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COMMENTARY | TEXT
"The Tale of Sinuhe" is the ancient Egyptian story that comes closest to what later
would become epics or, in modern times, novels. While "The Shipwrecked
Sailor" and "The Eloquent Peasant" turn on single themes and incidents, like later
folk tales or modern short stories, the Sinuhe narrative has a wider canvas. We
follow one character (whose name Si-nuhe means "son of the sycamore") through
several countries and, more importantly, through several crises and changes in his
life.
The text in English is still only a dozen or so pages long—short-story length by our
standards—but packs a lot into those pages. Sinuhe is a servant in the royal harem
when he learns the pharaoh has been assassinated, Sinuhe panics over the
prospect of ensuing violence and flees Egypt. After minor adventures in several
countries he takes up residence with a friendly ruler in "Asia" (probably what we
call Syria now), where he gains great power. At one point he faces a formidable foe
in a one-on-one duel that some think is the inspiration for the David and Goliath
story in the Bible. However he pines for his homeland and petitions the reigning
pharaoh, son of the deceased ruler, to let him return to spend his last days in
Egypt. Having made good abroad, he's forgiven in his native land for unnamed
offences (possibly for having been involved in the previous monarch's death) and
welcomed back with riches.
There's a lot about the importance of dying at home so his burial can be carried out
properly and allow him to be transported to eternal life on the other side. In fact,
the story purports to be told in the first person by Sinuhe after his death.
Maybe that's not as grabby as the latest Russell Crowe historical movie epic. But it
is the same kind of story in primitive form. There's a thrill for modern readers in
seeing how different from us, and yet how similar to us, someone from four
thousand years ago can be. An old story in which the sentiments and behaviour are
completely alien to ours would have no attraction, and one in which people think
and act exactly the same as we do would hold only moderate interest. But the
combination of foreign and familiar is intriguing as it makes us question the
common elements in human experience.
That may be putting too fine a point on it. You either dig this kind of stuff or you
don't. But give it a try. Read several versions of this story along with other ancient
Egyptian works and you may find yourself dreaming about life in other times and
places.
You can download free versions of this and other ancient Egyptian stories online,
although these tend to be dated translations. Recent translations in books make for
smoother reading and take into account more complete research. Two very good
compendiums—and with great notes explaining the difficult bits—are The Tale of
Sinuhe and Other Egyptian Poems, translated by R.B. Parkinson, and The Literature
of Ancient Egypt, edited and translated mainly by William Kelly Simpson. As the
title implies, the former renders all the works in poetry but don't let this put you
off; it's very readable poetry, not much different from prose as far as I can tell,
except the lines are shorter. Simpson uses both forms; his "Sinuhe" is in prose.
The Sinuhe tale is also retold in modern novelistic form in The Egyptian (also
called Sinuhe, the Egyptian) by Finnish writer Mika Waltari, who expands the story
and moves it several centuries ahead to include Sinuhe's relationship with
monotheistic pharaoh Akhenaton. The highly praised historical novel first appeared
in 1945 and it has been reprinted in English as late as 2002.
CONTEXT.
Though Sinuhe was an important point of reference for all literate Egyptians,
it also provides an important window into the Twelfth Dynasty, the time when
it was written. The story deals briefly with the assassination of King
Amenemhet I (1938–1909 B.C.E. ) and the accession of his son King
Senwosret I who had co-ruled with him since 1919 B.C.E. The story
emphasizes Senwosret’s mercy to Sinuhe. This has led scholars to believe that
the story provided propagandistic support for this king. The story also reveals
Egyptian attitudes toward foreigners in the period directly preceding an actual
foreign domination of Egypt by the Hyksos. Thus it has great importance for
helping scholars understand Egyptian attitudes toward foreigners before the
Hyksos. More recent study has emphasized the high literary quality found in
the text. All of these elements combine to make Sinuhe important both in its
own time and to scholars today.
THE STORY.
The Story of Sinuhe narrates the adventures of a nobleman who served Queen
Neferu, daughter of Amenemhet I (1938–1909 B.C.E. ) and wife of Senwosret I
(1919–1875 B.C.E. ). When the story opens, Sinuhe is on a military campaign
in Libya with Senwosret I, son of the reigning king Amenemhet I. The news of
Amenemhet I’s assassination reaches the army and Sinuhe panics, fearing that
Egypt will fall into turmoil. He is particularly worried that his close
connections to the royal family will jeopardize his own life should Senwosret I
be denied his legitimate claim to the throne. He decides to flee Egypt, traveling
across Egypt’s eastern border into the lands beyond. In his haste to leave,
however, he does not pack sufficient provisions and nearly dies of thirst in the
desert. A bedouin chief rescues him, and Sinuhe is able to reach the town of
Byblos in modern Lebanon, eventually settling in Upper Retenu in modern
Syria. There he meets a local ruler named Amunenshi, who gives him his
daughter in marriage and land in a place called Yaa. Sinuhe prospers in Yaa,
has children, and successfully leads Amunenshi’s army against other tribes.
Near the end of his life, however, he decides he wants to return to Egypt for
burial. He sends a letter to the king, and the benevolent Senwosret I welcomes
him back to Egypt with full honors despite his cowardly flight years before.
Senwosret I arranges for Sinuhe’s burial in Egypt, and the final verses describe
Sinuhe’s tomb and his final contented days in Egypt waiting for death.
TRANSFORMATION.
John L. Foster, the American Egyptologist, analyzed Sinuhe’s personal
development from his loss of status when he fled from Egypt to his eventual
restoration to his rightful place in Egyptian society. Foster demonstrated that
the real interest of the story for modern readers is in Sinuhe’s personal
development. It is one suggestion that perhaps helps modern readers
understand the story’s appeal to ancient readers. At the start of the story
Sinuhe is a coward who deserts his king out of fear of losing his own life. His
action nearly costs him his life, but he is rescued by a bedouin chief, a man
whom Sinuhe would never have recognized as an equal earlier in his life.
When Sinuhe meets Amunenshi, he feigns ignorance of his reasons for leaving
Egypt, claiming that it was the act of a god. The real turning point in Sinuhe’s
life comes when an unnamed “hero” challenges him to single combat. Though
Sinuhe is smaller, he successfully overcomes the hero through physical
courage. This scene witnesses Sinuhe’s transformation from the coward who
abandoned Senwosret to an effective agent himself. Sinuhe recognizes the
change himself in the poem he recites after his victory over the hero. In the
poem, Sinuhe remembers the story of his life and contrasts his cowardly
escape from Egypt with his current situation as a conqueror. With his
transformation from cowardly nobleman to victorious hero now complete,
Sinuhe is ready to return to his homeland.
NATIONAL EPIC
The Story of Sinube is the great epic poem of ancient Egypt. Here
the author describes Sinuhe’s panic attack and escape from Egypt,
after Amenemhet I’s assassination.
The hereditary noble, mayor,
Seal-bearer of the goddess of Lower Egypt, Sole Friend,
Provincial governor,
Viceroy in the lands of the Asiatics,
Trusted adviser to the king, whom he esteems,
The courtier, Sinuhe, who speaks:
I was a follower who followed his lord,
A servant in the royal harem
[Of] the hereditary noblewoman, greatly esteemed,
The royal wife of Senwosret
In union with the Throne,
Royal daughter of Amenemhet
In the city of Qa-nefer, Neferu,
Possessor of blessedness.
Regnal Year Thirty,
Third month, of the inundation, day seven:
The god mounts up toward his horizon,
King of Upper and Lower Egypt, Sehetepibre,
That he might fly up to heaven, one joined with the sundisk,
The divine flesh mingling with the One who made him.
The royal city is silent, hearts are mourning,
The great double gates are sealed,
Attendants [sitting] with head on knee,
The nobles in grief.
Now then, his Majesty had passed on,
With the army over in the land of the Libyans,
His eldest son in commandthereof
The good god, Senwosret.
Now, he was sent to strike the foreign regions
In order to destroy those among the Tchehenu-Libyans.
Now, he was returning with what he had taken—
Those captured alive of the Tchehenu
And all sorts of cattle without end.
The Friends of the Palace,
They sent word to the western border
In order to cause that the king’s son know
The events which had occurred in the audience chamber.
The messengers discovered him upon the road.
Once they had reached him at time of darkness.
Not a moment at all did he wait;
The Falcon, he flew with his followers
Without causing that his army know it.
Not, [there was] sent word to the royal princes,
Who were accompanying him on this expedition
And someone summoned one of the—
While I, indeed, I was, standing there!
I heard his voice as he spoke evil,
While I was on a distant rise [of ground].
Distraught was my heart, paralyzed my arms,
A shuddering fell upon each of my limbs.
I removed myself by leaping away
In order to search out for myself a place of hiding,
…I made a travelling upstream—
I did not intend to approach this Resideneer—
I expected that turmoil would occur,
Nor did I think to live on after this one— ‘”
This splendid god.
A skilled propagandist
We have lots of copies of "The Tale of Sinuhe" preserved from ancient times but no
great idea about who first composed it or committed it to papyrus.
It is thought to have been written about a hundred years after "The Shipwrecked
Sailor", about the middle of Egypt's Twelfth Dynasty (1991-1782 BCE).
The first idea about the author that might occur to you is that it was written by
Sinuhe. It is a first-person narrative after all. However, it's a post-mortem first-
person narrative, delivered from the grave, or from the mummy in the vault, as it
were. This makes for an intriguing technique (like William Holden's dead-man's
narration inSunset Boulevard), but pretty well rules out autobiography.
The next thought may be that someone else recorded Sinuhe's story and placed it
in his mouth. Indeed, for a long time scholars considered the tale to be an historical
account.
The references to the two reigning pharaohs apparently are genuine though,
starting with Amenemhet I who was assassinated in 1908 BCE. The praise for the
second pharaoh, the son Sesostris I, is so extensive—taking up an entire chapter at
one point—while the announcement of the death of the father is so tersely correct,
that we can speculate the writer was involved in the politics of the royal court,
probably during the lifetime of the younger pharaoh.
We can also note that an overriding theme of the piece is love of Egypt. Sinuhe's
homeland is not only the object of his longing but is depicted as superior in almost
every way to the semi-barbarian states surrounding it.
The anonymous author is a patriot, even a royal propagandist, of the highest order.
A raised-relief depiction of Amenemhat I accompanied by deities; the death of Amenemhat I is reported by his
son Senusret I in the Story of Sinuhe.
The Story of Sinuhe is considered one of the finest works of ancient Egyptian literature. It is a
narrative set in the aftermath of the death of Pharaoh Amenemhat I, founder of the 12th
dynasty of Egypt, in the early 20th century BC. It is likely that it was composed only shortly after this
date, albeit the earliest extant manuscript is from the reign of Amenemhat III, c. 1800 BC.[1] There is
an ongoing debate among Egyptologists as to whether or not the tale is based on actual events
involving an individual named Sinuhe,[2] with the consensus being that it is most likely a work of
fiction.[3][4] Due to the universal nature of the themes explored in "Sinuhe", including divine providence
and mercy, its anonymous author has been described as the "Egyptian Shakespeare" whose ideas
have parallels in biblical texts. "Sinuhe" is considered to be a work written in verse and it may also
have been performed.[5] The great popularity of the work is witnessed by the numerous surviving
fragments.[6]
Story of Sinuhe[edit]
Sinuhe is an official who accompanies prince Senwosret I to Libya. He overhears a conversation
connected with the death of King Amenemhet I and as a result flees to Upper Retjenu (Canaan),
leaving Egypt behind. He becomes the son-in-law of Chief Ammunenshi and in time his sons grow to
become chiefs in their own right. Sinuhe fights rebellious tribes on behalf of Ammunenshi. As an old
man, in the aftermath of defeating a powerful opponent in single combat, he prays for a return to
his homeland:[5] "May god pity me...may he hearken to the prayer of one far away!...may the King
have mercy on me...may I be conducted to the city of eternity!"[6] He then receives an invitation from
King Senwosret I of Egypt to return, which he accepts in highly moving terms. Living out the rest of
his life in royal favour, he is finally laid to rest in the necropolis in a beautiful tomb
Story of Sinuhe[edit]
Sinuhe is an official who accompanies prince Senwosret I to Libya. He overhears a conversation
connected with the death of King Amenemhet I and as a result flees to Upper Retjenu (Canaan),
leaving Egypt behind. He becomes the son-in-law of Chief Ammunenshi and in time his sons grow to
become chiefs in their own right. Sinuhe fights rebellious tribes on behalf of Ammunenshi. As an old
man, in the aftermath of defeating a powerful opponent in single combat, he prays for a return to
his homeland:[5] "May god pity me...may he hearken to the prayer of one far away!...may the King
have mercy on me...may I be conducted to the city of eternity!"[6] He then receives an invitation from
King Senwosret I of Egypt to return, which he accepts in highly moving terms. Living out the rest of
his life in royal favour, he is finally laid to rest in the necropolis in a beautiful tomb.[5]
Interpretations[edit]
The story of Sinuhe has spawned a great deal of literature which explores the themes contained in
the work from many perspectives. The scope and variety of this material has been likened to the
analysis of Hamlet and other notable works of literature.[5] Scholars debate the reason why Sinuhe
flees Egypt, with the majority ascribing panic over a perceived threat.[5]The tale is full of symbolic
allusions. Sinuhe's name (="Son of the Sycamore") is seen as providing an important link in
understanding the story. The sycamore is an ancient Egyptian Tree of Life,[8] associated
with Hathor (the Goddess of fertility and rebirth and patroness of foreign countries), who features
throughout the work.[5]
Sinuhe comes under the protective orbit of divine powers, in the form of the King, from whom he first
tries to run away, and that of the Queen, a manifestation of Hathor. On fleeing Egypt, Sinuhe
crosses a waterway associated with the Goddess Maat, the ancient Egyptian principle of truth, order
and justice, in the vicinity of a sycamore tree.[5]
The ancient Egyptians believed in free will, implicit in the code of Maat, but this still allowed divine
grace to work in and through the individual, and an overarching divine providence is seen in Sinuhe's
flight and return to his homeland. Unable to escape the orbit of God's power and mercy, Sinuhe
exclaims: "Whether I am in the Residence, or whether I am in this place, it is you who cover this
horizon".[5]
Parallels have been made with the biblical narrative of Joseph. In what is seen as divine providence,
the Syro-Canaanite Joseph is taken to Egypt where he becomes part of the ruling elite, acquires a
wife and family, before being reunited with his Syro-Canaanite family. In what is seen as divine
providence, Sinuhe the Egyptian flees to Syro-Canaan and becomes a member of the ruling elite,
acquires a wife and family, before being reunited with his Egyptian family.[5] Parallels have also been
drawn with other biblical texts: Sinuhe's frustrated flight from the orbit of god's power (=King) is
likened to the Hebrew prophet Jonah's similar attempt,[9] his fight with a mighty challenger, whom he
slays with a single blow, is compared to the battle between David and Goliath and his return home
likened to the parable of the Prodigal Son.[10]
Brunei
Background:
The Sultanate of Br unei's influence peaked between t he 15th and 17t h centuri es when its control
ext ended over coastal areas of nort hwest Borneo and the sout her n Phili ppi nes. Brunei subsequently
ent ered a period of decline brought on by i nt ernal strife over royal succession, coloni al expansion of
Eur opean powers, and pir acy. In 1888, Brunei became a British pr otect orat e; independence was
achi eved in 19 84. The s ame famil y has rul ed Br unei f or over si x c ent uries. Br unei benefits from
ext ensive petrol eum and natur al gas fiel ds, the s ourc e of one of the hi ghest per capit a GDPs in the
worl d. In 2017, Brunei cel ebrat ed t he 50th anni versar y of t he Sult an Hassa nal BOLKI AH’s accession t o
the t hrone.
The Sultanate of Br unei's influence peaked between t he 15th and 17t h centuri es when its control
ext ended over coastal areas of nort hwest Borneo and the sout her n Phili ppi nes. Brunei subsequently
ent ered a period of decline brought on by i nt ernal strife over royal succession, coloni al expansion of
Eur opean powers, and pir acy. In 1888, Brunei became a British pr otect orat e; independence was
achi eved in 1984. The s ame famil y has rul ed Br unei f or over si x c ent uries. Br une i benefits from
ext ensive petrol eum and natur al gas fiel ds, the s ourc e of one of the hi ghest per capit a GDPs in the
worl d. In 2017, Brunei cel ebrat ed t he 50th anni versar y of t he Sult an Hassanal BOLKI AH’s accession t o
the t hrone.
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Geography :: BRUNEI
Panel - Expanded
Location:
Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and
Mal aysi a
4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 5, 765 sq km
land: 5, 265 s q km
water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative:
Land boundaries:
total: 266 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
flat coast al pl ain ris es to mount ains in east; hilly l owl and i n west
Elevation:
Natural resources:
Land use:
agricultural land: 2. 5%
arable l and 0.8%; permanent crops 1.1%; permanent past ure 0.6%
forest: 71. 8%
10 s q km (2012)
Natural hazards:
party to: Bi odi versity, Cli mate Change, Desertificati o n, Endangered Speci es, Hazardous W astes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Pr otection, Shi p Polluti on
close to vital s ea l anes thr ough Sout h Chi na Sea linki ng I ndi an and Pacific Oceans; two parts physic ally
separat ed by Mal aysia; al most an enclave withi n Mal aysi a
ABOUT
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REFERENCES
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APPENDICES
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FAQ s
CONTACT
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Introduction :: BRUNEI
Panel - Expanded
Background:
The Sultanate of Br unei's influence peaked between t he 15th and 17t h centuri es when its control
ext ended over coastal areas of nort hwest Borneo and the sout her n Phili ppi nes. Brunei subsequently
ent ered a period of decline brought on by i nt ernal strife over royal succession, coloni al expansio n of
Eur opean powers, and pir acy. In 1888, Brunei became a British pr otect orat e; independence was
achi eved in 1984. The s ame famil y has rul ed Br unei f or over si x c ent uries. Br unei benefits from
ext ensive petrol eum and natur al gas fiel ds, the s ourc e of one of the hi ghest per capit a GDPs in the
worl d. In 2017, Brunei cel ebrat ed t he 50th anni versar y of t he Sult an Hassanal BOLKI AH’s accession t o
the t hrone.
Hide
Geography :: BRUNEI
Panel - Expanded
Location:
Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and
Mal aysi a
4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references:
Southeast Asia
Area:
total: 5, 765 sq km
land: 5, 265 s q km
water: 500 sq km
Area - comparative:
Land boundaries:
total: 266 km
Coastline:
161 km
Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
Climate:
flat coast al pl ain ris es to mount ains in east; hilly l owl and i n west
Elevation:
Natural resources:
Land use:
agricultural land: 2. 5%
arable l and 0.8%; permanent crops 1.1%; permanent past ure 0.6%
forest: 71. 8%
10 s q km (2012)
Natural hazards:
party to: Bi odi versity, Cli mate Change, Desertificati o n, Endangered Speci es, Hazardous W astes, Law
of the Sea, Ozone Layer Pr otection, Shi p Polluti on
close to vital s ea l anes thr ough Sout h Chi na Sea linki ng I ndi an and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically
separat ed by Mal aysia; al most an enclave withi n Mal aysi a
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Panel - Expanded
Population:
Nationality:
noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Br unei an
Ethnic groups:
Mal ay 65. 7%, Chi nes e 10. 3%, other 24% ( 2016 est.)
Languages:
Religions:
Muslim (official) 78. 8%, Christian 8. 7%, Buddhist 7. 8%, other (incl udes indigenous beliefs) 4. 7% (2011
est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23. 12% ( mal e 52, 862/f emale 49, 717)
population pyramid:
Dependency ratios:
Median age:
Birth rate:
Death rate:
Urbanization:
note: the boundaries of t he capital city wer e expanded in 2007, gr eatl y i ncreasi ng the city area; the
populati on of the capit al increased tenf old ( 2011)
Sex ratio:
male: 75 years
Health expenditures:
Physicians density:
NA
NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
14. 1% ( 2016)
country comparison to the world: 1 2 9
9.6% ( 2009)
Education expenditures:
Literacy:
male: 97. 5%
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
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Government :: BRUNEI
Panel - Expanded
Country name:
Government type:
Capital:
Independence:
Nati onal Day, 23 Febr uary (1984); not e - 1 J anuary 1984 was the dat e of i ndependence fr om the UK, 23
February 1984 was the dat e of i ndependence fr om Bri tish prot ection
Constitution:
draft ed 1954 to 1959, signed 29 Sept ember 19 59; amended 1984, 2004, 2011; note - some
constituti onal provisions suspended since 1962 under a state of emer genc y, ot hers suspended si nce
independence i n 1984 ( 2016)
Legal system:
mi xed l egal syst em based on English c ommon l aw and Islamic law; note - i n May 2014, t he first of t hree
phases of shari a-based penal c odes was i nstituted, which applies t o Muslims and non -Muslims and
exists in par allel t o the exi sting common l aw -based c ode
has not submitt ed an ICJ jurisdiction declar ation; non -part y state t o the ICCt
Citizenship:
citizenship by birth: no
Suffrage:
Executive branch:
chief of state: Sultan and Prime Mi nister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - t he
monarch is bot h chi ef of st ate and head of government
head of government: Sult an and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967)
cabinet: Council of Minist ers appoi nted and pr esided over by t he monarc h; note - 4 additi onal advisor y
councils appoi nt ed by the monarch are t he Religi ous Council, Pri vy Council for constituti onal issues,
Council of Succession, and Legislati ve Council
Legislative b ranch:
description: Legislati ve Council or Majlis Mes yuarat Negar a Br unei (36 seats; members appoi nt ed by
the sult an incl udi ng 3 ex- of ficio members - the speaker and first and second secr etari es; members
appoint ed f or 5- year t erms)
Judicial b ranch:
highest resident court(s): Supr eme Court (consists of Court of Appeal and High Court, eac h with a
chief justice and 2 judges); Sharia Court of Appeal (consists of judges appoint ed by t he monarch); note
- Brunei has a dual judicial system of s ecular and sharia (religi ous) courts; the Judici al Committ ee of
Privy Council in London serves as t he fi nal appell ate court for civil c ases only
judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appoint ed by the monarch t o ser ve until
age 65, and older if appr oved by the monarch; Sharia Court of Appeal judges appoint ed by the monarch
for life
subordinate courts: Intermediate Court; Magistrate's Courts; Juvenile Court; small claims courts;
lower shari a courts
note: Br unei National Soli darit y Party or PPKB [Abdul LATIF bin Chuchu] and Peopl e's Awareness
Part y or PAKAR [ Awang Haji MAI DIN bin Haji Ahmad] were deregister ed i n 2007; parti es are small and
have limited activity
NA
ADB, APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G -77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Inter pol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW , UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIFI L, UNW TO, UPU, W CO, WHO, W IPO, W MO, W TO
mailing address: Unit 4280, Box 40, FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar Ser i Begawan BS8675,
Negar a Br unei Dar ussalam
yell ow with t wo diagonal bands of whit e (top, almost double widt h) and bl ack starting from t he upper
hoist side; the nati onal emblem in r ed is superimposed at t he c ent er; yellow is the col or of royalty and
symboli zes the sult anat e; t he whit e and bl ack bands denot e Brun ei's chief mi nisters; the emblem
includes five mai n components: a swall ow -t ailed flag, the r oyal umbr ella r epresenting the monarchy, the
wings of four feat hers symboli zi ng justice, tranquility, prosperity, and peace, t he two upr aised hands
signif ying the government's pledge to pres erve and promot e the welf are of the peopl e, and t he crescent
moon denoting Islam, t he s tate r eligi on; t he state mott o "Al ways render ser vice with God's guidance"
appears in yellow Ar abic script on t he cr escent; a ribbon bel ow t he crescent reads "Br unei, the Abode
of Peac e"
National symbol(s):
royal par asol; nati onal col ors: yellow, white, black
National an them:
name: "All ah Peli harakan Sult an" (God Bless His Majesty)
lyrics/music: Pengiran Haji Mohamed YUSUF bin Pengir an Abdul Rahi m/Awang Haji BESAR bi n Sagap
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Economy :: BRUNEI
Panel - Expanded
Economy - overview:
Brunei is an energy-rich sultanate on the norther n coast of Bor neo i n Sout heast Asia. Br unei boa sts a
well- educat ed, l argel y Engl ish -speaking popul ation; exc ell ent i nfrastruct ure; and a stabl e government
intent on attracting for eign investment. Cr ude oil and nat ural gas production account for appr oxi mat ely
65% of GDP and 95% of exports, wit h Japan as t he pri mary export market.
Per capita GDP is among t he hi ghest in the worl d, and substanti al i ncome from overseas investment
supplements income fr om domestic hydr ocar bon production. Bruneian citizens pay no personal i ncome
taxes, and t he gover nment provid es free medic al servi ces and free educati on t hr ough the uni versity
level.
The Br unei an Government wants to di versify its economy away fr om hydroc arbon exports to ot her
industries such as inf ormat ion and communic ations technology and halal manuf acturing, pe rmissible
under Islamic law. Brunei’s trade increased i n 2016 and 2017, foll owi ng its regi onal economic
integrati on in t he ASEAN Economic Communit y, and t he expected ratificati on of the Trans -Pacific
Part nershi p trade agreement.
investment in inventories: 0%
agriculture: 1. 2%
industry: 56. 5%
Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits; chi ckens, wat er buffal o, cattl e, goats, eggs
Industries:
petr oleum, petr oleum r efini ng, li quefi ed natur al gas, constructi on, agric ultur e, transportati on
Labor force:
agriculture: 4. 2%
industry: 62. 8%
services: 33% (2008 est.)
Unemployment rate:
NA%
Budget:
Public debt:
1 April - 31 Marc h
Exports:
Exports - commodities:
Exports - p artners:
Japan 36. 5%, Sout h Korea 16. 8%, Thailand 10. 6%, India 9.8%, Mal aysia 6.6%, Chi na 4.6% (2016)
Imports:
machi nery and mechanic al appli anc e parts, mineral f uels, mot or vehicl es, el ectric machiner y
Imports - p artners:
US 28. 4%, Malaysia 24%, Singapore 7.1%, Indonesia 5.7%, J apan 5. 3%, China 4.9%, Austr alia 4.3%
(2016)
Debt - external:
$0 ( 2014 est.)
$0 (2013)
note: public ext er nal debt onl y; pri vate ext er nal debt unavail able
Exchange rates:
Hide
Energy :: BRUNEI
Panel - Expanded
Electricity access:
Electricity - productio n:
Electricity - consumption:
0 kW h (2016 est.)
Electricity - imports:
0 kW h (2016 est.)
Crude o il - production:
Crude o il - exports:
Crude o il - imports:
0 cu m ( 2014 est.)
Hide
Communications :: BRUNEI
Panel - Expanded
Telephone system:
general assessment: s ervice throughout the countr y is good; i nter nati onal ser vi ce is good t o
Southeast Asia, Mi ddl e East, W estern Eur ope, and the US
international: country code - 673; l andi ng point f or the SEA -ME-W E-3 optic al t elec ommunic ations
submarine cabl e that pr ovi des li nks to Asia, t he Mi ddl e East, and Eur ope; the Asia-America Gat eway
submarine cabl e network provi des new links to Asia and t he US; sat ellit e earth s tations - 2 Int elsat ( 1
Indi an Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2015)
Broadcast media:
state-controll ed Radi o Television Br unei (RTB) operat es 5 channels; 3 Malaysian TV stati ons are
avail abl e; for eign TV broadcasts are available vi a sat ellite syst ems; RTB operat es 5 radi o netwo rks and
broadc asts on multi ple fr equencies; British Forc es Broadc ast Ser vice (BFBS) pr ovides radio broadcasts
on 2 FM stations; some radio br oadcast stati ons from Mal aysi a ar e avail able vi a repeat ers (2017)
.bn
Internet users:
Hide
Transportation :: BRUNEI
Panel - Expanded
annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 115.147 million mt -km (2015)
V8 ( 2016)
Airports:
1 (2013)
total: 1
Heliports:
3 (2013)
Pipelines:
condensat e 33 km; condensate/gas 86 km; gas 628 km; oil 492 km (2013)
Roadways:
total: 3, 029 km
paved: 2,425 km
Waterways:
209 km (navigabl e by craft drawing less than 1. 2 m; the Belait, Brunei, and Tut ong Ri vers ar e major
transport links) (2012)
country comparison to the world: 9 6
Merchan t marine:
total: 102
Hide
Panel - Expanded
Military expenditures:
Military branches:
Royal Brunei Armed Forc es: Royal Br unei Land Forces, Royal Br unei Navy, Royal Br unei Air Force
(Tenter a Udar a Dir aja Brunei) (2013)
17 years of age f or volunt ary militar y ser vice; non -Mal ays are i neli gi ble t o serve; recruits from the army,
navy, and air forc e all undergo 43 -week initial tr aini ng (2013)
Hide
Panel - Expanded
per Lett ers of Exchange signed in 2009, Mal aysia i n 2010 ceded two hydrocar bon c onc ession blocks to
Brunei i n exchange f or Brunei's sult an dropping claims to the Limbang corridor, which di vides Brunei;
nonetheless, Br unei claims a maritime boundary extending as far as a median wit h Vi etnam, t hus
asserting an implicit claim to Louis a Reef
stateless persons: 20, 524 (2016); not e - thousands of stateless persons, often ethnic Chi nese, are
permanent resi dents and t heir f amili es have lived in Brunei f or gener ations; obt aini ng citizenshi p is
difficult and requir es indivi duals to pass rigorous test s on Malay cult ure, c ustoms, and l angu age;
stateless resi dents recei ve an I nter nati onal Certificat e of I dentity, whic h enabl es them t o travel
overseas; the gover nment i s considering changing t he law prohibiti ng non - Brunei ans, incl udi ng
stateless permanent residents, from owni ng land
Illic it drugs:
drug trafficking and ill egall y importi ng contr olled substanc es are s erious offenses in Brunei and c arry a
mandator y death penalt y
Brunei had a comparatively minor struggle for independence. In 1959, a new constitution
was written declaring Brunei a self-governing state, while its foreign affairs, security, and
defense remained the responsibility of the United Kingdom. A small rebellion erupted
against the monarchy in 1962, which was suppressed with help of the UK. Known as
the Brunei Revolt, it contributed to the failure to create the North Borneo Federation. The
rebellion partially affected Brunei’s decision to opt out of the Malaysian Federation. Brunei
gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1, 1984, though its official
National Day, which celebrates the country’s independence, is held by tradition on February
23.
The Prince has been in the news for a lawsuit involving statues of questionable taste and
lambasted for his absurdly hedonistic lifestyle. The famed Beverly Hills Hotel, which is
owned by the royal family, was boycotted by several celebrities in 2014 after Brunei declared
it would rule under sharia law, and then in December 2015 the Sultan banned Christmas,
asserting that celebrating it would hurt Muslim communities.
The following excerpts go back to a (somewhat) simpler time, before absolutely power
corrupted absolutely. Alphonse La Porta worked as Deputy Director of the Malaysia, Burma,
and Singapore Affairs Office from 1982-1985. John Taylor worked as a Consular Officer in
the Kuching Consulate from 1968-1969. Robert Duemling served as a Consular Officer in
Kuala Lumpur from 1963-1966. Francis Tatu was in Brunei on temporary duty (TDY) and
witnessed the extravagant independence day celebration. Christopher Phillips served as
Ambassador to Brunei from 1989-1991.
As the first female ambassador to be posted to Brunei, from 1993-1996, Theresa Tull gained
a unique perspective on the status of women in the Islamic sultanate through her
interactions with the royal family and other ministers. As Director of the Office of
Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore Affairs, from 1989-1992, Ambassador Richard
Teare observed the sultanate’s growing oil wealth as it sought to expand its role in world
affairs in the decade following independence.
Read other Moments dealing with East Asia and the Pacific.
Population
The current population of Negara Brunei Darussalam is 432,534 as of Tuesday, March 20,
2018, based on the latest United Nations estimates.
Brunei Darussalam population is equivalent to 0.01% of the total world population.
Brunei ranks number 175 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.
The population density in Brunei Darussalam is 82 per Km 2 (213 people per mi2).
The total land area is 5,270 Km2 (2,035 sq. miles)
79.9 % of the population is urban (346,732 people in 2018)
The median age in Brunei Darussalam is 30.5 years.
2045 530,096 0.38 % 1,979 352 42.3 1.71 101 84.9 449,859
%
Yearly Urban Co
% Yearly Migrants Median Fertility Density Pop Urban Sh
Year Population Change Change (net) Age Rate (P/Km²) % Population Wo
2050 536,723 0.25 % 1,325 352 43.6 1.71 102 85.4 458,230
%
See also
China vs. E.U. vs. U.S. vs. Japan (Population and GDP comparison)
Asia Population
World Population
World Map
World Population by Country
back to top ↑
Notes
The Brunei Darussalam Population (Live) counter shows a continuously updated estimate of the
current population of Negara Brunei Darussalam delivered by Worldometers' RTS algorithm, which
processes data collected from the United Nations Population Division.
The Population of Brunei Darussalam (1950 - 2018) chart plots the total population count as of July 1
of each year, from 1950 to 2018.
The Yearly Population Growth Rate chart plots the annual percentage changes in population registered
on July 1 of each year, from 1951 to 2018. This value can differ from the Yearly % Change shown in the
historical table, which shows the last year equivalent percentage change assuming homogeneous change
in the preceding five year period.
Definitions
Year: as of July 1 of the year indicated.
Population: Overall total population (both sexes and all ages) in the country as of July 1 of the year
indicated, as estimated by the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population
Division. World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision. For forecasted years, the U.N. medium-fertility
variant is used.
Demographics of Brunei
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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-dominated 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. Malariahas been eradicated, and cholera is virtually
nonexistent. There are three general hospitals--in Bandar Seri Begawan, Tutong, and Kuala Belait--
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.
Contents
[hide]
1Population
o 1.1UN estimates[1]
o 1.2Structure of the population [2]
o 1.3Median age
o 1.4Population growth rate
o 1.5Net migration rate
o 1.6Sex ratio
o 1.7Urbanization
2Vital statistics
o 2.1UN estimates [1]
o 2.2Registered births and deaths[3][4]
o 2.3Life expectancy at birth
3Ethnic groups
4Languages
5Religions
6HIV/AIDS
7Nationality
8Literacy
9Education expenditures
10See also
11References
Population[edit]
423,196 (2016 est.)
UN estimates[1][edit]
Total population Population aged 0-14 Population aged 15-64 Population aged 65+
(thousands) (%) (%) (%)
Age
Male Female Total Percent
group
Median age[edit]
total: 27.5 years
male: 27.5 years
female: 27.8 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate[edit]
100.785% (2008 est.)
Net migration rate[edit]
2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Sex ratio[edit]
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Urbanization[edit]
Urban population: 79% of total population (2009)
Rate of urbanization: 2.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Vital statistics[edit]
UN estimates [1][edit]
Liv
Natu
e
Dea ral
birt
Peri ths chan CB CD N TF IM
hs
od per ge R1 R1 C1 R1 R1
per
year per
yea
year
r
195
0- 3 1 2 49. 13. 37 7.0 90.
195 000 000 000 6 5 .3 0 2
5
195
5- 3 1 2 43. 10. 37 6.3 68.
196 000 000 000 5 6 .1 8 8
0
196
0- 4 1 3 41. 34 6.5 52.
8.7
196 000 000 000 9 .0 6 1
5
196
5- 4 1 3 35. 29 5.5 39.
7.1
197 000 000 000 1 .6 9 1
0
197
0- 5 1 4 37. 29 5.8 29.
6.3
197 000 000 000 4 .2 7 3
5
197
5- 6 1 5 34. 25 4.7 21.
5.2
198 000 000 000 4 .5 1 9
0
198
0- 6 1 5 29. 26 3.9 16.
4.4
198 000 000 000 9 .3 2 4
5
198
5- 7 1 6 29. 23 3.7 12.
3.9
199 000 000 000 8 .6 2 2
0
199
0- 8 1 7 28. 25 3.2
3.5 9.1
199 000 000 000 1 .0 8
5
199
5- 7 1 6 23. 22 2.6
3.1 6.8
200 000 000 000 9 .2 0
0
200
0- 8 1 7 21. 20 2.2
3.0 5.1
200 000 000 000 9 .8 8
5
200
5- 8 1 6 20. 16 2.1
3.1 4.8
201 000 000 000 1 .5 1
0
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
Cr Cr
ude ude
Nat
Avera bir dea
ural
ge Liv Nat th th
cha T
popul e Dea ural rat rat
nge F
ation bir ths cha e e
(per R
(x ths nge (pe (pe
100
1000) r r
0)
100 100
0) 0)
2
19 1 47. 17.
45 07 766 29.7
49 307 1 4
3
2
19 1 50. 18.
48 31 826 32.4
50 490 3 0
6
2
19 2 58. 14.
51 80 708 43.7
51 097 4 8
5
54 2 865 37.4
19 1 54. 16.
80
52 9 944 0 6
2
19 2 51. 14.
57 90 808 37.4
53 095 8 4
3
3
19 2 54. 12.
60 33 776 41.9
54 556 6 7
2
3
19 2 55. 13.
63 60 878 41.9
55 722 4 5
0
4
19 3 59. 13.
66 07 904 46.0
56 172 1 1
6
3
19 1 2 44. 15.
70 32 29.1
57 138 182 3 2
0
4
19 3 55. 11.
73 39 911 43.6
58 488 0 4
9
4
19 3 49. 11.
76 20 935 38.4
59 266 4 0
1
4
19 3 45. 10.
80 10 917 35.4
60 188 6 2
5
4
19 3 49.
83 31 606 6.9 42.1
61 706 0
2
3
19 3 43.
87 98 628 6.8 36.4
62 352 3
0
3
19 2 36.
91 52 655 6.8 29.9
63 866 7
1
4
19 3 41.
95 17 621 6.2 35.6
64 557 8
8
4
19 3 39.
100 19 662 6.3 33.6
65 531 9
3
4
19 3 37.
104 08 657 6.0 31.5
66 432 5
9
4
19 3 38.
109 38 756 6.6 31.8
67 625 4
1
4
19 4 41.
114 91 715 6.0 35.3
68 197 3
2
4
19 3 36.
119 61 691 5.5 31.4
69 923 9
4
4
19 4 37.
125 82 716 5.5 31.6
70 107 1
3
19 4 38.
131 5 801 5.9 32.2
71 380 1
18
1
5
19 4 35.
137 00 742 5.2 30.0
72 266 3
8
5
19 4 34.
144 03 708 4.9 29.8
73 326 7
4
5
19 4 33.
150 01 640 4.3 29.2
74 373 4
3
5
19 4 33.
157 14 728 4.7 28.3
75 413 0
1
5
19 4 32.
163 30 667 4.1 28.4
76 633 5
0
5
19 4 31.
170 39 748 4.4 27.4
77 649 8
7
5
19 4 31.
176 59 731 4.1 27.5
78 859 7
0
5
19 5 32.
183 87 728 4.0 28.1
79 149 1
7
5
19 5 30.
189 76 742 3.9 26.5
80 025 5
7
5
19 5 30.
195 87 705 3.6 26.5
81 172 1
7
5
19 5 29.
201 95 783 3.9 25.7
82 169 6
2
5
19 5 28.
207 98 717 3.5 25.4
83 266 9
3
6
19 5 29.
213 33 768 3.6 26.1
84 562 7
0
6
19 5 30.
219 68 794 3.6 26.9
85 888 5
2
6
19 6 30.
225 92 723 3.2 27.5
86 197 7
0
7
19 6 30.
232 08 765 3.3 27.3
87 323 6
8
6
19 6 28.
238 88 777 3.3 25.6
88 104 9
1
6
19 6 28.
245 92 827 3.4 24.9
89 099 3
6
19 6 27.
252 7 770 3.1 24.8
90 241 8
01
1
7
19 6 27.
259 10 852 3.3 24.1
91 254 4
6
7
19 6 27.
267 29 887 3.3 24.0
92 403 3
0
7
19 1 6 26.
274 31 3.7 22.9
93 018 296 7
4
7
19 1 6 26.
282 40 3.5 22.7
94 000 400 2
0
7
19 1 6 25.
290 50 3.5 22.4
95 000 500 9
0
7
19 1 6 25.
297 63 3.4 22.3
96 002 631 7
3
7
19 6 24.
305 45 883 2.9 21.6
97 576 5
9
7
19 6 23.
312 41 928 3.0 20.8
98 483 7
1
7
19 6 23.
320 40 905 2.8 20.3
99 503 2
8
7
20 6 22.
327 48 965 3.0 19.9
00 516 9
1
7
20 1 6 22.
334 36 3.0 19.0
01 014 349 0
3
7
20 1 6 21.
342 46 3.0 18.8
02 041 423 9
4
7
20 1 6 20.
349 04 2.9 17.3
03 010 037 2
7
7
20 1 6 20.
356 16 2.8 17.3
04 010 155 1
5
6
20 1 5 19.
363 93 3.0 16.1
05 072 861 1
3
6
20 1 5 17.
370 52 3.0 14.7
06 095 431 6
6
6
20 1 5 16.
378 31 3.1 13.6
07 174 140 7
4
6
20 1 5 16.
385 42 2.8 13.9
08 091 333 7
4
20
09
20
10
6
20 1 5 17. 1.
72 3.1 14.0
11 235 489 1 9
4
6
20 1 5 17. 1.
90 3.0 14.3
12 216 693 3 9
9
6
20 1 5 16. 1.
68 3.4 13.0
13 398 282 4 9
0
6
20 1 5 16. 1.
89 3.6 13.2
14 470 421 7 9
1
6
20 1 5 16.
69 3.7 12.3
15 547 152 1
9
Ethnic groups[edit]
Population of Brunei according to
ethnic group 1947-2001[3]
4
M
5 5
a
, 3
l
1 .
a
3 8
y 1 1
1 5 8
2 7
6 4 9 6 6 6
5 4
, 1 , 5 5 6
, ,
K 7 . 2 . . .
7 3
e 4 2
4
6 5
1
2
1
9
d 2 , 5
7
7 9
a 2 .
y 9 1
a 1
n
1
C
2 3 3 4
h 8
2 1 2 1 2 9 2 0 1
i ,
0 , 6 , 3 , 0 , 5
n 3
. 7 . 9 . 4 . 6 .
e 0
4 9 0 2 4 6 5 2 6
s 0
5 5 1 1
e
D 4
u , 5
2
s 8 .
u 7 8
n 3
1 1
8
5 5
, 6 7 6
1 3 , ,
I 5 . . .
, 3 , 4 1 6
b 5 3 9 0
3 . 9 . 7 6
a 2
3 3 0 6 5 5
n
0 0
M 2
6 3 0
e ,
. 1 .
l 5
a 1 2 8 4
n 7
a
u
I
n 2 5
d , 1 , 3
i 1 . 9 .
a 6 6 1 1
n 1 2 9 2
3
s 1 2 9 1
, 4
, 8 , 1
5 .
7 . 8 .
6 3
6 9 7 5
O 8 5
4 6 7
t
, 3 , 3
h
3 . 5 .
e
5 2 6 4
r
0 0
s
T
o
40,6 83,8 136, 192, 260, 332,
t
57 77 256 832 482 800
a
l
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'
Bruneian (Malay or also called Kedayan) 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other
(including Indians) 12%. Indigenous groups include the Iban people, Murut,(a branch of
the Dayak people), the Dusun and the Melanau.
Languages[edit]
Main article: Languages of Brunei
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Religions[edit]
Main article: Religion in
Brunei
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and non-religious,
Atheist or Agnostic 10%
HIV/AIDS[edit]
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.)
National
ity[edit]
Noun: Bruneian(s)
Adjective: Bruneian
Lit
era
cy[e
dit]
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 93.9%
Male: 96.3%
Female: 91.4% (2002)
E
d
u
c
a
t
i
o
n
e
x
p
e
n
d
i
t
u
r
e
s
[
e
d
i
t
]
5.2% of total GDP (2000)
S
e
e
a
l
s
o
[
e
d
i
t
]
Borneo Cultures
The Southeast Asian island of Borneo — third largest island in the world — has captivated the
imagination of explorers and travellers for centuries with its alluring mix of indigenous culture and
untamed rainforest. [Source: Brunei Tourism ~]
Approximately 16 million people live on the island of Borneo, which is shared by Malaysia,
Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam. The island's population is comparatively low for the region, owing
largely to the fact that up until a few decades ago, Borneo was completely covered by dense
rainforest with poor soil for agriculture. This, combined with rugged terrain, unnavigable rivers and
the fierce head-hunter reputation of its inhabitants, ensured that the island remained
underdeveloped for many years, giving Borneo a legendary mystique as one of the most mysterious
and exotic places on Earth. For thousands of years, this image was fairly close to the truth. Borneo
has been inhabited for at least 35,000 years, and life for many Borneans has changed little over the
centuries. Most people lived in harmony with nature, leading nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyles,
travelling over vast areas in search of wild boar and other products of the forest.
Around three thousand years ago, traders from other lands began to frequent Borneo, connecting
the island to a larger trading network extending to China, India, and beyond. Locals collected exotic
products like bird's nests and sandalwood for trade abroad but otherwise, life went on as before.
Approximately 500 years ago, Islam arrived to the island, and a number of Muslim kingdoms were
established, the largest of which was Brunei, which once controlled most of the northern coast. The
name Borneo is in fact derived from the name Brunei.
Today, Borneo is still home to thousands of indigenous ethnic minorities which add to the island’s
diversity and local colour. While Borneo is rapidly modernising, indigenous culture still thrives,
evident in the many traditional longhouse communities that dot the landscape of Brunei and in the
native handiworks and crafts they continue to produce. Headhunting, however, is a pastime which
thankfully has retreated into legend!
Borneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world after Greenland and New Guinea. Straddling the
equator, it covers 750,000 square kilometers (290,000 square miles), more than twice the area of
the British Isles or more than Texas and Louisiana combined, and measures about (1290 kilometers
(800 miles) from north to south and 800 kilometers (500 miles) from east to west. The northern 25
percent is occupied the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, and the Islamic sultanate of
Brunei; and the southern 75 percent is occupied by the Indonesian state of Kalimantan.
Borneo is part of an archipelago called the Greater Sunda Islands. It is thinly populated and covered
by mountains and rain forests. Most of the cities and towns are along the coast. The soil is poor.
Large areas of the coast are made up of marshes and mangrove swamps. Most of the interior
consists of rugged mountains interspersed with deep gorges. This area is laced with clear and
whiskey-colored streams. The highest point 13,455-foot-high Mount Kinabulu in Sabah. In
Kalimantan few areas rise above 3,000 feet. The highest point, in the central range there is 9,582
feet.
The rain forest on Borneo covers an area about the size of France but is shrinking all the time as
logging, palm oil and mining interests penetrate deep into its interior. Valuable ironwood, teak,
ebony, sandalwood and plywood-producing rain forest trees have largely been harvested. Crops
grown on Borneo include rubber, palm oil, rattan, hemp, sago, pepper, sugar cane and rice. Oil has
been found in the east and north. Gold is panned from the rivers and iron ore, antimony, lead, zinc,
arsenic, copper, mercury, chromite and silver are all found here but are generally too expensive to
mine profitably.
Borneo was once connected to the Southeast Asian mainland and the plant and animal life in both
places are similar. There are orangutans, gibbons, monkeys, honey bears, giant butterflies, and
black hornbills (sacred to the Dayaks), clouded leopards, wild pigs and ,a few elephants and rhinos.
They are no tigers. Freshwater dolphins live in Mahakam River in east Kalimantan. Crab-eating
monkeys and crocodiles live in the marshes. Typically in Borneo you find 100 or different tree
species in one hectare and 200 or 300 plant species in an area the size of a living room. Even
though there over 3,000 tree species on Borneo dipterocarps make up half of all the giant canopy
trees. Hundreds of orchid species are found in Borneo.
Borneo doesn’t have as pronounced rainy and wet season as other places in Southeast Asia have.
Rain falls steadily throughout the year. rainfall amounts are often high. The people of Borneo
traditionally raised dry rice, sago, tapioca, ad sweet potatoes and hunted, fished and gathered wild
plants from the forest. Because the terrain is so rough and waterlogged there are few good roads.
Rivers have traditionally provided the main transportation routes.
About 19 million people live in Borneo with roughly 75 percent of them in Indonesia and 25 percent
in Malaysia and Brunei. The original inhabitants are Dayaks, a tribe that only recently gave up head
hunting and were once referred to as the "wild men of Borneo." The coastal areas are dominated by
Muslim Malays. Some of them are Dayaks who began converting to Islam after the 15th century.
Other group such as the Javanese, Sudanese, Madurese, Chinese and Bugis from Sulawesi arrived
mostly in the 20th century, particularly in the last three decades as part of Indonesia's transmigration
program. The Dayaks are now greatly outnumbered by Malays and Indonesians from other islands.
Population of Brunei
Population: 422,675 (July 2014 est.), country comparison to the world: 175. Age structure: 0-14
years: 24.2 percent (male 52,753/female 49,548); 15-24 years: 17.3 percent (male 36,187/female
36,965); 25-54 years: 46.9 percent (male 96,006/female 102,028); 55-64 years: 7.6 percent (male
16,542/female 15,589); 65 years and over: 4 percent (male 8,301/female 8,756) (2014 est.).
Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 41.8 percent; youth dependency ratio: 35.3 percent;
elderly dependency ratio: 6.5 percent; potential support ratio: 15.5 (2014 est.). Median age: total:
29.3 years; male: 28.9 years; female: 29.6 years (2014 est.)[Source: CIA World Factbook =]
Population growth rate: 1.65 percent (2014 est.), country comparison to the world: 74. Birth rate:
17.49 births/1,000 population (2014 est.), country comparison to the world: 107. Death rate: 3.47
deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.), country comparison to the world: 216. Net migration rate: 2.47
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.), country comparison to the world: 39. =
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female; 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female; 15-24 years: 0.98
male(s)/female; 25-54 years: 0.94 male(s)/female; 55-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female; 65 years and
over: 0.95 male(s)/female; total population: 1 male(s)/female (2014 est.). =
Population density (per sq. km): 72. 76 per cent of people live in urban areas, concentrated along
the coast; growth 2.1 per cent p.a. 1990–2012; birth rate 16 per 1,000 people (36 in 1970); life
expectancy 78 years (67 in 1970). Population by Racial Group: Malays: 259,600; Chinese: 43,100;
Others: 87,300. [Source: thecommonwealth.org ^^]
Malays make up 65.7 percent of the populations; Chinese, 10.3 percent, indigenous people, 3.4
percent and other, 20.6 percent. There are about 25,000 Iban and Dusan tribal people which live
rain forests. The are some Indians. Some of the others are foreign laborers brought in to work as
construction workers, domestic help and perform jobs that Bruneians don’t want to do. The Bruneian
government runs a housing scheme for landless indigenous people.
Languages in Brunei
Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the official language. It is similar to Bahasa Melayu (also known as
Bahasa Malaysian, the national language of Malaysia) and Bahasa Indonesian (the language
spoken in Indonesia). It is not a tonal language like Chinese or Thai. It is not difficult to pick up a few
words. English is widely spoken and understood particularly in the business community. It is widely
used as a business and working language. It is also the language of instruction in secondary and
tertiary education
English is spoken by most Bruneians to varying degrees. Brunei is a former British colony and
English is taught in the school. Visitors generally have no problem getting by without knowing any
Malay. Various indigenous groups such as the Dusun, Murut and Iban speak in their respective
dialects while the Chinese speak Mandarin, Hokkien and Cantonese while being equally conversant
in Malay. Tamil is spoken by ethnic Indians.
A few Malay words (English, Malay): 1) Good morning --- Selamat Pagi; 2) Good afternoon ---
Selamat Petang; 3) Good night --- Selamat Malam; 4) Thank you --- Terima Kasih; 5) You're
welcome --- Sama-sama; 6) What is your name? --- Siapa Nama Awda?; 7) My name is ... --- Nama
saya ...; 8) Excuse me --- Maafkan saya; 9) Yes --- Ya; 10) No --- Tidak; 11) How much? ---
Berapa?; 12) Where is the toilet? --- Di mana tandas?; 13) I want to go ... --- Saya mahu pergi ke ...;
14) Turn right --- Belok ke kanan; 15) Turn left --- Belok ke kiri; 16) Go straight --- Jalan terus.
Religion in Brunei
Religions: Muslim (official) 78.8 percent, Christian 8.7 percent, Buddhist 7.8 percent, other (includes
indigenous beliefs) 4.7 percent (2011 est.) Catholics make up 6.8 percent of the population. There
are a significant number of Hindus of Indian origin.. Some Chinese are Confucians and Taoists but
more are Christians. The national ideology, Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB, Malay Muslim monarchy)
fuses Islamic values and Brunei. Brunei has sizeable Christian and Buddhist communities. Most are
Chinese. There are an estimated 30,000 Filipino citizens in Brunei, many of them Catholic.
Modern scholars date the spread of Islam to Brunei Darussalam to the late 13th century. Prior to
this, ancient Malay Culture was based on animistic and Indic culture. Islam gradually eroded these
elements and thus, today’s Malay culture is now more identifiable with Islam. With over two thirds of
its population professing the Islamic faith, Brunei is ruled according to the national philosophy of the
Malay Islamic Monarchy, intertwining Malay traditions with Islam and deep-rooted respect for the
nation’s monarchy. Bruneians practice a devout but tolerant brand of Islam, which encompasses
sincere respect and devotion, while still remaining open to other faiths and beliefs. [Source: Brunei
Tourism ~]
Since gaining independence from the British in 1984, Brunei has adopted the national philosophy of
the Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja), a system that encompasses strong Malay
cultural influences, stressing the importance of Islam in daily life and governance, and respect for the
monarchy as represented by His Majesty The Sultan. It is a philosophy of tolerance, which allows
other cultures to follow individual traditions and to practice other religions.
According to kwintessential.co.uk: Most Bruneians are Muslims and as such their lives revolve
around the duties afforded to them by Islam. Alcohol is banned from the country however pork is
allowed for non-Muslims. Gender relations are also governed by Islamic principles and etiquette.
Shaking hands across genders is rare. Bruneians practice a devout but tolerant brand of Islam,
which includes devotion, yet allows other faiths and beliefs. [Source: kwintessential.co.uk]
Islam in Brunei
Islam is the official religion of Brunei Darussalam as stated in the Brunei Constitution, with His
Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan as the head of the Islamic faith in the country. Islam plays a
central role in the life of Muslims in Brunei Darussalam. Other religious beliefs such as Christianity
and Buddhism are practiced freely by other ethnic group.
The level of Islamic zeal varies somewhat from place to place. Muslims living in urban areas tend to
be more liberal and Westernized than those living in the countryside. Extremely conservative Islam
is not particularly strong in Brunei.The majority of Muslim women wear ankle-length caftans (loose
dresses), often made from shimmering materials, and tudungs, pharaoh-like head scarves that are
fastened below the chins with a pin and sometimes hang down like boy-scout neckerchiefs. Others
wear head coverings that are wrapped around the head and are not pinned under the chin and look
like head scarves worn by women in the Middle East.
In 2006, Nicholas D. Kristof wrote in the New York Times, “At the moment I’m in Brunei, a Muslim
country nestled in Southeast Asia. At the University of Brunei, women outnumber men. Women here
drive, fill senior offices in government and the private sector, serve as ambassadors and are pilots
for the national airline. “Young women have equal opportunities now — it’s up to your capability,”
said Lisa Ibrahim, president of the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei. Brunei has gold-
domed mosques in its skyline, and the sultan has two wives. But Brunei is also home to churches
and Hindu temples serving a multiethnic society. Young people flirt together in the cafes, and non-
Muslims are allowed to drink alcohol. “We tend to be more tolerant,” Yusof Halim, a prominent
lawyer in Brunei, said of Asian Muslims. He then confided: “My honest opinion is that Arabs are male
chauvinists.” [Source: Nicholas D. Kristof, New York Times, December 10, 2006]
In recent years, Brunei has become more conservative. Alcohol is no longer sold in bars or
restaurants. Sharia (Islamic law) was mandated in 2014 (See Justice system). Brunei law states that
all Moslem citizens of Brunei must go to a mosque on Friday. In the seventies it was not unusual for
traffic to come to a complete stop as the devoted emptied out of their cars to pray. The workweek in
Brunei extends Saturday to Wednesday. The weekend is Thursday and Friday, Friday being the
Muslim Sabbath
Visitors to Brunei will see that Islamic influences form a central foundation of the nation’s heritage.
As Islam is the foundation for the life of the average Bruneian, many of the nation’s cultural practices
and customs are intrinsically linked with religion. Aesthetically, Islam introduced important
architectural features such as the ubiquitous mosques and art styles such as the tile mosaics seen
throughout the nation. Other culturally enriching additions include the use of Jawi script, the
abundance of religious texts and even foods and cooking styles.
According to kwintessential.co.uk: Most Bruneians are Muslims and as such their lives revolve
around the duties afforded to them by Islam. Alcohol is banned from the country however pork is
allowed for non-Muslims. Gender relations are also governed by Islamic principles and etiquette.
Shaking hands across genders is rare. Bruneians practice a devout but tolerant brand of Islam,
which includes devotion, yet allows other faiths and beliefs. [Source: kwintessential.co.uk]
According to kwintessential.co.uk: Muslims must pray five times a day – at dawn, noon, afternoon,
sunset, and evening. Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed. Many companies as well
as government offices also close on Sunday and Saturday afternoon. During the fasting month of
Ramadan, government staff works a six-hour day and entertainment and sporting activities are
suspended. The Sultan encourages the recital of the Quran each morning prior to the start of work to
obtain Allah’s blessing and guidance. [Source: kwintessential.co.uk]