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

Health

be 77.9% less likely to die by suicide

Cuba has a suicide rate of 13.8 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Brunei, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 2.8 years less

In Cuba, the average life expectancy is 78 years (76 years for men, 81 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 61.2% more likely to be obese

In Cuba, 23.0% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Brunei, that number is 37.0% of people as of 2024.

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see 26.4% less spent on your healthcare

Cuba spends $2,575 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Brunei spends $1,896 as of 2023.

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have 80.2% fewer doctors per person

Cuba has 95.4 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2021. Brunei has 18.9 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 3.0 times more likely to be unemployed

In Cuba, 1.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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Life

have 54.6% more children

In Cuba, there are approximately 8.6 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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be 26.5% more likely to die during infancy

In Cuba, approximately 6.8 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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Basic Needs

be 36.6% more likely to have internet access

In Cuba, approximately 70.5% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Brunei, about 96.3% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 76.2% less on healthcare

Cuba spends 9.4% 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 95.7% less coastline

Cuba has a total of 3,735 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.

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Safety

be 33.3% less likely to die in a road accident

In Cuba, road accidents kill 5.4 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 6.9 times more home broadband

Cuba has 3.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Brunei has 21.2 as of 2024.

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live with 85.5% less strain on fresh water

Cuba withdraws 24% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Brunei withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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use 7.3 times more electricity

Cuba uses 1,462 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Brunei uses 10,674 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 35.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Cuba, air pollution causes 31.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Brunei, it causes 20.0 as of 2019.

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emit 10.6 times more CO2

Cuba emits 1.9 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 (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), The World Factbook. 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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