Overview: The economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for more than 50% of GDP. Per capita GDP of $9,600 is among the highest in the Third World, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing.

GDP: $3.3 billion, per capita $9,600; real growth rate 2.7% (1989 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.3% (1989 est.)

Unemployment: 2.5%, shortage of skilled labor (1989 est.)

Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $230 million (1988 est.)

Exports: $1.9 billion (f.o.b., 1989); commodities--crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petroleum products; partners--Japan 60%, Thailand 10%, Singapore 4% (1988)

Imports: $1.2 billion (c.i.f., 1989); commodities--machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals; partners--Singapore 36%, UK 26%, Switzerland 7%, US 7%, Japan 6% (1988)

External debt: none

Industrial production: growth rate 12.9% (1987); accounts for 52.4% of GDP

Electricity: 310,000 kW capacity; 890 million kWh produced, 2,400 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries: petroleum, liquefied natural gas, construction

Agriculture: imports about 80% of its food needs; principal crops and livestock include rice, cassava, bananas, buffaloes, and pigs

Economic aid: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-87), $20.6 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $143.7 million

Currency: Bruneian dollar (plural--dollars); 1 Bruneian dollar (B$) = 100 cents

Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars (B$) per US$1--1.7454 (January 1991), 1.8125 (1990), 1.9503 (1989), 2.0124 (1988), 2.1060 (1987), 2.1774 (1986), 2.2002 (1985); note--the Bruneian dollar is at par with the Singapore dollar

Fiscal year: calendar year

NOTE: The information regarding Brunei on this page is re-published from the 1991 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Brunei Economy 1991 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Brunei Economy 1991 should be addressed to the CIA.