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

Health

live 11.2 years longer

In Swaziland, the average life expectancy is 64 years (61 years for men, 67 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 2.1 times more spent on your healthcare

Swaziland spends $922 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

Swaziland has 5.6 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Brunei has 18.9 as of 2021.

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have 39.3% more access to essential health services

Swaziland scores 56 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Brunei scores 78 as of 2021.

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be 88.8% less likely to die by suicide

Swaziland has a suicide rate of 27.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Brunei, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 25.2% more likely to be obese

In Swaziland, 29.6% 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 84.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Swaziland, 34.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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make 7.8 times more money

Swaziland has a GDP per capita of $4,108 as of 2025, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.

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Life

be 69.5% less likely to die during childbirth

In Swaziland, approximately 118.0 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 79.6% less likely to die during infancy

In Swaziland, approximately 42.2 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 43.6% fewer children

In Swaziland, there are approximately 23.6 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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Basic Needs

be 15.7% more likely to have access to electricity

In Swaziland, approximately 86% of people have electricity access (91% in urban areas, and 85% 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 51.9% more likely to have internet access

In Swaziland, approximately 63.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Brunei, about 96.3% do as of 2024.

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be 24.4% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Swaziland, approximately 80% 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 70.3% less on healthcare

Swaziland spends 7.5% 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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Safety

be 85.4% less likely to die in a road accident

In Swaziland, road accidents kill 24.7 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 8.4 times more home broadband

Swaziland has 2.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Brunei has 21.2 as of 2024.

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live with 95.5% less strain on fresh water

Swaziland withdraws 78% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Brunei withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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use 8.9 times more electricity

Swaziland uses 1,200 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2023. Brunei uses 10,674 kWh as of 2023.

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Environment

be 69.7% less likely to die from air pollution

In Swaziland, air pollution causes 66.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Brunei, it causes 20.0 as of 2019.

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emit 23.0 times more CO2

Swaziland 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 (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), 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 Swaziland? See an in-depth size comparison.

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