Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 8.0 years less

In Singapore, the average life expectancy is 86 years (84 years for men, 89 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 2.3 times more likely to be obese

In Singapore, 6.1% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Brunei, that number is 14.1% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 45.6% less money

Singapore has a GDP per capita of $108,000 as of 2022, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $58,700 as of 2022.

be 24.0% more likely to be unemployed

In Singapore, 3.6% of adults are unemployed as of 2022. In Brunei, that number is 4.5% as of 2022.

Life

have 79.5% more children

In Singapore, there are approximately 8.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Brunei, there are 15.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

be 6.3 times more likely to die during childbirth

In Singapore, approximately 7.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Brunei, 44.0 women do as of 2020.

be 6.8 times more likely to die during infancy

In Singapore, approximately 1.6 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 60.7% less on healthcare

Singapore spends 6.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Brunei, that number is 2.4% of GDP as of 2020.

spend 57.1% more on education

Singapore spends 2.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2021. Brunei spends 4.4% of total GDP on education as of 2016.

Geography

see 16.6% less coastline

Singapore has a total of 193 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.
Read more

How big is Brunei compared to Singapore? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

ASK THE ELSEWHERE COMMUNITY

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Brunei.or Singapore It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.