Quick facts
Brunei population overview
Brunei is the 51st most populous of 52 countries and territories in Asia. The United Nations put the population at 468,899 on 1 January 2026; with an annual growth rate of +0.7% the live estimate on this page rises by roughly 9 people per day.
Over a full year that means about 5,955 births (12.7 per 1,000 people) and 2,626 deaths (5.6 per 1,000), plus net immigration of roughly 5 people. The infant mortality rate is 7.3 per 1,000 live births.
World Bank data show the population grew from 88,347 in 1960 to 466,330 in 2025 — a change of +427.8%, or +2.6% per year on average. The population is at its all-time high today.
Demographically, the median age is 33.2 years; life expectancy at birth is 75.8 years; women have on average 1.7 children (2024, below the 2.1 replacement level); 20.6% of residents are under 15 and 7.2% are 65 or older (2025); 75% of people live in urban areas (2025).
The capital is Bandar Seri Begawan. Brunei covers 5,770 km², giving a population density of about 81.7 people per km². GDP was $15.03B in 2025 — about $32,235 per person (World Bank classification: high income).
Brunei population statistics (2026)
| Population (live, October 2026) #176 of 238 → | 471,601 |
|---|---|
| UN estimate, 1 Jan 2026 | 468,899 |
| World rank | #176 of 238 |
| Rank in Asia | #51 of 52 |
| Share of world population | 0.006% |
| Annual growth rate #120 of 238 → | +0.7% |
| Births per year est. | 5,955 |
| Deaths per year est. | 2,626 |
| Net migration per year est. · #101 of 238 → | +5 |
| Birth rate #110 of 216 → | 12.7 per 1,000 |
| Death rate #182 of 216 → | 5.6 per 1,000 |
| Infant mortality #141 of 238 → | 7.3 per 1,000 births |
| Sex ratio #12 of 238 → | 112.9 males per 100 females |
| Median age #122 of 238 → | 33.2 years |
| Life expectancy #101 of 216 → | 75.8 years |
| Fertility rate 2024 · #123 of 216 → | 1.7 births per woman |
| Urban population 2025 · #74 of 216 → | 75% |
| Surface area 2023 · #168 of 215 → | 5,770 km² |
| Population density #118 of 215 → | 81.7 per km² |
| Capital | Bandar Seri Begawan |
| GDP (current US$) 2025 · #148 of 212 → | $15.03B |
| GDP per capita 2025 · #53 of 212 → | $32,235 |
| Income group World Bank | High income |
Brunei population by year
| Year | Population | Change | Annual growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2026 (live, UN-based) | 471,601 | – | – |
| 2025 | 466,330 | +3,609 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | 462,721 | +3,772 | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 458,949 | +3,579 | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 455,370 | +3,649 | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 451,721 | +4,317 | +1% |
| 2020 | 447,404 | +25,192 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 422,212 | +29,880 | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 392,332 | +33,416 | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 358,916 | +32,492 | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 326,424 | +35,229 | +2.3% |
| 1995 | 291,195 | +35,903 | +2.7% |
| 1990 | 255,292 | +36,373 | +3.1% |
| 1985 | 218,919 | +32,808 | +3.3% |
| 1980 | 186,111 | +28,041 | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 158,070 | +22,932 | +3.2% |
| 1970 | 135,138 | +24,300 | +4% |
| 1965 | 110,838 | +22,491 | +4.6% |
| 1960 | 88,347 | – | – |
Change and annual growth are measured against the previous row; growth is annualized where rows are five years apart. The live row extrapolates the UN estimate and is not directly comparable with the World Bank series.
Largest cities in Brunei
| # | City | Population | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bandar Seri Begawan Capital | 64,409 | 13.7% |
| 2 | Sengkurong | 40,972 | 8.7% |
| 3 | Mentiri | 39,324 | 8.3% |
| 4 | Kuala Belait | 31,178 | 6.6% |
| 5 | Tutong | 19,151 | 4.1% |
| 6 | Serasa | 18,569 | 3.9% |
| 7 | Liang | 16,813 | 3.6% |
Bandar Seri Begawan is the largest city with 64,409 people and is also the capital. City figures are the latest official estimates for the city proper, so shares are approximate. Full list of Brunei cities →
About Brunei Darussalam
Population over time
- From 88,347 in 1960 to 471,601 today — up 433.8%.
- The population is at its all-time high right now.
- Average change over the last 10 years of data: +1% per year.
- World rank: Population #176 of 238 · Population growth rate #120 of 238.
Life expectancy & fertility
- Life expectancy at birth: 75.5 years (2024), up 16.8 years since 1960.
- Fertility: 1.7 births per woman (2024) — below the ~2.1 replacement level.
- World rank: Life expectancy #101 of 216 · Fertility rate #123 of 216.
Birth & death rates
- Latest: 13.3 births vs 5.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2024).
- Natural increase of 8 per 1,000 a year, before migration.
- World rank: Birth rate #110 of 216 · Death rate #182 of 216.
Age structure
- 20.6% of the population is under 15 and 7.2% is 65 or older (2025).
- The 65+ share has grown from 3.7% in 1960 — the population is aging.
- World rank: Population under 15 #120 of 216 · Population aged 65+ #121 of 216 · Median age #122 of 238.
CO₂ emissions
- Latest total: 9.37 Mt CO₂ (2024).
- Emissions peaked at 10.13 Mt in 2020 — down 7.5% since.
- Per person: 20.24 t in 2024, vs 14.98 t in 1970.
- World rank: CO₂ emissions #113 of 203 · CO₂ emissions per capita #5 of 203.
Energy use & renewables
- Energy use: 8,658 kg of oil equivalent per person (2023), up 28% since 1990.
- Renewables supplied 0% of final energy in 2021 (-0.7 points since 1990).
- World rank: Energy use per capita #7 of 150 · Renewable energy share #208 of 212.
Forest area (% of land)
- Forest covers 72.1% of land area (2023).
- Net deforestation: cover fell from 78.4% to 72.1% since 1990 — roughly 361 km² of forest lost.
- World rank: Forest area #14 of 213.
Urban population (% of total)
- 75% of people live in urban areas (2025), vs 43.3% in 1960 (+31.7 points).
- Became majority-urban around 1964.
- World rank: Urban population #74 of 216.
Water resources & stress
- Water stress: low — freshwater withdrawals are 1.1% of renewable internal resources (2022, SDG 6.4.2-style bands).
- Renewable freshwater per person: 18,666 m³ in 2022, down 79.7% since 1961.
- World rank: Freshwater resources per capita #33 of 183 · Water stress #152 of 177.
Economy
- GDP: $15.03B in 2025.
- Nominal GDP is up 16.3% since 2015.
- That works out to $32,235 per person.
- World rank: GDP #148 of 212 · GDP per capita #53 of 212.
Unemployment & inflation
- Unemployment: 5.3% of the labor force (2025, ILO estimate).
- Consumer-price inflation: -0.3% in 2025.
- World rank: Unemployment rate #91 of 186 · Inflation rate #182 of 191.
Internet & mobile
- 96.3% of people used the internet in 2024.
- Mobile subscriptions: 118.1 per 100 people (2024) — more subscriptions than people.
- World rank: Internet users #21 of 209 · Mobile subscriptions #96 of 210.
Brunei Darussalam in the news
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Brunei in 2026?
As of October 2026, Brunei has an estimated population of 471,601. The United Nations estimated 468,899 residents on 1 January 2026; the live figure on this page extrapolates that estimate using the +0.7% annual growth rate.
Is the population of Brunei growing or shrinking?
It is growing at +0.7% per year — roughly 9 more people every day. Each year there are about 5,955 births and 2,626 deaths, with net migration of +5.
What is the population density of Brunei?
About 81.7 people per square kilometre: 471,601 people living on 5,770 km² of surface area (World Bank, 2023).
What is the median age in Brunei?
The median age is 33.2 years, and life expectancy at birth is 75.8 years. 20.6% of the population is under 15 and 7.2% is 65 or older (2025).
How does Brunei rank by population?
Brunei is the 176th most populous of 238 countries and territories worldwide and the 51st in Asia, with 0.006% of the global population.
How has the population of Brunei changed over time?
In 1960 the population was 88,347; by 2025 it had grown to 466,330 (+427.8%). The year-by-year table above lists the full World Bank series.
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Glostats. (2026). Brunei Population 2026 — Live Counter. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/country/brunei/<a href="https://glostats.com/country/brunei/">Brunei Population 2026 — Live Counter</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
Sources & method: the live population is a linear extrapolation of the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 1 January 2026 using the annual growth rate (+0.7%); births, deaths and migration counters apply the UN crude rates to the live figure. Historical series, area, GDP and other indicators are from World Bank Open Data; the encyclopedic summary is from Wikipedia. Figures are statistical estimates, not census counts. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.