If you lived in Brunei instead of United Kingdom, you would:

Health

be 68.1% less likely to die by suicide

United Kingdom has a suicide rate of 9.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Brunei, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 5.9 years less

In United Kingdom, the average life expectancy is 81 years (80 years for men, 83 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 35.3% more likely to be obese

In United Kingdom, 27.4% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Brunei, that number is 37.0% of people as of 2024.

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see 71.3% less spent on your healthcare

United Kingdom spends $6,606 per person on healthcare as of 2024 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Brunei spends $1,896 as of 2023.

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have 42.9% fewer doctors per person

United Kingdom has 33.0 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Brunei has 18.9 as of 2021.

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have 11.4% less access to essential health services

United Kingdom scores 88 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Brunei scores 78 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 11.2% more likely to be unemployed

In United Kingdom, 4.8% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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make 44.0% less money

United Kingdom has a GDP per capita of $57,602 as of 2025, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.

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Life

have 34.8% more children

In United Kingdom, there are approximately 9.9 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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be 4.5 times more likely to die during childbirth

In United Kingdom, approximately 8.0 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 2.1 times more likely to die during infancy

In United Kingdom, approximately 4.1 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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Expenditures

spend 80.0% less on healthcare

United Kingdom spends 11.1% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2024. In Brunei, that number is 2.2% of GDP as of 2023.

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Geography

see 98.7% less coastline

United Kingdom has a total of 12,429 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.

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Safety

be 50.0% more likely to die in a road accident

In United Kingdom, road accidents kill 2.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Brunei, they kill 3.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 75.8% less strain on fresh water

United Kingdom withdraws 14% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Brunei withdraws 3% as of 2022.

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use 2.5 times more electricity

United Kingdom uses 4,195 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Brunei uses 10,674 kWh as of 2023.

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find 49.8% less home broadband

United Kingdom has 42.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Brunei has 21.2 as of 2024.

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Environment

be 53.8% more likely to die from air pollution

In United Kingdom, air pollution causes 13.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Brunei, it causes 20.0 as of 2019.

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emit 4.8 times more CO2

United Kingdom emits 4.2 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), 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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