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

Health

live 8.0 years longer

In Namibia, the average life expectancy is 68 years (63 years for men, 71 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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see 77.5% more spent on your healthcare

Namibia spends $1,068 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Brunei spends $1,896 as of 2023.

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have 3.4 times more doctors per person

Namibia has 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Brunei has 18.9 as of 2021.

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have 23.8% more access to essential health services

Namibia scores 63 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Brunei scores 78 as of 2021.

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be 64.5% less likely to die by suicide

Namibia has a suicide rate of 8.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Brunei, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 2.0 times more likely to be obese

In Namibia, 18.3% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Brunei, that number is 37.0% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 72.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Namibia, 19.3% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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make 6.6 times more money

Namibia has a GDP per capita of $4,876 as of 2025, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.

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Life

be 74.1% less likely to die during childbirth

In Namibia, approximately 139.0 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 11.4% more likely to be literate

In Namibia, the literacy rate is 87.6% as of 2023. In Brunei, it is 97.6% as of 2021.

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be 76.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Namibia, approximately 36.4 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 48.5% fewer children

In Namibia, there are approximately 25.9 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 76.4% more likely to have access to electricity

In Namibia, approximately 57% of people have electricity access (75% in urban areas, and 34% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Brunei, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 48.5% more likely to have internet access

In Namibia, approximately 64.9% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Brunei, about 96.3% do as of 2024.

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be 15.6% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Namibia, approximately 87% of people have access to drinking water as of 2024. In Brunei, 100% of people do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 76.5% less on healthcare

Namibia spends 9.5% 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 89.8% less coastline

Namibia has a total of 1,572 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.

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Safety

be 83.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In Namibia, road accidents kill 22.0 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 7.5 times more home broadband

Namibia has 2.8 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Brunei has 21.2 as of 2024.

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use 8.7 times more electricity

Namibia uses 1,232 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Brunei uses 10,674 kWh as of 2023.

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live with 11.2 times more strain on fresh water

Namibia withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Brunei withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 53.5% less likely to die from air pollution

In Namibia, air pollution causes 43.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Brunei, it causes 20.0 as of 2019.

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emit 16.9 times more CO2

Namibia emits 1.2 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), 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 Namibia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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