Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Brunei instead of Malaysia, you would:

Health

live 2.2 years longer

In Malaysia, the average life expectancy is 76 years (74 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2022. In Brunei, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022.

Economy

make 2.3 times more money

Malaysia has a GDP per capita of $33,600 as of 2023, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $77,900 as of 2023.

be 36.5% more likely to be unemployed

In Malaysia, 3.9% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2023.

Life

have 11.3% more children

In Malaysia, there are approximately 14.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Brunei, there are 15.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 2.1 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Malaysia, approximately 21.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Brunei, 44.0 women do as of 2020.

be 59.6% more likely to die during infancy

In Malaysia, approximately 6.6 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Brunei, on the other hand, 10.5 children do as of 2022.

Expenditures

spend 41.5% less on healthcare

Malaysia spends 4.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Brunei, that number is 2.4% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 12.8% more on education

Malaysia spends 3.9% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Brunei spends 4.4% of total GDP on education as of 2016.

Geography

see 96.6% less coastline

Malaysia has a total of 4,675 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

Brunei: At a glance

Brunei is a sovereign country in East/Southeast Asia, with a total land area of approximately 5,265 sq km. 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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How big is Brunei compared to Malaysia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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