Geography :
Brunei is a small coastal state just 443km (277 miles) north of the equator in the northwest corner of Borneo, bounded on all landward sides by Sarawak (Malaysia), which splits Brunei into two parts. The landscape is mainly equatorial jungle cut by rivers. Most settlements are situated at estuaries. The state is made up of four districts: Brunei-Muara (the capital district), Tutong and Belait (Brunei's centre of oil and gas exploitation, in the west of the country); and Temburong, the eastern district, which has large areas of virgin rainforest. The islands in Brunei Bay fall within the Brunei-Muara or Temburong districts.

Government :
Traditional Islamic monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1959. Head of State and Government: Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah since 1967.

Language :
Malay is the official language. English is widely used and Chinese dialects are also spoken.

Religion :
Most of the Malay population are Sunni Muslims. There are also significant Buddhist, Confucian, Daoist and Christian minorities.

History and Government :

History :
Brunei - which takes its name from a Sanskrit word meaning 'seaform' (it is mentioned in ancient Chinese literature) - was, in ancient times, a powerful trading nation controlling most of Borneo and part of the Philippines archipelago, with extensive connections throughout South-East Asia. The country was occupied briefly during the late 16th century by the Spanish, part of whose colonial mission was always the vigorous dissemination of Catholicism: in the previous century Islam had been adopted in Brunei as the principal religion. In the mid-19th century, Brunei came under British influence when the seafarer James Brooke was granted control of the Sarawak region (now part of Malaysia) in return for protection against sea-dyak pirates. The following year, a treaty was signed formalising British assistance and in 1888, when Britain declared 'North Borneo' to be a British Protectorate. Under the terms of the arrangement, Britain 'gave advice' on all matters except those concerning local customs and religion. Brunei's transition to independence began in 1959 when a new Anglo-Brunei agreement was signed under which Britain assumed responsibility for defence and foreign affairs but passed control of all other matters to the Sultan. Three years later, the North Borneo Liberation Army instigated rebellions, during which a state of emergency was declared. As a result the Sultan assumed the power to rule by decree. Since then, with the benefit of its vast oil wealth, Brunei has undergone steady, if somewhat unequal, development. The country is in many respects comparable to the Gulf sheikhdoms - small, exceedingly wealthy and more or less surrounded by larger, poorer nations. The Government of the country rests in the exclusive hands of His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, 29th in the dynasty, 31 years on the throne, and certainly one of the world's richest individuals. Political activity in his realm is kept on a very short leash. After toying with orthodox politics, the Government invoked the concept of Melayu Islam Beraja (Malay Islamic Monarchy) as a state ideology at the end of the 1980s, and Islam is becoming a steadily stronger influence in the life of the country. Electoral politics have been an anathema to the Sultan although there have been occasional slight indications that he may eventually concede the creation of an elected legislature with limited powers. There has been greater movement during the 1990s on the foreign policy front which has brought a flurry of activity: Brunei has joined the Non-Aligned Movement and established diplomatic relations with China, Vietnam, Iran and Myanmar. A military co-operation agreement was signed with the USA, supplementing that with the UK. Among Brunei's objectives is to assist a solution of the awkward and potentially dangerous dispute over the Spratly Islands, the South China Sea archipelago claimed by six countries, including China. An improvement in relations with Malaysia has followed from the settlement of a number of long-running border disputes. The image of the country has suffered during 1999 from revelations about the profligate and debauched lifestyle of the Sultan's brother, Prince Jefri, who is now embroiled in several court actions of serious potential severe embarrassment to the government.

Government :
Brunei is a traditional Islamic monarchy, with supreme political power vested in the Sultan. He is advised by the Privy Council, the Religious Council, the Council of Cabinet Ministers and the Council of Succession.