Where Is Brunei?
You may have never heard of Brunei, but it’s a country worth knowing. It’s a small, independent, and super-rich nation that sits between two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia.
Brunei is doing pretty well for itself, thanks to its oil reserves. It has very little public debt (only 2.4 percent of GDP in 2018), unlike the United States (80% of GDP in 2018).
Some Interesting Brunei Facts
Brunei Darussalam means “home of peace,” and it lives up to its name. It has a high quality of life and a long life expectancy (average is 75.93 years as of 2020), compared to many of its neighbors in Southeast Asia.- In 2018, Brunei ranked higher on the Human Development Index (43 overall in the index) than all other countries in Southeast Asia except Singapore.
Brunei is very devout when it comes to Islam. You can see stunning mosques all over the country. You can also visit them, as long as you dress appropriately and avoid prayer times. - Shell gets a lot of its oil from Brunei’s offshore platforms.
The 2018 per-capita GDP (PPP) in Brunei was $71,802. That’s a lot of money!
Bruneians enjoy free education and health care from the government. Lucky them! - Brunei has a big problem with obesity. More than half of the kids are overweight or obese. That’s not good for their health!
- Bruneians are well-educated. The literacy rate in Brunei is estimated at 97.2 percent of the population.
- Brunei has some harsh laws against homosexuality. In 2014, it made it a crime punishable by ten years in prison. In 2019, it said the penalty would be death by stoning. That’s scary!
Caning is still a way of punishing criminals in Brunei. Ouch! - Brunei is not much bigger than the U.S. state of Delaware. It’s tiny!
You can’t buy or drink alcohol in Brunei. It’s illegal. But if you’re not a Muslim, you can bring up to two liters into the country. Just don’t drink it in public. - Eight days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invaded and occupied Brunei. They wanted its oil.
- Bruneians love cars. They have one of the world’s highest car-ownership rates (roughly one car per every 1.5 people in 2017).
- Brunei was a British colony until 1984. That’s when it became independent. It didn’t join the Federation of Malaysia, which included its neighbors of Sarawak and Sabah, in 1963.
- The Sultan of Brunei is a big deal. He has an honorary commission in the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force and Royal Navy.
- The Sultan also wears many hats. He is the Defense Minister, Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Brunei.
The Sultan’s Controversial Love Life
The Sultan of Brunei, one of the richest men in the world (his net worth was more than $20 billion at last count), has a lot of drama in his love life:
The Sultan married his first cousin, Princess Saleha.
The Sultan’s second wife was a flight attendant for Royal Brunei Airlines.
He divorced his second wife in 2003 and stripped her of all her royal titles.
Two years later, the Sultan married a TV show host 33 years younger than him.
In 2010, the Sultan divorced the TV host and even cut off her monthly allowance.
In 1997, the royal family hired former Miss USA Shannon Marketic and some other beauty queens to come model and party with them. The women claimed they were forced into prostitution to entertain royal guests for 32 days.
Traveling to Brunei
Brunei has a gorgeous coastline, but most travelers only go to the capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan. The roads and infrastructure in Brunei are top-notch.
Getting Around in Brunei
Brunei has a lot of oil and cheap fuel, so the best way to get around is by local buses and taxis. They won’t break your bank.
Brunei is usually a quick stop for travelers who are taking the bus between Sarawak and Sabah, the two Malaysian states on Borneo. If you want a different way in or out of Brunei, you can go to Labuan Island, which is part of Sabah and has no taxes. Miri in Sarawak is the last big town in Borneo before you enter Brunei.
Visa Requirements for Brunei
If you want to stay in Brunei for more than 90 days, you need to get a travel visa before you arrive. If you’re just passing through, you can get a transit visa for 72 hours at the border.
Travel Tips for Brunei
Brunei is very religious, so you need to be respectful of their customs and traditions. Travel in Brunei will be different during Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. You can read more about what to expect during Ramadan here.
Population
Brunei is not very crowded. In 2018, there were only 428,962 people living there.
Religion
Islam is the main religion in Brunei. Muslim: 79%; Christian: 9%; Buddhist: 8%; Other: < 5%
Language
The official language of Brunei is Malay, but it’s not the same as the Malay spoken in Malaysia. English and Chinese are also spoken in Brunei. English is the language of business and most people can speak it.
Telephone Country Code: 673
Currency in Brunei
The money used in Brunei is the Brunei dollar (BND).
