GeoRealityMatch
Stunning view of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque reflecting in the water at sunset in Brunei.Exterior view of Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque showcasing its stunning architecture in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

Brunei

Asia · South-Eastern Asia

Affordable Cost of LivingVery High Development
HDI0.823#54 / 191Very High
GDP / Capita$32K#42 / 190High
Population466K169th
PPP / Capita$92KHigh
Gender Inequality0.279Low

Oil-wealthy sultanate with no income tax; strict Islamic law, very comfortable expat life.

At a Glance

71
HighSafetyPerceived safety, higher is safer
62
AffordableCost of LivingHigher is cheaper to live in
58
HighLife ExpectancyLife expectancy at birth
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Brunei's Human Development Index

0.823

Very High human development

#54 of 191 countries worldwide, #11 of 43 in Asia.

Higher than 72% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.

UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.

Closest indicators in this dataset

Life expectancy at birth75.5 yrs (2024)
GNI per capita$34,790 (2025)

World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.

Nearest countries by HDI

#52Romania0.827#53Antigua and Barbuda0.826
#54Brunei0.823
#55Russia0.821#56Bahamas0.820
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →
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Brunei

Brunei is a small, wealthy sultanate on the island of Borneo, surrounded on land by Malaysia and facing the South China Sea, with pristine rainforest covering most of its interior and a capital that mixes gilded mosques with quiet riverside villages. The pace of life is calm and the country is very safe, with a strong Malay Islamic culture that shapes public life. Those seeking nightlife or a busy social scene will find it very quiet.

  • Citizens pay no income tax and receive free healthcare and education.
  • One of the highest GDP per capita in Asia — almost invisible in global media.
  • Oil revenue so dominates the economy that 99% of export earnings come from it.
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Quick Facts

Capital

Bandar Seri Begawan

Language

Malay

Currency

$ BND

Area

5,270 km²

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Nomad Hub

Fixed Broadband

86Mbps

Moderate84th globally

Mobile

247Mbps

Very Fast8th globally
PlugType G

GDP / Capita

i

$32K

High

PPP / Capita

i

$92K

Very High

Inflation

i

-0.3%

Deflation

Unemployment

i

5.3%

Low

Innovation (GII)

i

24.5

Below Avg

GNI / Capita

i

$35K

High

FDI Inflows

i

0.4%

Cost of Living

i

48.2

Affordable

Price Level Index

i

70th pct

Very Affordable

20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast

Income & inflation over time

i
-7% nominal-23% real
$33K$66K$100K2%200620102015202020252028
GDPPPPInflationIMF forecast

HDI since 1990

0.779 → 0.823 (+0.044)Year by year →
1990: 0.7791991: 0.7791992: 0.7801993: 0.7801994: 0.7801995: 0.7821996: 0.7831997: 0.7821998: 0.7821999: 0.7872000: 0.7892001: 0.7922002: 0.7962003: 0.8022004: 0.8072005: 0.8112006: 0.8172007: 0.8202008: 0.8212009: 0.8232010: 0.8252011: 0.8292012: 0.8362013: 0.8352014: 0.8342015: 0.8322016: 0.8302017: 0.8292018: 0.8262019: 0.8272020: 0.8272021: 0.8242022: 0.823

UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.

Twenty years here

Year by year →The world report →
Life expectancy at birth74.7 → 75.5 (+0.8)
Internet users42 → 96 (+54)
Urban population74 → 75 (+1)
Births per woman2.02 → 1.73 (-0.29)
Renewable share of energy0 → 0 (0)
Access to electricity100 → 100 (0)
Infant mortality8 → 9 (+1)
CO2 emissions per person16.7 → 20.2 (+3.5)
Forest area74 → 72 (-2)

World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).

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Neighbouring Countries

Malaysia
Malaysia
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Quick answers

What is Brunei's Human Development Index?

Brunei's Human Development Index is 0.823 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #54 of 191 countries.

How expensive is Brunei?

Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Brunei at 48.2 (New York = 100); that is #92 cheapest of 143 countries with data.

What is life expectancy in Brunei?

Life expectancy at birth in Brunei is 75.5 yrs (World Bank), ranked #83 of 195 countries.