Brunei Darussalam is a small country located on the island of Borneo in Asia. It is Asia’s fourth-smallest country after the Maldives, Singapore and Bahrain.
Brunei is Asia’s least populous sovereign country.
Brunei is the fifth-richest country in Asia (after Singapore) when measured by GDP per capita based on purchasing power parity (PPP). It is the 13th richest country in the world.
Oil and gas exports account for over 90% of Brunei’s total exports.
One of Brunei’s famous landmarks is the Billionth Barrel Monument, which commemorates the billionth barrel of oil produced at the Seria oilfield. The milestone was reached in 1991.
Brunei became a British protectorate in 1888. In 1963, it was the only Malay state that decided not to join the federation that would later become Malaysia.
Brunei is home to the largest stilt settlement in the world. Founded over 1,000 years ago, Kampong Ayer consists of 42 adjoining stilt villages which house around 30,000 people. The settlement has been nicknamed the ‘Venice of the East’.
Brunei ranks fifth among East and South-East Asian countries in the Human Development Index.
Brunei is home to an array of rare wildlife. 70% of the country is covered by forest with much of it protected.
Many nationalities enjoy visa-free entry for short stays, while others may need to apply in advance. Omani citizens do not need a visa to visit Brunei for short-term tourism stays of up to 30 days.
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