astal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly
lowland in west

_#_Natural resources: crude oil, natural gas, timber

_#_Land use: arable land 1%; permanent crops 1%; meadows and pastures
1%; forest and woodland 79%; other 18%; includes irrigated NEGL%

_#_Environment: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

_#_Note: 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

_*_People
_#_Population: 397,777 (July 1991), growth rate 6.3% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 22 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 4 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 45 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 10 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 74 years male, 77 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 2.9 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Bruneian(s); adjective--Bruneian

_#_Ethnic divisions: Malay 64%, Chinese 20%, other 16%

_#_Religion: Muslim (official) 63%, Buddhism 14%, Christian 8%,
indigenous beliefs and other 15% (1981)

_#_Language: Malay (official), English, and Chinese

_#_Literacy: 77% (male 85%, female 69%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1981)

_#_Labor force: 89,000 (includes members of the Army); 33% of labor
force is foreign (1988); government 47.5%; production of oil, natural
gas, services, and construction 41.9%; agriculture, forestry, and fishing
3.8% (1986)

_#_Organized labor: 2% of labor force

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Negara Brunei Darussalam

_#_Type: constitutional sultanate

_#_Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan

_#_Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah,
singular--daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

_#_Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)

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

_#_Legal system: based on Islamic law

_#_National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984)

_#_Executive branch: sultan, prime minister, Council of Cabinet
Ministers

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council
(Majlis Masyuarat Megeri)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--Sultan and Prime Minister
Sir Muda HASSANAL BOLKIAH M