Geography Quiz Arcade

Capital of Brunei: Bandar Seri Begawan — Facts & Quiz

The capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan. Brunei sits in Asia, has a population of 449,002, and uses the BND. Official languages include Malay.

Quick facts

  • Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
  • Continent: Asia
  • Population: ~449,002
  • Area: 5,765 km²
  • Population density: 77.9 people per km²
  • Official language: Malay
  • Currency: BND
  • ISO code: BN

How big is Brunei?

By population, Brunei ranks 171st in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 166th.

Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Brunei has 77.9 people per square kilometre, which is somewhat above the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.

Within Asia, Brunei is the 48th most populous country of 48.

Countries of a similar size

The two countries closest to Brunei in population are Bahamas (409,984) and Belize (405,272).

By land area, its closest counterparts are Palestine (6,020 km²) and Trinidad and Tobago (5,130 km²).

Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.

Language and currency

Malay is spoken officially in 3 countries in this dataset, including Malaysia and Singapore.

Brunei uses the BND, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.

How to remember Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan is a long name, so learn it in three parts: Bandar, Seri, Begawan. Picture the city's water village, Kampong Ayer, with its houses on stilts over the Brunei River.

The flag of Brunei: yellow, white, black and red

🇧🇳 The flag is a yellow flag crossed diagonally by a white stripe and a black stripe, with the red national emblem in the centre. Yellow stands for the sultan, and the white and black stripes for his chief ministers. The emblem includes a royal umbrella, wings, two raised hands and a crescent, and the ribbon reads 'Brunei, the Abode of Peace'.

Region and neighbours

Brunei is a small country on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, on the South China Sea. It shares land borders with one country: Malaysia. Brunei is split into two parts, and both are surrounded on land by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

Three facts about Brunei

  1. Brunei's wealth comes mainly from its oil and natural gas fields.
  2. Kampong Ayer, in the capital, is a historic village of houses, schools and mosques built on stilts above the water.
  3. The country is split into two separate parts, both on the island of Borneo.

Sources: Wikipedia: Brunei, Wikipedia: Flag of Brunei, Wikipedia: Bandar Seri Begawan, Wikipedia: Kampong Ayer, CIA World Factbook.

Quiz yourself on Brunei

Brunei capital quiz

  1. What is the capital of Brunei 🇧🇳?

    • Colombo
    • Manila
    • Bandar Seri Begawan
    • Beirut
    Show answer

    Bandar Seri Begawan

  2. What is the capital of Maldives 🇲🇻?

    • Malé
    • Jerusalem
    • Baghdad
    • Thimphu
    Show answer

    Malé

  3. What is the capital of Bhutan 🇧🇹?

    • Damascus
    • Thimphu
    • Doha
    • Beijing
    Show answer

    Thimphu

  4. What is the capital of Timor-Leste 🇹🇱?

    • Bishkek
    • Yerevan
    • Dushanbe
    • Dili
    Show answer

    Dili

  5. What is the capital of Bahrain 🇧🇭?

    • Sana'a
    • Bangkok
    • Manama
    • Riyadh
    Show answer

    Manama

Brunei is also in the Southeast Asia capitals quiz.

Brunei in Asia

The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.

If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Brunei belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.

Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Brunei.

Frequently asked questions

What is the capital of Brunei?

The capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan.

What is the population of Brunei?

About 449,002, making it the 171st most populous country in the world.

How big is Brunei?

5,765 square kilometres, ranking 166th by land area, at a density of 77.9 people per square kilometre.

What currency does Brunei use?

The BND, which no other country uses.

What are the colours of the Brunei flag?

The flag of Brunei is a yellow flag crossed diagonally by a white stripe and a black stripe, with the red national emblem in the centre. Yellow stands for the sultan, and the white and black stripes for his chief ministers. The emblem includes a royal umbrella, wings, two raised hands and a crescent, and the ribbon reads 'Brunei, the Abode of Peace'.

Which countries border Brunei?

Brunei shares land borders with Malaysia. Brunei is split into two parts, and both are surrounded on land by the Malaysian state of Sarawak.

How can I remember the capital of Brunei?

Bandar Seri Begawan is a long name, so learn it in three parts: Bandar, Seri, Begawan. Picture the city's water village, Kampong Ayer, with its houses on stilts over the Brunei River.

More capitals to learn

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