If you lived in Brunei instead of French Polynesia, you would:

Health

be 24.6% less likely to be obese

In French Polynesia, 49.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Brunei, that number is 37.0% of people as of 2024.

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live 8.7 years less

In French Polynesia, the average life expectancy is 84 years (82 years for men, 87 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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Economy

be 54.7% less likely to be unemployed

In French Polynesia, 11.7% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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make 43.6% more money

French Polynesia has a GDP per capita of $22,440 as of 2024, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.

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Life

have 24.7% more children

In French Polynesia, there are approximately 10.7 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 95.5% more likely to die during infancy

In French Polynesia, approximately 4.4 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Brunei, on the other hand, 8.6 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 32.5% more likely to have internet access

In French Polynesia, approximately 72.7% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Brunei, about 96.3% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 93.6% less coastline

French Polynesia has a total of 2,525 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.

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Infrastructure

find 40.4% less home broadband

French Polynesia has 35.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2023. Brunei has 21.2 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 5.8 times more CO2

French Polynesia emits 3.5 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 (2023–2025), The World Factbook (2021–2022), 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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