Demographics of Brunei explained

The demographic features of Brunei include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population. Like neighbouring countries, Brunei is a Malay-majority country. Many cultural and linguistic differences make Brunei Malays distinct from the larger Malay populations in nearby Malaysia and Indonesia, even though they are ethnically related and share the Muslim religion.

Brunei has a hereditary nobility with the title Pengiran these are, more often than not, related to the Sultan by blood. The Sultan can award to commoners the title Pehin, the equivalent of a life peerage awarded in the United Kingdom. The Sultan also can award his subjects the Dato, the equivalent of a knighthood in the United Kingdom, and Datin, the equivalent of a damehood.

Bruneians adhere to the practice of using complete full names with all titles, including the title Haji (for men) or Hajjah (for women) for those who have made the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca. Many Brunei Malay women wear the tudong, a traditional head covering. Men wear the songkok, a traditional Malay cap. Men who have completed the Haj wear a white songkok.

The requirements to attain Brunei citizenship include passing tests in Malay culture, customs and language. Stateless permanent residents of Brunei are given International Certificates of Identity, which allow them to travel overseas. The majority of Brunei's Chinese are permanent residents, and many are stateless.

Petroleum wealth allows the Brunei Government to provide the population with one of Asia's finest health care systems. The Brunei Medical and Health Department introduced the region's first government "flying doctor service" in early 1965. Malaria has been eradicated, and cholera is virtually nonexistent. There are four general hospitals in Bandar Seri Begawan, Tutong, Kuala Belait and Bangar, and there are numerous health clinics throughout the country.

Education starts with preschool, followed by 6 years of primary education and up to 6 years of secondary education. Nine years of education are mandatory. Most of Brunei's college students attend universities and other institutions abroad, but approximately 2,542 study at the University of Brunei Darussalam. Opened in 1985, the university has a faculty of over 300 instructors and is located on a sprawling campus at Tungku, overlooking the South China Sea.

The official language is Malay, but English is widely understood and used in business. Other languages spoken are several Chinese dialects, Iban, and a number of native dialects. Islam is the official religion, but religious freedom is guaranteed under the constitution.

Population

The UN estimates Brunei's total population 456,055 as of Tuesday, July 23, 2024

The CIA World Factbook estimates the population at 450,565 as of July 2018.[1]

UN estimates

Year[2] Total population
(thousands)
Population in age bracket
aged 0–14aged 15–64aged 65+
195048
195563
196080
1965100
1970125
1975157
1980189
1985219
1990252
1995290
2000327
2005363
2010399

Structure of the population

Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total203 149190 223393 372100
0-415 67814 65330 3317.71
5-917 26916 36533 6348.55
10-1418 44817 01535 4639.02
15-1917 94817 01334 9618.89
20-2419 95018 25738 2079.71
25-2920 74918 44539 1949.96
30-3419 32217 61936 9419.39
35-3917 32916 42333 7528.58
40-4415 26214 81930 0817.65
45-4912 83611 75424 5906.25
50-5410 3189 45819 7765.03
55-597 1706 87214 0423.57
60-644 1604 3548 5142.16
65-692 5832 5015 0841.29
70-741 8332 0793 9120.99
75-791 195 1 3982 5930.66
80-847017031 4040.36
85+3984958930.23
Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent
0-1451 39548 03399 42825.28
15-64145 044135 014280 05871.19
65+6 7107 17613 8863.53
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total214 104203 152 417 256100
0–414 86413 56328 4276.81
5–915 673 14 75330 4267.29
10–1417 66316 64334 3068.22
15–1918 94917 46836 4178.73
20–2420 54418 48339 0279.35
25–2921 41618 396 39 8129.54
30–3419 31317 58236 8958.84
35–3917 81516 67734 4928.27
40–4415 743 15 42131 1647.47
45–4913 68214 01927 7016.64
50–5411 65111 50923 1605.55
55–599 4629 77719 2394.61
60–647 0687 52314 5913.50
65-694 2574 7018 9582.15
70-742 5372 5585 0951.22
75-791 737 2 0433 7800.91
80-849741 2322 2060.53
85-89498517 1 0150.24
90-941842123960.09
95-9964601240.03
100+1015250.01
Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–1448 20044 95993 15922.33
15–64155 643146 855302 49872.50
65+10 26111 33821 5995.18
Age GroupMaleFemaleTotal%
Total226 102203 897 429 999100
0–414 21112 50626 7176.21
5–916 038 14 84430 8827.18
10–1415 48614 53930 0256.98
15–1917 09816 20733 305 7.75
20–2420 38317 29937 682 8.76
25–2922 88818 47641 3649.62
30–3422 16117 77039 9319.29
35–3920 33016 69937 0298.61
40–4418 121 15 71033 831 7.87
45–4915 42614 57029 9966.98
50–5412 96712 65125 6185.96
55–5910 1299 93020 0594.66
60–647 9178 30516 2223.77
65-695 7606 29612 0562.80
70-743 4413 8557 2961.70
75-791 8651 9353 8000.88
80-841 0781 3922 4700.57
85-895096611 1700.27
90-941701853550.08
95-994348910.02
100+81191000.02
Age group MaleFemaleTotalPercent
0–1445 73541 88987 62420.38
15–64167 420147 617315 03773.26
65+12 94714 39127 3386.36

Median age

total: 30.5 years

male: 30 years

female: 31 years (2018 est.)

Population growth rate

1.55% (2018 est.)

Net migration rate

2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2018 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

0–14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female

15–24 years: 0.99 male(s)/female

25–54 years: 0.92 male(s)/female

55–64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2017 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 77.6% of total population (2018)

Rate of urbanization: 1.66% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

Vital statistics

UN estimates

Data according to the United Nations' World Population Prospects.[2]

PeriodLive births per yearDeaths per yearNatural change per yearCBR1CDR1NC1TFR1IMR1
1950-19553 0001 0002 00049.613.537.37.0090.2
1955-19603 0001 0002 00043.510.637.16.3868.8
1960-19654 0001 0003 00041.98.734.06.5652.1
1965-19704 0001 0003 00035.17.129.65.5939.1
1970-19755 0001 0004 00037.46.329.25.8729.3
1975-19806 0001 0005 00034.45.225.54.7121.9
1980-19856 0001 0005 00029.94.426.33.9216.4
1985-19907 0001 0006 00029.83.923.63.7212.2
1990-19958 0001 0007 00028.13.525.03.289.1
1995-20007 0001 0006 00023.93.122.22.606.8
2000-20058 0001 0007 00021.93.020.82.285.1
2005-20108 0001 0006 00020.13.116.52.114.8
1 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Registered births and deaths

Data according to the United Nations Statistics Division.[3] [4]

Average population Live birthsDeathsNatural changeCrude birth rate (per 1000)Crude death rate (per 1000)Natural change (per 1000)TFR
194945,0002,0737661,30747.117.429.7
195048,0002,3168261,49050.318.032.4
195151,0002,8057082,09758.414.843.7
195254,0002,8098651,94454.016.637.4
195357,0002,9038082,09551.814.437.4
195460,0003,3327762,55654.612.741.9
195563,0003,6008782,72255.413.541.9
195666,0004,0769043,17259.113.146.0
195770,0003,3201,1382,18244.315.229.1
195873,0004,3999113,48855.011.443.6
195976,0004,2019353,26649.411.038.4
196080,0004,1059173,18845.610.235.4
196183,0004,3126063,70649.06.942.1
196287,0003,9806283,35243.36.836.4
196391,0003,5216552,86636.76.829.9
196495,0004,1786213,55741.86.235.6
1965100,0004,1936623,53139.96.333.6
1966104,0004,0896573,43237.56.031.5
1967109,0004,3817563,62538.46.631.8
1968114,0004,9127154,19741.36.035.3
1969119,0004,6146913,92336.95.531.4
1970125,0004,8237164,10737.15.531.6
1971131,0005,1818014,38038.15.932.2
1972137,0005,0087424,26635.35.230.0
1973144,0005,0347084,32634.74.929.8
1974150,0005,0136404,37333.44.329.2
1975157,0005,1417284,41333.04.728.3
1976163,0005,3006674,63332.54.128.4
1977170,0005,3977484,64931.84.427.4
1978176,0005,5907314,85931.74.127.5
1979183,0005,8777285,14932.14.028.1
1980189,0005,7677425,02530.53.926.5
1981195,0005,8777055,17230.13.626.5
1982201,0005,9527835,16929.63.925.7
1983207,0005,9837175,26628.93.525.4
1984213,0006,3307685,56229.73.626.1
1985219,0006,6827945,88830.53.626.9
1986225,0006,9207236,19730.73.227.5
1987232,0007,0887656,32330.63.327.3
1988238,0006,8817776,10428.93.325.6
1989245,0006,9268276,09928.33.424.9
1990252,0007,0117706,24127.83.124.8
1991259,0007,1068526,25427.43.324.1
1992267,0007,2908876,40327.33.324.0
1993274,0007,3141,0186,29626.73.722.9
1994282,0007,4001,0006,40026.23.522.7
1995287,3007,5001,0006,50025.93.522.4
1996294,5007,6331,0026,63125.73.422.3
1997301,7007,4598836,57624.52.921.6
1998309,5007,4119286,48323.73.020.8
1999316,9007,4089056,50323.22.820.3
2000324,8007,4819656,51622.93.019.92.30
2001332,8447,3631,0146,34922.03.019.02.20
2002340,1007,4641,0416,42321.93.018.82.40
2003346,4007,0471,0106,03720.22.917.32.30
2004352,3007,1651,0106,15520.12.817.32.10
2005358,5006,9331,0725,86119.13.016.12.00
2006364,5006,5261,0955,43117.63.014.71.80
2007370,0006,3141,1745,14016.73.113.61.90
2008375,0006,4241,0915,33316.72.813.91.882
2009380,1006,6251,1715,45417.43.114.31.919
2010386,8006,4121,2085,20416.63.113.51.828
2011393,3726,7241,2355,48917.13.114.01.910
2012398,7006,9091,2165,69317.33.014.31.933
2013403,3006,6801,3985,28216.43.413.01.857
2014407,6006,8911,4705,42116.73.613.21.910
2015412,4006,6991,5475,15216.13.712.31.847
2016417,2566,4371,6324,80515.43.911.51.820
2017426,4006,4521,6964,75615.14.011.11.797
2018436,6006,1991,6124,58714.23.710.51.721
2019451,0006,1781,7604,41813.73.99.81.699
2020441,8006,4981,7524,74614.74.010.71.829
2021440,7156,7511,8654,88615.34.211.11.906
2022445,4006,2542,3223,93214.05.28.81.765
2023450,5006,2901,9124,37814.04.29.81.764

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 75.52 years

male: 73.32 years

female: 77.83 years (2009 est.)

Ethnic groups

Population of Brunei according to ethnic group 1947-2021[5]
Ethnic
group
census 1947census 1960census 1971census 1981census 1991census 2001census 2011census 2021
Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%Number%
Malay16,74241.245,13553.889,26765.5125,71765.2174,31966.9222,10166.7258,44665.7297,01667.4
Kedayan14,2915.1
Chinese8,30020.421,79526.031,92523.439,46120.540,62115.637,05611.140,53410.342,1329.6
Dusun (Brunei)24,8735.88,5526.315,1757.915,6656.073,68722.113,2803.4101,56723.0
Iban1,3303.33,9004.6
Melanau2,5176.23180.4
Indians11,76828.93,5654.32,1621.65,9193.129,87711.581,11220.6
Others4,3503.26,5603.4
Total40,65783,877136,256192,832260,482332,844393,372440,715
1 The Kedayan were only mentioned as a separate ethnic group in the 1960 census; they are probably included in the Malay in the other censuses.
2 included in 'Others'

According to the 1991 census, Bruneian (Malay or also called Kedayan) were 67% of the population, Chinese were 16%, indigenous were 6%, and others (including Indians) were 12%. Indigenous groups include the Iban people, Murut (a branch of the Dayak people), the Dusun (Brunei), and the Melanau.

According to the CIA World Factbook, in 2016 the Malay were 65.7%, Chinese were 10.3%, and others were 24%.

Languages

See main article: Languages of Brunei.

Malay (official), English, Chinese.

Religions

See main article: Religion in Brunei.

According to Brunei's official 2021 data:[6]

Muslims (official): 82.1%

Christians

6.7%

Buddhists

6.3%

indigenous beliefs and non-religious, atheist or agnostic: 4.9%

HIV/AIDS

Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

People living with HIV/AIDS: less than 200 (2003 est.)

Deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Bruneian(s)

Adjective: Bruneian

Literacy

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Total population: 96%

Male: 97.5%

Female: 94.5% (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.4% of total GDP (2016)

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: July 2018. Brunei. 2019-04-10. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
  2. Web site: World Population Prospects, the 2012 Revision. un.org.
  3. Web site: United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics. un.org.
  4. http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/vitstats/serATab3.pdf Live births, deaths, and infant deaths, latest available year (2002 - 2016)
  5. Web site: (Department of Statistics - Department of Economic Planning & Statistics) . e Data Library . e Data Library (Department of Statistics - Department of Economic Planning & Statistics) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210401024235/http://www.deps.gov.bn/SiteAssets/Time-Series3.html . 1 April 2021 . 2024-08-19 . deps.mofe.gov.bn.
  6. Web site: Department of Economic Planning and Statistics - edata Library. 2021-03-21. www.deps.gov.bn.