Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a nation of just 455,000 people. Despite its small size and population, Brunei stands out for its impressive economic strength and high living standards. The country’s wealth is primarily derived from its vast hydrocarbon reserves, first discovered in 1929.
Today, Brunei boasts the second-highest Human Development Index (HDI) among Southeast Asian nations, trailing only Singapore, with whom it shares strong bilateral ties, alongside its neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia. Traditionally, Brunei has relied heavily on imports to meet its agricultural and food needs. However, the country is now focusing on diversifying its economy to reduce its dependence on oil and gas exports. Efforts are underway to boost domestic food production, with plans to revitalize the fisheries sector, and expand the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, and rice. As the only nation entirely situated on the island of Borneo, Brunei also sees significant potential in ecotourism, leveraging its pristine rainforests to attract visitors.
$15.5 billion
Brunei’s projected GDP for the current year
1984
Brunei became
an independent nation
92%
Fibre penetration among Brunei households
72 %
Total land area
covered by forests in Brunei
Net-zero
Brunei has pledged to become
carbon neutral by 2050
1st
Nurul Iman holds record for being
the world’s largest residential palace
Interviews
Interview with Dato Dr Amin, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Brunei
“Despite being a small nation, Brunei can and should compare itself to the best for even greater success stories in the future; we believe there is great potential for collaboration with US companies.”
08 January, 2025
Interview with Dato Dr. Abdul Manaf Metussin, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Brunei
“Our strategy under the government’s Vision 2035 initiative focuses on developing our existing strengths, which is a pragmatic and efficient approach.”
17 December, 2024
