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

Health

live 1.8 years longer

In Belize, the average life expectancy is 74 years (71 years for men, 77 years for women) as of 2024. In Brunei, that number is 76 years (73 years for men, 78 years for women) as of 2024.

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be 14.7% less likely to be obese

In Belize, 43.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Brunei, that number is 37.0% of people as of 2024.

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see 3.3 times more spent on your healthcare

Belize spends $573 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Brunei spends $1,896 as of 2023.

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have 73.7% more doctors per person

Belize has 10.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2018. Brunei has 18.9 as of 2021.

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have 14.7% more access to essential health services

Belize scores 68 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Brunei scores 78 as of 2021.

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be 27.0% less likely to die by suicide

Belize has a suicide rate of 4.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Brunei, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 40.4% less likely to be unemployed

In Belize, 8.9% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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make 4.1 times more money

Belize has a GDP per capita of $7,865 as of 2025, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.

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Life

be 46.3% less likely to die during childbirth

In Belize, approximately 67.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Brunei, 36.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 11.1% more likely to be literate

In Belize, the literacy rate is 87.9% as of 2022. In Brunei, it is 97.6% as of 2021.

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be 20.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Belize, approximately 10.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Brunei, on the other hand, 8.6 children do as of 2024.

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have 26.1% fewer children

In Belize, there are approximately 18.1 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Brunei, there are 13.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 20.4% more likely to have internet access

In Belize, approximately 80.0% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Brunei, about 96.3% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 46.3% less on healthcare

Belize spends 4.2% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Brunei, that number is 2.2% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 58.3% less coastline

Belize has a total of 386 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.

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Safety

be 79.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Belize, road accidents kill 17.5 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Brunei, they kill 3.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 2.2 times more home broadband

Belize has 9.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Brunei has 21.2 as of 2024.

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live with 2.8 times more strain on fresh water

Belize withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Brunei withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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Environment

emit 21.8 times more CO2

Belize emits 0.9 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Brunei emits 20.2 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2018–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2021), The World Factbook (2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

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 Belize? See an in-depth size comparison.

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