| |||||||||||||
| Independence Year : 1984 Population : 378000 Life Expectancy : 73.6 Capital : 538 GNP : 11705.00 GNP Old : 12460.00 Local Name : Brunei Darussalam Government Form : Monarchy(Sultanate) Location : Southeastern Asia, on the island Borneo bordering the South China Sea and Brunei Bay. Terrain : East--flat coastal plain rises to mountains; west--hilly lowland with a few mountain ridges. Climate : Equatorial tropical; high temperatures, humidity, and rainfall. Ethnic Group : Malay, Chinese, other indigenous groups. Religions : Islam. Official Website :www.bruneisultan.com/ |  Genral Information - Brunei Background 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 now ruled in Brunei for over six centuries. (Source: CIA - The World Factbook) |
|
|
