Brunei Darussalam is estimated to have 450,500 residents in 2023, compared to 445,400 the year before, said the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (JPES) in a statement yesterday.
The department reported the numbers from the country’s Population Estimate Report for 2023, adding that this represented a growth rate of 1.1 per cent, similar to that of 2022.
The department said that according to the report, the total population in 2023 comprised 237,700 males (52.8 per cent) and 212,800 females (47.2 per cent). The sex ratio was 111.7 males for every 100 females.
Brunei citizens accounted for 76 per cent of the total population (342,300), permanent residents accounted for 5.8 per cent and temporary residents 18.2 per cent.
The Brunei-Muara District has the highest population (326,000), followed by the Belait District (66,900), Tutong District (48,000) and Temburong District (9,600).
According to the report, in 2023, around 20.2 per cent of the total population were below 15 years of age, 72.8 per cent were in the working age group (15-64 years) and 6.9 per cent were aged 65 and above.
The median age in 2023 was 32.5 years compared to 32.0 years in 2022.
Malays formed the largest community in the country, comprising 73.8 per cent of the total population.
Chinese accounted for 9.6 per cent with others making up the remaining 16.6 per cent of the total population.
The report derived its results from a multi-faceted process that begins with Population and Housing Census (BPP) 2021 data as a baseline and utilises vital statistics such as births and deaths to calculate natural increases, as well as migration data to account for population movements.
Data is sourced from the Immigration and National Registration Department.
