Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Brunei instead of Papua New Guinea, you would:

Health

live 8.9 years longer

In Papua New Guinea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (68 years for men, 71 years for women) as of 2022. In Brunei, that number is 78 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2022.

be 33.8% less likely to be obese

In Papua New Guinea, 21.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Brunei, that number is 14.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 18.5 times more money

Papua New Guinea has a GDP per capita of $4,200 as of 2023, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $77,900 as of 2023.

be 98.9% more likely to be unemployed

In Papua New Guinea, 2.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2023.

Life

be 77.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 192.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Brunei, 44.0 women do as of 2020.

be 52.0% more likely to be literate

In Papua New Guinea, the literacy rate is 64.2% as of 2015. In Brunei, it is 97.6% as of 2021.

be 68.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 33.6 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.

have 43.8% fewer children

In Papua New Guinea, there are approximately 28.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Brunei, there are 15.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 5.3 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 19% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Brunei, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 3.1 times more likely to have internet access

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 32.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Brunei, about 98.0% do as of 2021.

be 2.1 times more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Papua New Guinea, approximately 48% of people have improved drinking water access as of 2020. In Brunei, 100% of people do as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 3.1 times more on education

Papua New Guinea spends 1.4% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Brunei spends 4.4% of total GDP on education as of 2016.

Geography

see 96.9% less coastline

Papua New Guinea has a total of 5,152 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 Papua New Guinea? See an in-depth size comparison.

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