Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Brunei instead of United States, you would:
Health
be 80.5% less likely to die by suicide
United States has a suicide rate of 15.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Brunei, it is 3.0 per 100,000 as of 2021.
live 3.4 years less
In United States, 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.
see 85.9% less spent on your healthcare
United States spends $13,473 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Brunei spends $1,896 as of 2023.
have 48.8% fewer doctors per person
United States has 36.8 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Brunei has 18.9 as of 2021.
Economy
be 25.7% more likely to be unemployed
In United States, 4.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.
make 64.2% less money
United States has a GDP per capita of $90,027 as of 2025, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.
Life
have 25.8% more children
In United States, there are approximately 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Brunei, there are 13.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
be 2.1 times more likely to die during childbirth
In United States, approximately 17.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Brunei, 36.0 women do as of 2023.
be 56.4% more likely to die during infancy
In United States, approximately 5.5 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.
Expenditures
spend 86.6% less on healthcare
United States spends 16.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Brunei, that number is 2.2% of GDP as of 2023.
Geography
see 99.2% less coastline
United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.
Safety
be 74.6% less likely to die in a road accident
In United States, road accidents kill 14.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Brunei, they kill 3.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
live with 87.7% less strain on fresh water
United States withdraws 28% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Brunei withdraws 3% as of 2022.
find 45.5% less home broadband
United States has 38.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Brunei has 21.2 as of 2024.
use 16.9% less electricity
United States uses 12,839 kWh of electricity per person each year as of 2024. Brunei uses 10,674 kWh as of 2023.
Environment
be 42.9% more likely to die from air pollution
In United States, air pollution causes 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Brunei, it causes 20.0 as of 2019.
emit 48.6% more CO2
United States emits 13.6 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Brunei emits 20.2 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), The World Factbook. How we calculate this
Compare further: United States vs. Brunei
Brunei: At a glance
How big is Brunei compared to United States? See an in-depth size comparison.