The Human Truth Foundation

Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)

https://www.humantruth.info/brunei.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#brunei

Brunei
Negara Brunei Darussalam
Flag
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index116th best
CapitalBandar Seri Begawan
Land Area 5 270km21
LocationAsia
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population0.4m2
Life Expectancy74.64yrs (2017)3
GNI$64 490 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesBN, BRN, 965
Internet Domain.bn6
CurrencyDollar (BND)7
Telephone+6738

1. Overview

#philippines

The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in Asia.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverBlessed with picturesque water villages, glorious rainforests, stunning mosques and some outstanding cuisine, Brunei is as polite and unassuming as its people. The small sultanate of Brunei almost looks like a geographic comma plunked between Sarawak and Sabah. It certainly forms a conceptual one, because unless you´re a petroleum engineer, when folks ask `Why go to Brunei?´ the answer is usually the travelling equivalent of a pause: transfer or stopover.

But there´s more here than passport queues. This quiet darussalam (Arabic for `abode of peace´) has the largest oilfields in Southeast Asia, and because oil generates money, Brunei hasn´t turned its rainforests into palm plantations. Old-growth greenery abounds, especially in verdant Ulu Temburong National Park. Because booze is banned, the citizens of the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB), are mad for food and shopping. This tranquil (sometimes somnolent) nation is the realisation of a particular vision: a strict, socially controlled religious state where happiness is found in pious worship and mass consumption. Visit and judge the results for yourself.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Brunei National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
48Turkey0.838
49Montenegro0.832
50Kuwait0.831
51Brunei0.829
52Russia0.822
53Romania0.821
54Oman0.816
55Bahamas0.812
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
4Luxembourg$84 649
5Ireland$76 169
6Switzerland$66 933
7USA$64 765
8Norway$64 660
9Brunei$64 490
10Hong Kong$62 607
11UAE$62 574
12Denmark$60 365
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Denmark27.4
2Norway27.6
3Sweden30.4
...
113Paraguay96.3
114Kiribati97.2
115Suriname97.3
116Brunei97.3
117Venezuela98.0
118Ghana98.2
119Uzbekistan98.2
120Guatemala98.7
Asia Avg92.0
World Avg89.7
q=198.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Brunei's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #fertility #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population #yemen

Population:

Brunei's population is predicted to rise to 522 040 by 2030. This rise is despite a low fertility rate, meaning, that this country is helping to alleviate problems with growing population in neighbouring countries by accepting immigrants, very likely as a requirement of maintaining an active workforce. This country has a fertility rate of 1.76. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population will grow, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity - the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate (two new children for each set of parents who die), which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.13

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
167Cape Verde0.5m
168Maldives0.5m
169Malta0.4m
170Brunei0.4m
171Bahamas0.4m
172Belize0.4m
173Iceland0.3m
174Vanuatu0.3m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
61Grenada74.9
62Slovakia74.9
63Malaysia74.9
64Brunei74.6
65Hungary74.5
66Jordan74.3
67Serbia74.2
68Romania74.2
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
34Qatar1.78
35Bulgaria1.78
36St Vincent & Grenadines1.78
37Brunei1.76
38Dominican Rep.2.25
39Nicaragua2.28
40Panama2.30
41Morocco2.30
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
15
Pos.2016
Per 10015
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
104Morocco16.1
105=Suriname16.2
105=Grenada16.2
105=Brunei16.2
108El Salvador17.3
109Panama17.7
110N. Korea17.8
111Turkey18.0
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants16
Pos.2017
%16
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
...
16Switzerland29.6%
17Australia28.8%
18Antigua & Barbuda28.1%
19Brunei25.3%
20Israel23.6%
21Palau23.0%
22New Zealand22.7%
23Canada21.5%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants17
Pos.2010
%17
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
94Finland6.2%
95Singapore6.1%
96Guatemala6.1%
97Brunei6.0%
98Netherlands6.0%
99Italy5.8%
100Benin5.8%
101Laos5.7%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Brunei's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #slavery #tolerance

Compared to Asia (2025)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Taiwan23.7
2Japan38.8
3Cyprus42.8
...
44Myanmar (Burma)133.8
45Syria136.5
46Palestine137.8
47Saudi Arabia137.8
48Iran138.2
49Pakistan140.5
50Afghanistan145.7
51Brunei145.9
52N. Korea151.6
Asia Avg103.0
q=52.
Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)18
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank18
1Sweden8.5
2Denmark13.5
3Norway13.5
...
192Swaziland144.6
193Eritrea145.3
194Afghanistan145.7
195Brunei145.9
196Solomon Islands151.2
197N. Korea151.6
198Sudan152.9
199Vatican City154.0
World Avg87.8
q=200.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, Denmark and Norway19. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, The Vatican City and Sudan19.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are statistics on supporting press freedom, eliminating modern slavery, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms, its average Freedom in the World rating, commentary in Human Rights Watch reports, its nominal commitment to Human Rights, speed of uptake of HR treaties, opposing gender inequality, the rate of gender bias (from 7 indicators), the year from which women could participate in democracy, its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice, LGBT equality and freethought. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe19, whereas the worst are Melanesia, The Middle East and Micronesia19.

For more, see:

Human Rights & Tolerance:

Press Freedom
Lower is better
20
Pos.201320
1Finland638
2Netherlands648
3Norway652
...
118Ecuador3469
119Cameroon3478
120Chad3487
121Brunei3545
122Tajikistan3571
123S. Sudan3620
124Algeria3654
125Ukraine3679
Asia Avg4378
World Avg3249
q=178.
Slavery
Lower is better
21
Pos.2018
% Victims21
1Japan0.03
2=Canada0.05
2=Taiwan0.05
...
146Laos0.94
147Papua New Guinea1.03
148=Belarus1.09
148=Brunei1.09
150Myanmar (Burma)1.10
151Turkmenistan1.12
152Rwanda1.16
153=Chad1.20
Asia Avg0.79
World Avg0.65
q=167.
Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom
Lower is better
22
Pos.2014
Rank22
1Hong Kong1
2Switzerland2
3New Zealand3
...
63Dominican Rep.63
64Cambodia64
65Madagascar65
66Brunei66
67Serbia67
68Guatemala68
69=Moldova69
69=Namibia69
Asia Avg94.6
World Avg79.7
q=159.
Freedom in the World
Lower is better
Pos.2024
Score
1=Norway1.0
1=Canada1.0
1=Cape Verde1.0
...
134Jordan5.0
135=Pakistan5.0
135=Tunisia5.0
137Brunei5.5
138=Turkey5.5
138=Somaliland5.5
138=Western Sahara5.5
138=Algeria5.5
Asia Avg5.0
World Avg3.7
q=205.
Nominal Commitment to HR
Higher is better
23
Pos.2009
Treaties23
1Argentina24
2=Chile23
2=Costa Rica23
...
179Grenada7
180=UAE7
181St Lucia6
182=Brunei6
182=Tonga6
182=Pakistan6
185Tuvalu5
186=Micronesia5
Asia Avg12.7
World Avg15.1
q=194.
HR Treaties Lag
Lower is better
24
Pos.2019
Avg Yrs/Treaty24
1Ecuador2.15
2Uruguay2.25
3Tunisia3.65
...
181St Kitts & Nevis15.00
182Singapore15.02
183Papua New Guinea15.23
184Brunei15.29
185Tonga15.55
186Micronesia15.55
187Somalia15.71
188Kiribati15.80
Asia Avg10.97
World Avg10.02
q=195.

Prejudice:

LGBT Equality
Higher is better
25
Pos.2017
Score25
1Netherlands103
2Belgium90
3Sweden86
...
143=Barbados-10
144Ethiopia-14
145=Eritrea-14
145=Brunei-14
145=Swaziland-14
145=Kenya-14
149Singapore-15
150=Zambia-15
Asia Avg-02.1
World Avg12.6
q=196.
Freedom of Thought
Lower is better
26
Pos.202126
1=Belgium1.0
1=Netherlands1.0
1=Taiwan1.0
...
187UAE4.8
188=Maldives4.8
188=Sudan4.8
188=Brunei4.8
188=Yemen4.8
188=Iran4.8
193Pakistan5.0
194=Saudi Arabia5.0
Asia Avg3.7
World Avg3.0
q=196.

5. Brunei's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #brunei #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Maldives41.7
2Sri Lanka43.1
3Malaysia53.1
4Bhutan57.9
5Hong Kong58.0
6Kuwait58.1
7Bangladesh58.5
8Brunei59.1
9N. Korea60.0
10Singapore60.3
11Saudi Arabia63.0
12Qatar64.6
13Nepal65.0
Asia Avg80.9
q=50.
Health (2020)27
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank27
1Monaco13.0
2Maldives41.7
3Sri Lanka43.1
...
7Hong Kong58.0
8Kuwait58.1
9Bangladesh58.5
10Brunei59.1
11N. Korea60.0
12Singapore60.3
13Saudi Arabia63.0
14Qatar64.6
World Avg95.1
q=198.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, The Maldives and Sri Lanka28. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are S. Sudan, The Marshall Islands and Nigeria28.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean28, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Africa and Australasia28.

For more, see:

Health:

Brunei does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Brunei comes in the best 20 when it comes to its alcohol consumption rate29. It does better than average for its fertility rate14, its immunizations take-up30, its adolescent birth rate31, its average life expectancy11 and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance32. But, things could still be better. Brunei does worse than average when it comes to its smoking rate33. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% over the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Brunei Darussalam improved by +3.1yrs in the 30 years from 1990, less than the global average of +7.9yrs. Brunei is amongst only 41 countries who have seen their fertility rate drop by more than 4 since the 1960s. Its peak fertility rate was 6.84 in 1960.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
61Grenada74.9
62Slovakia74.9
63Malaysia74.9
64Brunei74.6
65Hungary74.5
66Jordan74.3
67Serbia74.2
68Romania74.2
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
29
Pos.2016
Per Capita29
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
10=Pakistan0.3
11Kiribati0.4
12=Iraq0.4
12=Brunei0.4
12=Egypt0.4
15Djibouti0.5
16=Niger0.5
16=Sudan0.5
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
14
Pos.202214
1US Virgin Islands2.00
2Ecuador2.00
3Nepal2.01
...
34Qatar1.78
35Bulgaria1.78
36St Vincent & Grenadines1.78
37Brunei1.76
38Dominican Rep.2.25
39Nicaragua2.28
40Panama2.30
41Morocco2.30
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.47
q=208.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
33
Pos.201433
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
119Mongolia 957
120Bahrain 969
121France 993
122Brunei1 023
123Algeria1 024
124Latvia1 041
125USA1 083
126Finland1 083
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
65Cambodia65
66Georgia66
67Belarus67
68Brunei68
69Paraguay69
70Latvia70
71Liberia71
72Kazakhstan72
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
34
Pos.2016
%34
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
65Lesotho38.7
66Gabon40.2
67Namibia40.6
68Brunei41.2
69Malaysia42.5
70Botswana43.4
71Tajikistan45.3
72Trinidad & Tobago46.0
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
31
Pos.2015
Per 100031
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
60Belarus18.2
61Serbia19.0
62Slovakia20.2
63Brunei21.0
64Bhutan21.4
65Djibouti21.5
66Albania21.7
67=Moldova22.6
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
30
Pos.2015
Avg %30
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
37Kyrgyzstan96.7
38Brazil96.7
39=Jordan96.6
39=Brunei96.6
41Spain96.5
42Poland96.5
43Libya96.4
44St Kitts & Nevis96.3
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Brunei's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #over-exploitation #the_environment

Compared to Asia (2023)35
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank35
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
...
43UAE114.4
44Kuwait115.4
45Uzbekistan118.5
46Afghanistan120.3
47Brunei121.5
48Iraq122.5
49Tajikistan125.0
50Bahrain128.0
51Palestine147.5
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)35
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank35
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
175Bosnia & Herzegovina120.0
176Afghanistan120.3
177St Vincent & Grenadines121.0
178Brunei121.5
179Iraq122.5
180Montenegro124.3
181Tajikistan125.0
182Liberia125.8
World Avg85.7
q=188.
Brunei ranks 11st-worst in the world regarding its responsibility towards the environment. This rank is derived from 4 data sets. Brunei does better than average in terms of its environmental performance36. When it comes to most other metrics, Brunei does not do well. It does worse than average for energy to GDP efficiency37 and in its forested percent change 2000-202038. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 for how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
38
Pos.Total38
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
...
166Mexico-4.0%
167Peru-4.0%
168S. Africa-4.1%
169Brunei-4.3%
170Madagascar-4.6%
171Togo-4.7%
172Zambia-4.8%
173Laos-4.8%
Asia Avg3.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.
Environmental Performance
Higher is better
36
Pos.201836
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
50Poland64.1
51Venezuela63.9
52Russia63.8
53Brunei63.6
54Morocco63.5
55Cuba63.4
56Panama62.7
57Tonga62.5
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better37
Pos.201437
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
70=Senegal08.06
71Malaysia08.00
72Bolivia07.87
73Brunei07.81
74Armenia07.69
75New Zealand07.63
76=Kuwait07.58
76=USA07.58
Asia Avg09.14
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
188Thailand2004 Jan 29
189Montenegro2006 Jun 03
190Timor-Leste (E. Timor)2007 Jan 08
191Brunei2008 Jul 27
192Iraq2009 Oct 26
193Somalia2009 Dec 10
194Palestine2015 Apr 02
195Andorra2015 May 05
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.

7. Brunei's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)39
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank39
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.0
3S. Korea23.6
...
32Lebanon85.7
33Indonesia89.3
34=Mongolia90.3
35Brunei91.6
36=Tajikistan92.0
36=Palestine92.0
38Pakistan97.6
39Maldives99.8
40Turkmenistan105.3
Asia Avg78.3
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)39
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank39
1Finland7.7
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland14.7
...
119=St Vincent & Grenadines90.3
119=Mongolia90.3
121Bolivia91.0
122Brunei91.6
123=Tajikistan92.0
123=Palestine92.0
125Nigeria94.8
126French Polynesia95.0
World Avg82.7
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

Secondary Education
Higher is better
40
Pos.201840
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
74Andorra72.3%
75Panama72.2%
76UAE70.7%
77Brunei70.1%
78Iran69.8%
79Vietnam69.4%
80Venezuela69.2%
81Qatar67.5%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
41
Pos.2021
Years41
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
83Antigua & Barbuda14.2
84Morocco14.2
85Sri Lanka14.1
86Brunei14.0
87Seychelles13.9
88Bulgaria13.9
89Bosnia & Herzegovina13.8
90Egypt13.8
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
122Dominican Rep.122
123Oman123
124Chad124
125Brunei125
126Ivory Coast126
127Kuwait127
128Vietnam128
129Azerbaijan129
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.
IQ
Higher is better42
Pos.200642
1=Hong Kong108
1=Singapore108
3S. Korea106
...
48=Ireland92
48=Malaysia92
48=Greece92
51Brunei91
52=Thailand91
52=Lithuania91
52=Cambodia91
55Albania90
Asia Avg90.4
World Avg85.6
q=138.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
43
Pos.201643
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
49=Israel73%
49=Guam73%
51Poland72%
52Brunei72%
53Slovenia72%
54Cyprus72%
55Russia71%
56Oman71%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
44
Pos.2017
Ratio44
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
154=Cayman Islands0.0
154=Andorra0.0
154=Greenland0.0
154=Brunei0.0
154=Aruba0.0
154=Bahrain0.0
154=Palau0.0
154=Equatorial Guinea0.0
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
76Kyrgyzstan76
77Togo77
78Albania78
79Brunei79
80Suriname80
81Fiji81
82Kenya82
83Guatemala83
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
156Venezuela156
157Bahrain157
158Mauritania158
159Brunei159
160Algeria160
161Papua New Guinea161
162Brazil162
163Equatorial Guinea163
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
4Egypt4
5Nigeria5
6Uruguay6
7Indonesia7
8Brunei8
9Moldova9
10Morocco10
11Oman11
12Tanzania12
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
32
Pos.2017
Rank32
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
156Ivory Coast156
157St Lucia157
158Vietnam158
159Laos159
160Equatorial Guinea160
161Fiji161
162Tonga162
163Brunei163
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better45
Pos.201945
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
59Albania7.20
60=Lebanon7.40
60=Ukraine7.40
62Brunei7.60
63Kazakhstan7.70
64=Macedonia7.90
64=Uruguay7.90
64=Thailand7.90
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#belief #buddhism #christianity #god #hinduism #islam #judaism #religion

Disbelief In God (2007)46
Pos.Higher is better
%46
1Vietnam81
2Japan65
3Sweden64
...
88=Sri Lanka0
88=Burundi0
88=Burkina Faso0
88=Brunei0
88=Botswana0
88=Syria0
88=Sierra Leone0
88=Thailand0
88=Togo0
88=Benin0
88=Tunisia0
88=Uganda0
88=Bangladesh0
88=UAE0
88=Azerbaijan0
88=Algeria0
World Avg9.9
q=137.

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below47:

Christian9.4%
Muslim75.1%
Hindu0.3%
Buddhist8.6%
Folk Religion6.2%
Jewish0.1%
Unaffiliated0.4%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%48.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)49, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Brunei states:

Though the constitution guarantees freedom of religion or belief, other laws and policies restrict this right. The constitution states, "The religion of Brunei Darussalam shall be the Muslim religion according to the Shafi'i sect of that religion." The government continues its longstanding policies to promote the Shafi'i school of Sunni Islam and discourage other religions. Anyone who teaches or promotes any "deviant" beliefs or practices in public may be charged under the Islamic Religious Council Act and punished with three months incarceration and a fine of BND 2,000 (US$1,550)50. Visitors to the country are asked to identify their religion on their visa applications. The Ministry of Education requires courses on Islam in all schools that adhere to the state curriculum. Marriage between Muslims and non-Muslims is not permitted50, and non-Muslims must convert to Islam if they wish to marry a Muslim.

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)51

Links: