Brunei profile

Demography and Health

Brunei is a small, affluent country with a population of about 462,721 in 2024. The demographic profile features a life expectancy at birth of 75.3 years (2023), a birth rate of 13.6 per 1,000 people (2023) and a crude death rate of 5.23 per 1,000 people (2023), indicating a stable population with modest natural increase. The country exhibits a tight labor market, with unemployment at 5.3% in 2023, though the small size of the economy means job dynamics can be heavily influenced by public-sector employment and government hiring. Brunei’s social fabric benefits from exceptional digital connectivity, with 99% of the population using the internet in 2023, which supports education, access to services and economic participation in a small, geographically concentrated economy. A notable feature is near-zero net migration in 2024, suggesting population change is driven mainly by natural increase rather than large-scale inflows or outflows. Health system indicators show 3.87 hospital beds per 1,000 people (2021) and 1.91 physicians per 1,000 people (2021), pointing to a capacity-aligned health service for a small population. Health expenditure is relatively modest as a share of GDP (1.82% in 2022), while government health expenditure per capita in purchasing power parity terms stands at 1,147 international dollars (2022), signaling substantial public financing per user in a compact health system. These inputs support a health outcome profile characterized by life expectancy of 75.3 years and under-5 mortality of 9.4 per 1,000 live births (2023). Taken together, Brunei’s health and demographic indicators reflect a high-income, well-resourced society where governance and social investment translate into solid health outcomes despite modest overall health spending as a share of GDP.

Economy

Brunei's economy is highly developed per capita, with GDP per capita at current prices of 33,418 US dollars in 2024 and a GDP per capita at purchasing power parity of 90,007 international dollars, underscoring substantial income levels for a small population. The inflation rate turned slightly negative at -0.389% in 2024, indicating price stability and a favorable macroeconomic environment for households and firms. The external side of the economy is dominated by trade in goods and services, with exports equaling 74.3% of GDP in 2024 and imports at 58.9% of GDP, signaling a high degree of trade openness and reliance on international markets for consumption and investment goods. The current account is strongly positive, at 14.4% of GDP in 2024, reflecting a persistent trade surplus allied to energy-related export earnings. Foreign direct investment inflows are modest, at 0.188% of GDP (2024), suggesting Brunei attracts limited long-term investment relative to its GDP, potentially reflecting a small domestic market, policy preferences, or sectoral focus on hydrocarbon sectors with established ownership structures. The economy benefits from a very high level of wealth, as indicated by GDP per capita PPP of 90,007 international dollars, which supports consumption, housing, and social services. With a population under half a million, the economy can sustain high living standards but remains exposed to global energy price cycles due to its resource-driven structure. The health of the public finances is further supported by stable monetary and policy environments, which help maintain price and fiscal stability even as structural diversification continues to be a longer-term objective.

Trade and Investment

Registering as a small, resource-rich economy, Brunei demonstrates a trade profile with exports of goods and services comprising 74.3% of GDP in 2024, and imports representing 58.9% of GDP, illustrating substantial dependence on international trade for goods and services and a strong current account position with a 14.4% of GDP surplus. The value of high-technology exports is modest (about 25.2 million current US$ in 2023) and ranks 99th globally, highlighting that Brunei’s export base is not primarily driven by high-technology manufacturing. Domestic patent activity appears limited, with 2 resident patent applications in 2021, suggesting that domestic innovation activity remains relatively constrained, which is common for a small, hydrocarbon-dependent economy. Foreign direct investment, net inflows, amount to 0.188% of GDP in 2024, indicating moderate investment from abroad and potentially room for further improvement through policies that attract more investment into diversification, digitalization, and value addition beyond oil and gas. The combination of a favorable current account, ample external resources, and a large trade share of GDP provides fiscal space but also reflects an economy that must manage exposure to commodity cycles while seeking diversification and productivity gains in an environment of high living standards and digital connectivity.

Governance and Institutions

Brunei’s governance indicators portray a stable and effective policy environment. Political stability and absence of violence/terrorism score is 1.37 in 2023 with a rank of 7, indicating strong stability relative to global peers. Regulatory quality is high (0.977; 2023) with a governance rank of 37, and the rule of law stands at 0.887 (rank 39), signaling predictable legal frameworks and reliable enforcement. Control of corruption is 1.28 (rank 25), while government effectiveness is 1.4 (rank 21), collectively suggesting that Brunei combines political stability with capable institutions and relatively low-corruption environments for a country of its size. Such governance attributes help create a conducive climate for investment, public service delivery, and business planning, even as the economy remains concentrated in energy sectors. The combination of stability, effective governance, and openness to trade supports a steady macro climate, enabling Brunei to deploy public resources strategically to sustain high living standards and social services while managing structural adjustments over time.

Infrastructure and Technology

Brunei benefits from near-universal digital connectivity, with 99% of the population using the internet in 2023, underscoring a sophisticated telecommunications environment that supports services, education, and e-government. The country’s health and public services are complemented by a solid physical infrastructure footprint for a population under 0.5 million, including 3.87 hospital beds per 1,000 people (2021) and 1.91 physicians per 1,000 (2021), reflecting a health system that delivers care at scale appropriate for a small country. However, Brunei’s renewable energy consumption is reported as 0% of total final energy consumption in 2021, pointing to a heavy reliance on fossil fuels in energy supply and an opportunity to diversify into cleaner energy sources. Brunei’s high-technology export value remains relatively modest at about 25.2 million US$ (2023), and resident patent activity is limited (2 patents in 2021), suggesting that domestic R&D and advanced manufacturing are comparatively small compared with peers. The environment facing this technology profile is complemented by a favorable business climate and high per-capita income, enabling investments in digital infrastructure and selective technology adoption, while the large energy sector continues to captain export earnings and economic activity.

Environment and Sustainability

Environmental indicators reveal Brunei’s high per-capita energy consumption and emissions profile. Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF stand at 26.5 t CO2e per capita in 2023, ranking among the higher emitters on a per-person basis, a consequence of an energy-intensive economy anchored in oil and gas production and export. Water stress is reported as freshwater withdrawal level at 3.47 (2021), with a ranking of 137, suggesting relatively moderate withdrawal relative to available freshwater resources, though absolute water demand may rise with development and population growth. Renewable energy consumption remains at 0% of final energy consumption (2021), highlighting a need and opportunity to diversify into cleaner energy sources to reduce carbon intensity and enhance resilience to fossil-fuel price shifts. The combination of high per-capita emissions and a lack of renewable energy integration points to a sustainability challenge: the path toward decarbonization will require policy shifts, investment in cleaner technologies, and energy diversification, balanced against the country’s substantial economic dependence on hydrocarbons and its high standard of living. Brunei’s environmental profile thus reflects both the gains from affluence and the imperative to advance sustainable practice in energy, transport, and industry to align with global climate objectives.