Compare Baker Island (2001) - Brunei (2002)

Baker Island (2001)

Brunei (2002)

Administrative divisions

-

4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Age structure

-

0-14 years: 30.2% (male 54,038; female 51,833)

15-64 years: 67% (male 125,051; female 110,257)

65 years and over: 2.8% (male 4,609; female 5,110) (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products

-

rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo

Airports

1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2000 est.)

2 (2001)

Airports - with paved runways

-

total: 1

over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)

Airports - with unpaved runways

-

total: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)

Area

total:
1.4 sq km

land:
1.4 sq km

water:
0 sq km

total: 5,770 sq km

land: 5,270 sq km

water: 500 sq km

Area - comparative

about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

slightly smaller than Delaware

Background

The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.

The Sultanate of Brunei's heyday occurred 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. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the less developed countries. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries.

Birth rate

-

20.06 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Budget

-

revenues: $2.5 billion

expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (1997 est.)

Capital

-

Bandar Seri Begawan

Climate

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Coastline

4.8 km

161 km

Constitution

-

29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)

Country name

conventional long form:
none

conventional short form:
Baker Island

conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam

conventional short form: Brunei

Currency

-

Bruneian dollar (BND)

Death rate

-

3.38 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Debt - external

-

$0

Dependency status

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

-

Diplomatic representation from the US

-

chief of mission: Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTY

embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan

mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507

telephone: [673] (2) 229670

FAX: [673] (2) 225293

Diplomatic representation in the US

-

chief of mission: Ambassador PUTEH ibni Mohammad Alam

chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838

FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560

Disputes - international

none

Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984, but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs

Economic aid - recipient

-

$4.3 million (1995) (1995)

Economy - overview

no economic activity

This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. 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.

Electricity - consumption

-

2.065 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - exports

-

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - imports

-

0 kWh (2000)

Electricity - production

-

2.22 billion kWh (2000)

Electricity - production by source

-

fossil fuel: 100%

hydro: 0%

nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2000)

Elevation extremes

lowest point:
Pacific Ocean 0 m

highest point:
unnamed location 8 m

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m

highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Environment - current issues

no natural fresh water resources

seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements

-

party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Ethnic groups

-

Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%

Exchange rates

-

Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.8388 (January 2002), 1.8917 (2001), 1.7240 (2000), 1.6950 (1999), 1.6736 (1998), 1.4848 (1997); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Executive branch

-

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Exports

-

$3 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

-

crude oil, natural gas, refined products

Exports - partners

-

Japan 42%, US 17%, South Korea 14%, Thailand 3% (1999)

Fiscal year

-

calendar year

Flag description

the flag of the US is used

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; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

GDP

-

purchasing power parity - $6.2 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

-

agriculture: 5%

industry: 45%

services: 50% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

-

purchasing power parity - $18,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

-

3% (2001 est.)

Geographic coordinates

0 13 N, 176 31 W

4 30 N, 114 40 E

Geography - note

treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia

Heliports

-

3 (2002)

Highways

-

total: 1,712 km

paved: 1,284 km

unpaved: 428 km (1996)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

-

lowest 10%: NA%

highest 10%: NA%

Illicit drugs

-

drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty

Imports

-

$1.4 billion c.i.f. (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

-

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Imports - partners

-

Singapore 34%, UK 15%, Malaysia 15%, US 5% (1999)

Independence

-

1 January 1984 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

-

4% (1997 est.)

Industries

-

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Infant mortality rate

-

13.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-

1% (1999 est.)

International organization participation

-

APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

-

2 (2000)

Irrigated land

0 sq km (1993)

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

-

Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms)

Labor force

-

143,400 (1999 est.); note - includes foreign workers and military personnel

note: temporary residents make up 41% of labor force (1991) (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

-

government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

total: 381 km

border countries: Malaysia 381 km

Land use

arable land:
0%

permanent crops:
0%

permanent pastures:
0%

forests and woodland:
0%

other:
100%

arable land: 0.57%

permanent crops: 0.76%

other: 98.67% (1998 est.)

Languages

-

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Legal system

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas

Legislative branch

-

unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch)

elections: last held in March 1962

note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years

Life expectancy at birth

-

total population: 74.06 years

male: 71.68 years

female: 76.56 years (2002 est.)

Literacy

-

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

total population: 88.2%

male: 92.6%

female: 83.4% (1995 est.)

Location

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Map references

Oceania

Southeast Asia

Maritime claims

exclusive economic zone:
200 NM

territorial sea:
12 NM

exclusive economic zone: 200 NM or to median line

territorial sea: 12 NM

Merchant marine

-

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 348,476 GRT/340,635 DWT

ships by type: liquefied gas 7

note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: United Kingdom 7 (2002 est.)

Military - note

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

-

Military branches

-

Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure

-

$343 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

-

5.1% (FY98)

Military manpower - availability

-

males age 15-49: 108,921 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

-

males age 15-49: 62,864 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - military age

-

18 years of age (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

-

males: 3,005 (2002 est.)

National holiday

-

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

Nationality

-

noun: Bruneian(s)

adjective: Bruneian

Natural hazards

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are very rare

Natural resources

guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Net migration rate

-

3.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Pipelines

-

crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km

Political parties and leaders

-

Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985, but became largely inactive after 1988, it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)

Political pressure groups and leaders

-

NA

Population

uninhabited

note:
American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2001 est.)

350,898 (July 2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

-

NA%

Population growth rate

-

2.06% (2002 est.)

Ports and harbors

none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong

Radio broadcast stations

-

AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

-

329,000 (1998)

Railways

-

total: 13 km (private line)

narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge (2001 est.)

Religions

-

Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%

Sex ratio

-

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female

total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Suffrage

-

none

Telephone system

-

general assessment: service throughout country is excellent; international service good to Europe, US, and East Asia

domestic: every service available

international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, Singapore, and Philippines (2001)

Telephones - main lines in use

-

79,000 (1996)

Telephones - mobile cellular

-

43,524 (1996)

Television broadcast stations

-

2 (1997)

Terrain

low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef

flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west