Brunei
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry information - Brunei
Country name - conventional long form : Brunei Darussalam
Country name - conventional short form : Brunei
Country name - local long form : Negara Brunei Darussalam
Country name - local short form : Brunei
Country name - former :
Country code : BX
Government type : constitutional sultanate
Capital - name : Bandar Seri Begawan
Capital - time difference : UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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
Population : 381,371 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Bruneian(s)
Nationality - adjective : Bruneian
Languages : Malay (official), English, Chinese
Currency (code) : Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code : BND
Major infectious diseases - degree of risk :
Major infectious diseases - note :
Brunei is located Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia. The climate is tropical; hot, humid, rainy. The terrain is flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : 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.
