 5G mobile services, which was activated in June 2023; Brunei’s fixed-line market is one of the few countries in the world to have displayed significant growth rather than a decline in teledensity in the last few years; this upward trend is set to continue as the new Unified National Network (UNN) works diligently to expand and enhance the fixed-line infrastructure around the country; strong growth was also seen in the fixed broadband space, on the back of those same infrastructure developments that are part of the Brunei Vision 2035 initiative; fixed broadband is starting from a relatively low base by international standards and is still only at 18%, leaving lots of room for growth; mobile and mobile broadband, on the other hand, are still suffering from the market contractions first felt in 2020; Brunei’s 2G GSM network is shut down, with the spectrum to be reallocated to 3G, 4G, and potentially 5G use (2023)
Domestic: 25 per 100 fixed-line, 136 per 100 mobile-cellular (2021)
International: country code - 673; landing points for the SEA-ME-WE-3, SJC, AAG, Lubuan-Brunei Submarine Cable via optical telecommunications submarine cables that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and the US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2019)
State-controlled Radio Television Brunei (RTB) operates 5 channels; 3 Malaysian TV stations are available; foreign TV broadcasts are available via satellite systems; RTB operates 5 radio networks and broadcasts on multiple frequencies; British Forces Broadcast Service (BFBS) provides radio broadcasts on 2 FM stations; some radio broadcast stations from Malaysia are available via repeaters
.bn
Total: 441,000 (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 98% (2021 est.)
Total: 71,078 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 1 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 10
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 1,234,455 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 129.35 million (2018) mt-km
V8
2 (2024)
14 (2024)
33 km condensate, 86 km condensate/gas, 628 km gas, 492 km oil (2013)
Total: 2,976 km
Paved: 2,559 km
Unpaved: 417 km (2014)
209 km (2012) (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tutong Rivers are major transport links)
Total: 97 (2023)
By type: general cargo 18, oil tanker 2, other 77
Major seaport(s): Muara
Oil terminal(s): Lumut, Seria
LNG terminal(s) (export): Lumut
Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force, Joint Force
Ministry of Home Affairs: Royal Brunei Police Force (2024)
Note: the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) under the Ministry of Defense is a special guard force for the Sultan, the royal family, and the country’s oil installations
2.5% of GDP (2022)
3.1% of GDP (2021 est.)
3.7% of GDP (2020 est.)
3.1% of GDP (2019 est.)
2.7% of GDP (2018 est.)
Approximately 7,000 total active-duty troops (2023)
The military's s inventory includes equipment and weapons systems from a wide variety of suppliers from Asia, Europe, and the US (2023)
17 years of age for voluntary military service; non-Malays are ineligible to serve (2024)
Note: the Gurkha Reserve Unit (GRU) employs about 500 Gurkhas from Nepal, the majority of whom are veterans of the British Army and the Singapore Police Force who have joined the GRU as a second career
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces were formed in 1961 with British support as the Brunei Malay Regiment; "Royal" was added as an honorary title in 1965 and its current name was given in 1984; the military is responsible for ensuring the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as countering outside aggression, terrorism, and insurgency; the Army is comprised of a few infantry battalions and an armored reconnaissance squadron, while the Navy has several corvettes and patrol vessels for monitoring the country’s territorial waters; the small Air Force does not have any combat aircraft, but operates some maritime patrol aircraft and helicopters
Brunei has a long-standing defense relationship with the UK and hosts a British Army garrison, which includes a Gurkha battalion and a jungle warfare school; Brunei also hosts a Singaporean military training detachment
(2023)
Stateless persons: 20,863 (2022); note - thousands of stateless persons, often ethnic Chinese, are permanent residents and their families have lived in Brunei for generations; obtaining citizenship is difficult and requires individuals to pass rigorous tests on Malay culture, customs, and language; stateless residents receive an International Certificate of Identity, which enables them to travel overseas; the government is considering changing the law prohibiting non-Bruneians, including stateless permanent residents, from owning land
Tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List — Brunei does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so, therefore Brunei was upgraded to Tier 2 Watch List; key achievements included referring two alleged traffickers for prosecution, including one Bruneian national, identifying and providing assistance to 14 victims, opening two shelters for victims, and signing a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding with Bangladesh on recruitment of migrant workers; however, the government did not effectively screen for trafficking among foreign nationals in commercial sex and migrant workers; officials handled some potential trafficking cases administratively, if at all, and probably inappropriately detained, prosecuted, and deported potentially unidentified sex and labor trafficking victims; for the sixth consecutive year, the government did not convict any traffickers under its anti-trafficking law, and other laws that could be used to prosecute traffickers did not provide sufficiently stringent sentences (2023)
Trafficking profile: human traffickers exploit foreign victims in Brunei; some men and women who migrate to Brunei to work in domestic service, retail, or construction work are subject to involuntary servitude, debt-based coercion, contract switching, non-payment of wages, passport confiscation, physical abuse, or confinement; some female migrants entering Brunei on tourist visas are forced into prostitution, and some Kenyan women reportedly faced forced labor in Brunei; workers from Bangladesh and China may have been forced to work in Brunei at Chinese-run projects; some traffickers use Brunei as a transit point for victims used for sex and labor trafficking in Malaysia and Indonesia; Anti-LGBTQI+ laws place some LGBTQI+ individuals at higher risk; trafficking experts in Brunei have received threats from traffickers (2023)
Drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty