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 Brunei Darussalam Country Profile
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 Brunei Darussalam at a Glance| Location: | Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia | | Climate: | tropical; hot, humid, rainy | | Terrain: | flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west | | Resources: | petroleum, natural gas, timber | | Hazards: | typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare | | Population: | 388,190 (July 2009 est.) |
A Brief Profile of Brunei DarussalamThe 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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