Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)

Brunei Negara Brunei Darussalam
Status	Independent State
Social and Moral Index	108th best
Capital	Bandar Seri Begawan
Land Area	5 270km21
Location	Asia
Groupings	Small Islands
Population	0.4m2
Life Expectancy	74.64yrs (2017)3
GNI	$64 490 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 Codes	BN, BRN, 965
Internet Domain	.bn6
Currency	Dollar (BND)7
Telephone	+6738

1. Overview
2. Brunei National and Social Development
3. Brunei's Demographics and Migration
4. Brunei's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance
   1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets
   2. Gender Equality Datasets
   3. Prejudice Datasets
5. Brunei's Health
   1. Health Datasets
   2. Children's Health Datasets
6. Brunei's Responsibility Towards The Environment
7. Brunei's Modernity and Learning
   1. Modernity Datasets
   2. Education Datasets
   3. Technology and Information Datasets
8. Brunei's Culture, Peace and Inequality
   1. National Culture Datasets
   2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets
   3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets
9. Religion and Beliefs
10. Links

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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

“Blessed 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
1	Switzerland	0.962
2	Norway	0.961
3	Iceland	0.959
	...
48	Turkey	0.838
49	Montenegro	0.832
50	Kuwait	0.831
51	Brunei	0.829
52	Russia	0.822
53	Romania	0.821
54	Oman	0.816
55	Bahamas	0.812
	Asia Avg	0.75
	World Avg	0.72
q=191.

Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.		Higher is better PPP $11
1	Liechtenstein	$146 830
2	Singapore	$90 919
3	Qatar	$87 134
4	Luxembourg	$84 649
5	Ireland	$76 169
6	Switzerland	$66 933
7	USA	$64 765
8	Norway	$64 660
9	Brunei	$64 490
10	Hong Kong	$62 607
11	UAE	$62 574
12	Denmark	$60 365
	Asia Avg	$22 215
	World Avg	$20 136
q=193.

Social & Moral Development Index12
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank12
1	Denmark	26.9
2	Norway	29.1
3	Sweden	29.9
	...
105	Bahrain	92.5
106	St Lucia	92.6
107	Kyrgyzstan	93.2
108	Brunei	93.5
109	Jordan	93.7
110	Suriname	93.9
111	Honduras	93.9
112	Nicaragua	94.4
	Asia Avg	92.0
	World Avg	89.0
q=200.

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 Datasets:

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, once you take mortality into account₁₃. The highest fertility rate ever detected in a single year was in Yemen in 1985, at 8.86.₁₄

Population2
Pos.		2018 Population2
1	China	1.4b
2	India	1.4b
3	USA	327.1m
	...
167	Cape Verde	0.5m
168	Maldives	0.5m
169	Malta	0.4m
170	Brunei	0.4m
171	Bahamas	0.4m
172	Belize	0.4m
173	Iceland	0.3m
174	Vanuatu	0.3m
	World Avg	39.0m
q=195.

Life Expectancy Higher is better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
61	Grenada	74.9
62	Slovakia	74.9
63	Malaysia	74.9
64	Brunei	74.6
65	Hungary	74.5
66	Jordan	74.3
67	Serbia	74.2
68	Romania	74.2
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
34	Qatar	1.78
35	Bulgaria	1.78
36	St Vincent & Grenadines	1.78
37	Brunei	1.76
38	Dominican Rep.	2.25
39	Nicaragua	2.28
40	Panama	2.30
41	Morocco	2.30
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Old-Age Dependency Ratio Lower is better16
Pos.		2016 Per 10016
1	Uganda	04.3
2	Mali	04.5
3=	Chad	04.7
	...
104	Morocco	16.1
105=	Suriname	16.2
105=	Grenada	16.2
105=	Brunei	16.2
108	El Salvador	17.3
109	Panama	17.7
110	N. Korea	17.8
111	Turkey	18.0
	World Avg	18.3
q=185.

• The Population of the Earth
• Abortion, Birth Control and Contraception

Migration Datasets:

Immigrants17
Pos.		2017 %17
1	UAE	88.4%
2	Kuwait	75.5%
3	Qatar	65.2%
	...
16	Switzerland	29.6%
17	Australia	28.8%
18	Antigua & Barbuda	28.1%
19	Brunei	25.3%
20	Israel	23.6%
21	Palau	23.0%
22	New Zealand	22.7%
23	Canada	21.5%
	World Avg	9.4%
q=195.

Emigrants18
Pos.		2010 %18
1	Dominica	104.8%
2	Palestine	68.4%
3	Samoa	67.3%
	...
94	Finland	6.2%
95	Singapore	6.1%
96	Guatemala	6.1%
97	Brunei	6.0%
98	Netherlands	6.0%
99	Italy	5.8%
100	Benin	5.8%
101	Laos	5.7%
	World Avg	11.5%
q=192.

4. Brunei's Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#equality #freedom #freethought #gender #gender_equality #homosexuality #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #religious_tolerance #tolerance #women

Compared to Asia (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Japan	31.6
2	Taiwan	41.3
3	S. Korea	44.8
	...
44	Turkmenistan	139.3
45	Myanmar	139.4
46	Pakistan	141.3
47	Syria	142.4
48	Iran	152.2
49	Brunei	153.6
50	N. Korea	154.9
51	Afghanistan	155.9
52	Saudi Arabia	159.4
	Asia Avg	103.00
q=52.

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2025)19
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank19
1	Sweden	7.8
2	Netherlands	8.7
3	Denmark	8.8
	...
191	Equatorial Guinea	147.3
192	Iran	152.2
193	Sudan	153.0
194	Brunei	153.6
195	N. Korea	154.9
196	Afghanistan	155.9
197	Saudi Arabia	159.4
198	Eritrea	161.7
	World Avg	89.80
q=199.

The best countries in the world at ensuring human rights, fostering equality and promoting tolerance, are Sweden, The Netherlands and Denmark₂₀. These countries are displaying the best traits that humanity has to offer. The worst countries are Somalia, Eritrea and Saudi Arabia₂₀.

31 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on supporting press freedom, combatting 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 Europe₂₀, whereas the worst are The Middle East, Africa and Asia₂₀.

For more, see:

• " Which are the Best Countries for Human Rights, Equality and Tolerance?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

4.1. Human Rights & Tolerance Datasets

#freedom #human_rights #international_law #mass_media #politics

Press Freedom Higher is better21
Pos.		202521
1	Norway	92.31
2	Estonia	89.46
3	Netherlands	88.64
	...
93	Ecuador	53.76
94	Tanzania	53.68
95	Serbia	53.55
96	Brunei	53.47
97	Swaziland	52.86
98	Kosovo	52.73
99	Angola	52.67
100	Mozambique	52.63
	Asia Avg	39.69
	World Avg	54.65
q=179. Also scored for 2000s-2010s.

Brunei only had Press Freedom data in the 2000s for year 2002 and 2009, and the results diverge by a relatively large amount. Consider the average for that decade to be potentially skewed.

Personal, Civil & Economic Freedom Lower is better22
Pos.		2014 Rank22
1	Hong Kong	1
2	Switzerland	2
3	New Zealand	3
	...
63	Dominican Rep.	63
64	Cambodia	64
65	Madagascar	65
66	Brunei	66
67	Serbia	67
68	Guatemala	68
69=	Moldova	69
69=	Namibia	69
	Asia Avg	94.6
	World Avg	79.7
q=159.

Freedom in the World Lower is better
Pos.		2024 Score
1=	Norway	1.0
1=	Canada	1.0
1=	Cape Verde	1.0
	...
134=	Jordan	5.0
134=	Pakistan	5.0
134=	Tunisia	5.0
137=	Brunei	5.5
137=	Turkey	5.5
137=	Somaliland	5.5
137=	Western Sahara	5.5
137=	Algeria	5.5
	Asia Avg	5.0
	World Avg	3.7
q=205. Also scored for 1970s-2010s.

Nominal Commitment to HR Higher is better23
Pos.		2009 Treaties23
1	Argentina	24
2=	Chile	23
2=	Costa Rica	23
	...
179=	Grenada	7
179=	UAE	7
181=	St Lucia	6
181=	Brunei	6
181=	Tonga	6
181=	Pakistan	6
185=	Tuvalu	5
185=	Micronesia	5
	Asia Avg	12.7
	World Avg	15.1
q=194.

HR Treaties Lag Lower is better24
Pos.		2019 Avg Yrs/Treaty24
1	Ecuador	2.15
2	Uruguay	2.25
3	Tunisia	3.65
	...
181	St Kitts & Nevis	15.00
182	Singapore	15.02
183	Papua New Guinea	15.23
184	Brunei	15.29
185	Tonga	15.55
186	Micronesia	15.55
187	Somalia	15.71
188	Kiribati	15.80
	Asia Avg	10.97
	World Avg	10.02
q=195.

4.2. Gender Equality Datasets

#gender #misogyny #women

Brunei is on the way towards ending gender inequality but women are still in an unfavourable position much of the time.

See:

• "Religion Versus Womankind" by Vexen Crabtree (2007)

Gender Inequality Lower is better25
Pos.		202225
1	Denmark	0.01
2	Norway	0.01
3	Switzerland	0.02
	...
65	Libya	0.27
66	Turkey	0.27
67	Tajikistan	0.28
68=	Brunei	0.28
68=	Georgia	0.28
70	Barbados	0.29
71	Argentina	0.30
72	Mongolia	0.30
	Asia Avg	0.33
	World Avg	0.34
q=166. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Data for Brunei only starts in 2016 (most other countries have at least some data from the 1990s onwards).

4.3. Prejudice Datasets

#freethought #homosexuality #religious_tolerance

LGBT Equality in the 2020s Higher is better26
Pos.		Total Score26
1=	Germany	4.88
1=	Spain	4.88
3	Portugal	4.81
	...
201	Malawi	-7.52
202	Burundi	-7.54
203	S. Sudan	-7.57
204=	Brunei	-7.63
204=	Iraq	-7.63
206	UAE	-8.00
207	Chad	-8.33
208	Zambia	-8.40
	Asia Avg	-2.88
	World Avg	-1.21
q=215. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

Since 1906, the Penal Code and Syariah Penal Code criminalize; death penalty for male same-sex acts but not enforced.

ILGA researchers in 2017 found that Brunei Darussalam had no legal protections against anti-LGBT discrimination. They documented cases of LGBT folk being arrested as a result of discriminatory laws within the previous few years. They documented cases of LGBT folk being arrested as a result of discriminatory laws within the previous few years.

Actions taken at the United Nations:

•  ⇣  Opposed a 2003 resolution at the UN Commission tabled by Brazil, on prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation and opposed it again in 2004 (it was defeated both times by the Vatican and a collection of Islamic countries).
•  ⇣  Opposed the 2006 Norway Joint Statement on sexual orientation and gender identity at the UN.

Freedom of Thought Lower is better27
Pos.		202127
1=	Belgium	1.0
1=	Taiwan	1.0
1=	Netherlands	1.0
	...
186=	Mauritania	4.8
186=	UAE	4.8
186=	Iran	4.8
186=	Brunei	4.8
186=	Sudan	4.8
186=	Yemen	4.8
186=	Maldives	4.8
193=	Saudi Arabia	5.0
	Asia Avg	3.7
	World Avg	3.0
q=196.

5. Brunei's Health

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

Compared to Asia (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Japan	37.3
2	Singapore	41.1
3	S. Korea	50.5
4	Sri Lanka	53.3
5	Brunei	56.0
6	Malaysia	60.1
7	Hong Kong	61.0
8	China	63.7
9	Israel	65.0
10	Cyprus	65.8
11	N. Korea	68.8
12	Thailand	69.1
13	Bahrain	70.0
	Asia Avg	80.90
q=50.

Health (2025)28
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank28
1	Monaco	10.3
2	Liechtenstein	30.1
3	Japan	37.3
	...
15	S. Korea	50.5
16	Belgium	51.1
17	Sri Lanka	53.3
18	Brunei	56.0
19	Italy	56.9
20	Slovenia	58.6
21	Malaysia	60.1
22	Australia	60.4
	World Avg	97.57
q=207.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Liechtenstein and Japan₂₉. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are Angola, Somalia and S. Sudan₂₉.

42 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on 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, obesity rate, its adolescent birth rate, delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015 and childhood mortality. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Europe and The Mediterranean₂₉, whereas the worst are Africa, Micronesia and Melanesia₂₉.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Healthiest Cultures and Health Policies" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

5.1. Health Datasets

#alcohol #birth_control #brunei #children's_health #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #obesity #overpopulation #smoking #vaccines

Public health in Brunei is very good. Brunei does the best in terms of delivery rate of infant DTP immunizations in the 2020s₃₀. It comes in the best 20 in terms of its alcohol consumption rate₃₁. It does better than average in its fertility rate₁₅, delivery rate of 7x Infant Immunizations 2011-2015₃₂, its adolescent birth rate₃₃, childhood mortality in the 2020s₃₄, its average life expectancy₁₁, the prevalence of overweight adults₃₅, its smoking rate₃₆ and in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance₃₇. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during 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 better11
Pos.		2021 Years11
1	Monaco	85.9
2	Hong Kong	85.5
3	Japan	84.8
	...
61	Grenada	74.9
62	Slovakia	74.9
63	Malaysia	74.9
64	Brunei	74.6
65	Hungary	74.5
66	Jordan	74.3
67	Serbia	74.2
68	Romania	74.2
	Asia Avg	73.48
	World Avg	71.28
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Alcohol Consumption Lower is better31
Pos.		2016 Per Capita31
1	Bangladesh	0.0
2	Kuwait	0.0
3	Libya	0.0
	...
10=	Pakistan	0.3
11=	Kiribati	0.4
11=	Iraq	0.4
11=	Brunei	0.4
11=	Egypt	0.4
15=	Djibouti	0.5
15=	Niger	0.5
15=	Sudan	0.5
	Asia Avg	3.9
	World Avg	6.2
q=189.

Fertility Rate 2.0 is best15
Pos.		202215
1	US Virgin Islands	2.00
2	Ecuador	2.00
3	Nepal	2.01
	...
34	Qatar	1.78
35	Bulgaria	1.78
36	St Vincent & Grenadines	1.78
37	Brunei	1.76
38	Dominican Rep.	2.25
39	Nicaragua	2.28
40	Panama	2.30
41	Morocco	2.30
	Asia Avg	2.17
	World Avg	2.47
q=208. Also scored for 1960s-2010s.

Smoking in the 2020s Lower is better36
Pos.		Total %36
1	Nigeria	3.3%
2	Ghana	3.4%
3	Panama	5.2%
	...
65	Congo, (Brazzaville)	15.5%
66	Denmark	16.2%
67	Singapore	16.3%
68	Brunei	16.4%
69	N. Korea	16.6%
70	Uzbekistan	16.8%
71	Comoros	17.3%
72	Cambodia	17.3%
	Asia Avg	22.8%
	World Avg	20.0%
q=165. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Sweden	1
2	Ireland	2
3	Denmark	3
	...
65	Cambodia	65
66	Georgia	66
67	Belarus	67
68	Brunei	68
69	Paraguay	69
70	Latvia	70
71	Liberia	71
72	Kazakhstan	72
	Asia Avg	64.4
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Overweight Adults Lower is better35
Pos.		1976 %35
1	Bangladesh	4.7
2	Vietnam	5.1
3	Nepal	5.4
	...
63	Swaziland	15.8
64	Zimbabwe	16.3
65=	N. Korea	16.8
65=	Brunei	16.8
67	Mauritius	17.0
68	Seychelles	17.4
69=	Haiti	20.2
69=	Yemen	20.2
	Asia Avg	23.1
	World Avg	27.1
q=191.

Adult Obesity Lower is better38
Pos.		2022 %38
1	Vietnam	2.1%
2	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	2.2%
3	Ethiopia	2.4%
	...
148	Australia	31.8%
149	Costa Rica	32.0%
150	Paraguay	32.1%
151	Brunei	32.4%
152	Nicaragua	32.4%
153	Palestine	32.8%
154	St Vincent & Grenadines	33.6%
155	Greece	33.7%
	Asia Avg	21.1%
	World Avg	24.7%
q=199. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

5.2. Children's Health Datasets

#children's_health #health #parenting #population #vaccines

Adolescent Birth Rate Lower is better33
Pos.		2022 Per 100033
1	Hong Kong	1.6
2	Denmark	1.8
3	S. Korea	2.1
	...
42	Czechia	9.4
43	Bosnia & Herzegovina	9.4
44	France	9.4
45	Brunei	9.5
46	Oman	9.7
47	Lithuania	9.7
48	Montenegro	9.7
49	UK	10.0
	Asia Avg	25.9
	World Avg	43.8
q=195. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

Infant DTP Immunizations (2020s) Higher is better30
Pos.		Total Avg %30
1=	Luxembourg	99.0
1=	Oman	99.0
1=	Niue	99.0
1=	French Polynesia	99.0
1=	Monaco	99.0
1=	Portugal	99.0
1=	Nicaragua	99.0
1=	Brunei	99.0
1=	Tonga	99.0
1=	Cuba	99.0
1=	Hungary	99.0
12	N. Korea	98.7
	Asia Avg	90.6
	World Avg	88.5
q=211. Also scored for 1980s-2020s.

7x Infant Immunizations (2011-2015) Higher is better32
Pos.		2015 Avg %32
1=	Hungary	99.0
1=	China	99.0
3	Uzbekistan	98.9
	...
37	Kyrgyzstan	96.7
38	Brazil	96.7
39=	Jordan	96.6
39=	Brunei	96.6
41	Spain	96.5
42	Poland	96.5
43	Libya	96.4
44	St Kitts & Nevis	96.3
	Asia Avg	90.5
	World Avg	88.3
q=194.

Infant Mortality (2020s) Lower is better34
Pos.		Total Per 100034
1	San Marino	2.11
2	Finland	2.59
3	Luxembourg	2.60
	...
58=	Kuwait	9.46
59	Romania	9.55
60	Ukraine	9.82
61	Brunei	9.90
62	Macedonia	9.95
63	Maldives	10.37
64	Albania	10.41
65	Antigua & Barbuda	11.08
	Asia Avg	23.58
	World Avg	32.19
q=195. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

6. Brunei's Responsibility Towards The Environment

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

Compared to Asia (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Nepal	47.9
3	India	49.5
	...
43	Kyrgyzstan	108.7
44	Kazakhstan	109.8
45	Bhutan	115.3
46	Uzbekistan	116.1
47	Tajikistan	128.6
48	Brunei	130.2
49	N. Korea	132.3
50	Turkmenistan	134.1
51	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	137.5
	Asia Avg	86.44
q=51.

Responsibility Towards The Environment (2025)39
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank39
1	Sri Lanka	34.9
2	Uruguay	43.2
3	Switzerland	45.0
	...
187	Tuvalu	127.4
188	Tajikistan	128.6
189	Niue	129.5
190	Brunei	130.2
191	Somalia	131.0
192	N. Korea	132.3
193	Turkmenistan	134.1
194	Nauru	134.4
	World Avg	84.93
q=199.

We have known for a long term that we must protect the environment from habitation destruction, over-exploitation, pollution, and the emissions that cause climate change. In 1998, Greenpeace wrote that "Environment can no longer be meaningfully separated from health, quality of life, democracy, education, economy or trade"₄₀. What countries have been doing the right thing, via legislation and national culture? All countries' current and historical approach towards the environment is gauged via 21 datasets, including multiple decades of data on its forested percent change 2000-2020, its environmental performance, energy to GDP efficiency, its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population, reducing annual meat consumption per person and its score on the Green Future Index.

The countries that do the best (Sri Lanka, Uruguay and Switzerland) tend to have avoided the excesses of early industrial countries, and have not yet repeated the same mistakes of environmental destruction - at least, not on the same scale. The regions with the best average results per country are Central America, South America and Scandinavia. The worst are Eritrea, The Vatican City and Timor-Leste (E. Timor), and the worst regions Micronesia, Australasia and Melanesia.

For more, see:

• "Countries With the Best Environmental Records" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

One of the highest in Asia with regard to its responsibility towards the environment, Brunei is positioned 10th-worst in the world. This rank is calculated from 21 data sets. Brunei does better than average in terms of its environmental performance₄₁. But unfortunately Brunei gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average for its forested percent change 2000-2020₄₂. And finally, it falls into the worst 20 when it comes to its sign-up rate to major international accords on protecting the environment.

Forest Area Change 2000-2020 Higher is better42
Pos.		Total42
1	Guernsey	82.6%
2	Bahrain	75.2%
3	Iceland	64.7%
	...
166	Mexico	-4.0%
167	Peru	-4.0%
168	S. Africa	-4.1%
169	Brunei	-4.3%
170	Madagascar	-4.6%
171	Togo	-4.7%
172	Zambia	-4.8%
173	Laos	-4.8%
	Asia Avg	3.2%
	World Avg	-0.1%
q=234.

Environmental Performance Higher is better41
Pos.		201841
1	Switzerland	87.4
2	France	84.0
3	Denmark	81.6
	...
50	Poland	64.1
51	Venezuela	63.9
52	Russia	63.8
53	Brunei	63.6
54	Morocco	63.5
55	Cuba	63.4
56	Panama	62.7
57	Tonga	62.5
	Asia Avg	54.5
	World Avg	56.4
q=180.

International Accords on the Environment Higher is better
Pos.		Total Avg Rate
1	Sweden	83%
2	Canada	82%
3	Norway	81%
	...
182	Afghanistan	41%
183	Tuvalu	40%
184	Sao Tome & Principe	40%
185	Brunei	39%
186	Nauru	39%
187	S. Sudan	37%
188	Timor-Leste (E. Timor)	36%
189	Bhutan	35%
	Asia Avg	55.4%
	World Avg	57.5%
q=197. Also scored for 1970s-2020s.

7. Brunei's Modernity and Learning

#education #intelligence #metric #modernity #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2025)43
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank43
1	Taiwan	25.4
2	S. Korea	25.5
3	Japan	26.8
	...
29	Iran	85.1
30	Kuwait	85.5
31	Sri Lanka	88.5
32	Brunei	89.6
33	Jordan	90.3
34	Mongolia	94.2
35	Saudi Arabia	95.8
36	Indonesia	96.3
37	Oman	99.4
	Asia Avg	83.04
q=51.

Modernity & Learning (2025)43
Pos.		Lower is better Avg Rank43
1	Vatican City	1.0
2	Finland	4.8
3	Belgium	8.5
	...
112	Guatemala	86.7
113	Sri Lanka	88.5
114	Libya	88.6
115	Brunei	89.6
116	Jordan	90.3
117	Antigua & Barbuda	92.9
118	Honduras	93.2
119	Mongolia	94.2
	World Avg	80.33
q=194.

The most modern countries, with the best results from education, the highest levels of research, and with the easiest access to information on the Internet, are The Vatican City, Finland and Belgium₄₄. The worst countries are S. Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia₄₄. Despite improves in global education, access to tertiary (adult) education is becoming increasingly unequal between the rich haves and the poor have-nots₄₅.

“Education, at all levels and ages, is the single most vital support for equality as well as being a country's most vital economic and social resource. [...] Every successful aspirant to modernisation and economic development, from Japan to South Korea, China to Chile, has got there with a big emphasis on education.”

Bill Emmott (2017)₄₆

23 datasets are used to calculate points for each country, including multiple decades of data on Research and Development, Intellectual Endeavours, metric system adoption rate, Religiosity, IQ, Secondary Education, Length of Schooling, Maths, Science & Reading, the percent of citizens with access to the internet, Freedom On The Internet, IT Security, IPv6 Uptake and digital quality of life. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Baltic States and Europe₄₄, whereas the worst are Melanesia, Africa and Micronesia₄₄.

For more, see:

• " Which Countries are Most Modern, With the Best Education and Internet Access?" by Vexen Crabtree (2025).

7.1. Modernity Datasets

#intelligence #metric

Intellectual Endeavours Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Ukraine	1
2	Czechia	2
3	Hungary	3
	...
122	Dominican Rep.	122
123	Oman	123
124	Chad	124
125	Brunei	125
126	Ivory Coast	126
127	Kuwait	127
128	Vietnam	128
129	Azerbaijan	129
	Asia Avg	97.1
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Metric System Adoption Rate Higher is better47
Pos.		2025 %47
1=	Slovakia	100
1=	Poland	100
1=	Portugal	100
	...
159=	Cambodia	90
159=	Mauritania	90
159=	Bangladesh	90
159=	Brunei	90
159=	Central African Rep.	90
159=	Botswana	90
159=	Angola	90
159=	Chad	90
	Asia Avg	90
	World Avg	92
q=187. Also scored for 1960s-2020s.

Officially adopted metric in 1981. Progression:

• 1960 (50%): Traditional units dominant; metric in administration.
• 1970 (70%): Modernization drives metric adoption.
• 1980 (85%): Commerce/industry largely metric.
• 2000 (90%): Metric dominant officially.
• 2025 (90%).

IQ Higher is better48
Pos.		200648
1=	Hong Kong	108
1=	Singapore	108
3	S. Korea	106
	...
48=	Ireland	92
48=	Malaysia	92
48=	Greece	92
51=	Brunei	91
51=	Thailand	91
51=	Lithuania	91
51=	Cambodia	91
55=	Albania	90
	Asia Avg	90.4
	World Avg	85.6
q=138.

7.2. Education Datasets

#education

Secondary Education Higher is better49
Pos.		201849
1=	Luxembourg	100.0%
1=	Estonia	100.0%
1=	Austria	100.0%
	...
74	Andorra	72.3%
75	Panama	72.2%
76	UAE	70.7%
77	Brunei	70.1%
78	Iran	69.8%
79	Vietnam	69.4%
80	Venezuela	69.2%
81	Qatar	67.5%
	Asia Avg	66.0%
	World Avg	63.0%
q=169.

Length of Schooling Higher is better50
Pos.		2021 Years50
1	Australia	21.1
2	New Zealand	20.3
3	Greece	20.0
	...
83	Antigua & Barbuda	14.2
84	Morocco	14.2
85	Sri Lanka	14.1
86	Brunei	14.0
87	Seychelles	13.9
88	Bulgaria	13.9
89	Bosnia & Herzegovina	13.8
90	Egypt	13.8
	Asia Avg	13.5
	World Avg	13.5
q=193. Also scored for 1990s-2010s.

7.3. Technology and Information Datasets

#the_internet

Internet Users Higher is better51
Pos.		201651
1	Iceland	100%
2	Faroe Islands	99%
3	Norway	98%
	...
49=	Israel	73%
49=	Guam	73%
51	Poland	72%
52	Brunei	72%
53	Slovenia	72%
54	Cyprus	72%
55	Russia	71%
56	Oman	71%
	Asia Avg	48.7%
	World Avg	48.1%
q=201.

IPv6 Uptake Higher is better52
Pos.		2017 Ratio52
1	Belgium	55.4
2	Germany	41.8
3	Switzerland	35.1
	...
154=	Cayman Islands	0.0
154=	Andorra	0.0
154=	Greenland	0.0
154=	Brunei	0.0
154=	Aruba	0.0
154=	Bahrain	0.0
154=	Palau	0.0
154=	Equatorial Guinea	0.0
	Asia Avg	2.11
	World Avg	3.82
q=176.

8. Brunei's Culture, Peace and Inequality

#health #inequality #internationalism #life_expectancy

8.1. National Culture Datasets

#internationalism

Creativity & Culture Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Belgium	1
2	Netherlands	2
3	Estonia	3
	...
76	Kyrgyzstan	76
77	Togo	77
78	Albania	78
79	Brunei	79
80	Suriname	80
81	Fiji	81
82	Kenya	82
83	Guatemala	83
	Asia Avg	99.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Passport Reach (2020s) Higher is better53
Pos.		Total Q53
1	Singapore	192.2
2	Japan	192.0
3	S. Korea	190.7
	...
45	Brazil	170.2
46	San Marino	169.5
47	Andorra	169.0
48	Brunei	166.0
49	Israel	162.7
50	Barbados	162.3
51	Mexico	159.0
52=	St Kitts & Nevis	156.3
	Asia Avg	85.1
	World Avg	108.8
q=195. Also scored for 2000s-2020s.

Open Trading, Aid & Development Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Ireland	1
2	Denmark	2
3	Sweden	3
	...
156	Venezuela	156
157	Bahrain	157
158	Mauritania	158
159	Brunei	159
160	Algeria	160
161	Papua New Guinea	161
162	Brazil	162
163	Equatorial Guinea	163
	Asia Avg	86.3
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.2. Peace Versus Instability Datasets

Peacekeeping & Security Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Samoa	1
2	S. Africa	2
3	Tunisia	3
4	Egypt	4
5	Nigeria	5
6	Uruguay	6
7	Indonesia	7
8	Brunei	8
9	Moldova	9
10	Morocco	10
11	Oman	11
12	Tanzania	12
	Asia Avg	76.0
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

Refugees & UN Treaties Lower is better37
Pos.		2017 Rank37
1	Austria	1
2	Germany	2
3	Netherlands	3
	...
156	Ivory Coast	156
157	St Lucia	157
158	Vietnam	158
159	Laos	159
160	Equatorial Guinea	160
161	Fiji	161
162	Tonga	162
163	Brunei	163
	Asia Avg	92.2
	World Avg	82.0
q=163.

8.3. Economic Inequality and Poverty Datasets

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy Lower is better54
Pos.		201954
1	Iceland	2.40
2=	Singapore	2.50
2=	Hong Kong	2.50
	...
59	Albania	7.20
60=	Lebanon	7.40
60=	Ukraine	7.40
62	Brunei	7.60
63	Kazakhstan	7.70
64=	Macedonia	7.90
64=	Uruguay	7.90
64=	Thailand	7.90
	Asia Avg	11.80
	World Avg	14.59
q=184.

9. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Pew Forum polling over the decades has found the following adherency rates:₅₅:

	2010	2020
Muslim	78.8%	82.2%
Christian	8.68%	6.69%
Buddhist	7.84%	6.3%
Other	3.19%	3.37%
Hindu	1.34%	1.34%
Unaffiliated	0.157%	0.156%
Jewish	None	None

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%₅₆.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)₅₇, 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)₅₈. 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 permitted₅₈, and non-Muslims must convert to Islam if they wish to marry a Muslim.”

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)₅₉

Links:

• A List of All Religions and Belief Systems
• Secularisation Theory: Will Modern Society Reject Religion? What is Secularism?