If you lived in Brunei instead of Virgin Islands, you would:

Health

live 5.3 years less

In Virgin Islands, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 84 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 53.8% less likely to be unemployed

In Virgin Islands, 11.4% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Brunei, that number is 5.3% as of 2025.

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make 27.3% less money

Virgin Islands has a GDP per capita of $44,321 as of 2022, while in Brunei, the GDP per capita is $32,235 as of 2025.

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Life

have 20.1% more children

In Virgin Islands, there are approximately 11.1 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 12.4% more likely to die during infancy

In Virgin Islands, approximately 7.7 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Brunei, on the other hand, 8.6 children do as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 48.6% more likely to have internet access

In Virgin Islands, approximately 64.8% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Brunei, about 96.3% do as of 2024.

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Geography

see 14.4% less coastline

Virgin Islands has a total of 188 km of coastline. In Brunei, that number is 161 km.

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Safety

be 99.0% less likely to be murdered

Virgin Islands has a homicide rate of 49.6 per 100,000 people as of 2012. In Brunei, that number is 0.5 per 100,000 as of 2013.

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Infrastructure

find 2.1 times more home broadband

Virgin Islands has 10.1 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Brunei has 21.2 as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2022–2025), The World Factbook (2022), United Nations SDG Indicators (2012–2013). 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 Virgin Islands? See an in-depth size comparison.

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