Brunei Religion and Languages

By | March 5, 2021

According to franciscogardening, Brunei is a small country located in Southeast Asia, bordered by Malaysia to the north and east. With an area of 5,765 square kilometers, it has an estimated population of over 428,000 people and its currency is the Brunei Dollar (BND). The climate in Brunei is tropical with temperatures ranging from 24°C to 33°C throughout the year.

The main industries in Brunei are oil and gas production, banking and finance, manufacturing and tourism. Oil and gas production play a key role as it provides energy for both domestic consumption and export while banking and finance contribute significantly to their economy by providing jobs for locals as well as foreign investors. Manufacturing also plays an important role as it provides goods for both domestic consumption and export. In addition, Brunei is becoming increasingly popular for its rich cultural heritage and stunning beaches which offer tourists a unique Southeast Asian experience.

Population

In 2019, Brunei had a population density of 74 residents per km2. About 3/4 live in coastal towns and villages, and the urban population is 78 percent. The rural population is concentrated mainly to the river valleys and to the coast. The forested hinterland is sparsely populated.

The majority of Brunei’s population belongs to indigenous peoples, bumiputera. The country’s constitution defines the Belait, Bisaya, Dusun, Kedayan, Murut and Tutong ethnic groups, which, in addition to Brunei (Barunai or Malay), are included in the bumiputera category. Overall, they make up 66 percent of the country’s population. About 11 percent are Chinese, which in turn are divided into several dialect groups (hockey, Cantonese, chinese, etc.). While bumiputans are largely Muslim, the Chinese are Buddhists.

According to Countryaah, Brunei also has many seasonal workers and immigrants, especially in the oil industry and the service sector, including from Thailand and the Philippines. The largest part of the population lives in the district of Brunei-Muara, where the capital is located. In the sparsely populated inland, there are a number of minorities, which together make up 6 percent of the total population. The most important groups include ibanas, kelabites and bajau. They base their finances on burning, hunting and gathering and have often maintained their traditional religion. There are also a few hundred individuals of the pen group, which feed on the collection of jungle products.

Language

Official Language of Brunei

The official language is Malay, which in its local form is spoken by two thirds of the population. A small minority speak other Austronesian languages. Different Chinese varieties are spoken by about 10%. English is widely used. Culturally, Arabic is of great importance. See also Population and Ethnography above.

  • Follow abbreviationfinder to see what is the meaning of BN in geography. It can stand for Brunei. Click this site to see other possible meanings of this acronym.

Religion

Islam (Sunni) is state religion. In religious matters, the Sultan is assisted by an Islamic council. The majority of the population, the Malays, belong to this state-carrying Sunni Islam. The Chinese population are Buddhists, Confucians or Daoists. The proportion of Christians amounts to about 10% (mainly Roman Catholics and Anglicans). In some areas of the interior, pre-Islamic tribal religions survive.

Brunei Population by Religion