Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor-general. Prime minister : Freundel Stuart
Head of state: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Population
287,733
408,786
Life Expectancy
74.520 years
76.370 years
Capital City
Bridgetown
Bandar Seri Begawan
Largest city
Bridgetown (population: 98,511)
Bandar Seri Begawan (population: 64,409)
Human Development Index
0.889
0.919
GDP per capita
$23,700 US
$50,000 US
Literacy Rate
99.7%
92.7%
Corruption Perception Index
7
NA
Percentage of Women in Parliament
13.7%
0%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
12.000%
2.700%
Death Penalty
Legal
Abolished in practice
Political System
parliamentary democracy
constitutional sultanate
Independence date
30 November 1966 (from UK)
1 January 1984 (from UK)
Religions
Protestant 63.4% (Anglican 28.3%, Pentecostal 18.7%, Methodist 5.1%, other 11.3%), Roman Catholic 4.2%, other Christian 7%, other 4.8%, none or unspecified 20.6% (2008 est.)
Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%
Languages
English
Malay (official), English, Chinese
Exports
manufactures, sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components
crude oil, natural gas, garments
External Debt
$668,000,000 $
$0 US
Exchange Rate
Barbadian dollars (BBD) per US dollar - NA (2007), 2 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003)
Bruneian dollars (BND) per US dollar - NA (2007), 1.5886 (2006), 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
0.800%
4.500%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
Location
Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela
Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
