Brunei's total land area is just over 5,765 square kilometers, making the Sultanate one of the smallest sovereign nations in the world. Situated five degrees north of the equator in the northwest corner of Borneo (the world's third largest island), Brunei is bounded on all sides by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, except for 161-kilometre stretch of South China Sea coastline to the north. Temburong district, separated from the Sultanate's three other districts by Brunei Bay, is easily accessible by boat. More than two-thirds of Brunei's land area is covered by pristine rainforest, which is home to many varieties of flora and fauna that can only be found on the island of Borneo.

Climate

Brunei's climate is generally humid with temperate equatorial climate year round. Temperatures range from between 23 to 32 degrees Celcius (70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit) with an average annual rainfall of 3200 mm (125 inches). There is no distinct rainy season, though the period from November to March tends to bring heavier rains.

People

The oil-rich Sultanate of Brunei has a population of about 372,000. The majority of the population reside in the district of Brunei Muara in and around the capital city, Bandar Seri Begawan.

Bruneians are predominantly Malay, though significant Chinese, Indian and Indigenous populations add to the cultural mix. Brunei's blend of cultures, customs, beliefs and traditions is therefore very similar to that of Malaysia. The official spoken language is Malay, but English is widely spoken and featured on street and road signs throughout the nation.