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World > Asia > Brunei
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Brunei |
Introduction:
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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.
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| Official name: |
Brunei Darussalam |
| Capital: |
name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates: 4 53 N, 114 56 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Government type: |
constitutional sultanate |
| Population: |
374,577 (July 2007 est.) |
| Languages: |
Malay (official), English, Chinese |
| Official Currency: |
Brunei Dollar (BND) |
| Currency code: |
BND |
| Area: |
total: 5,770 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
water: 500 sq km |
| Climate: |
tropical; hot, humid, rainy |
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Map of Brunei
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