Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Brunei instead of New Caledonia, you would:

Health

live 3.4 years less

In New Caledonia, the average life expectancy is 79 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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Economy

be 52.7% less likely to be unemployed

In New Caledonia, 11.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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make 10.3% more money

New Caledonia has a GDP per capita of $29,213 as of 2024, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.

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Basic Needs

be 17.4% more likely to have internet access

In New Caledonia, approximately 82.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Brunei, about 96.3% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 92.9% less coastline

New Caledonia has a total of 2,254 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.

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Environment

emit 18.5% more CO2

New Caledonia emits 17.1 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 (2024–2025), The World Factbook (2021). How we calculate this

Compare further: New Caledonia vs. Brunei

Cost of Living Comparison · 7 categories - 2026 data
Brunei is 39.7% cheaper than New Caledonia overall
→
Size Comparison · See true size
New Caledonia is about 3.2 times bigger than Brunei.
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Moving from New Caledonia to Brunei · Cost, visas & climate
Compare cost of living, salary and climate.
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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 New Caledonia? See an in-depth size comparison.

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