International organization participation: APEC, ASEAN, C, CCC, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, Mekong Group, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Pengiran Anak Dato Haji PUTEH chancery: Watergate, Suite 300, 3rd floor, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: (202) 342-0159 FAX: (202) 342-0158
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Glen Robert RASE embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan mailing address : American Embassy Box B, Bandar Seri Begawan, APO AP 96440 telephone: (2) 229670 FAX: (2) 225293
Flag description: 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
Economy
Economy - overview: This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for perhaps half of GDP. Per capita GDP is among the highest in the Third World, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. The government is beginning to show progress on its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.6 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $15,800 (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture : 3% industry: 46% services: 51% (1995 est.)
Inflation rate - consumer price index: 2.5% (1996 est.)
Labor force: total: 119,000 (1993 est.); note - includes members of the Army by occupation: government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4%, other 6% (1986 est.) note : 33% of labor force is foreign (1988)
Unemployment rate: 4.8% (1994 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion expenditures : $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $768 million (1995 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 2% (1995 est.)
Electricity - capacity: 344,000 kW (1995)
Electricity - production: 1.24 billion kWh (1994)
Electricity - consumption per capita: 4,003 kWh (1995 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, cassava (tapioca), bananas; water buffalo, pigs
Exports: total value : $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1995 est.) commodities: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products partners: Japan 50%, UK 19%, Thailand 10%, Singapore 9% (1994 est.)
Imports: total value: $2 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.) commodities : machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals partners: Singapore 29%, UK 19%, US 13%, Malaysia 9%, Japan 5% (1994 est.)
Debt - external: $0
Economic aid: $NA
Currency: 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1 - 1.4061 (January 1997), 1.4100 (1996), 1.4174 (1995), 1.5274 (1994), 1.6158 (1993), 1.6290 (1992); note - the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar
Fiscal year: calendar year
@Brunei:Communications
The 1997 Cia World Factbook · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.