Brunei's general history can be confidently assessed starting in the 7th century with the rise of the Bruneian Empire. read more
At this point, Brunei's known economic history can be confidently assessed. In the 15th century, Brunei had cemented itself as the dominant thalassocratic state in the East Indies, and frequently engaged in trade in the Indian Ocean trade routes. read more
Brunei is a country with a small, wealthy economy that is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village tradition. It is almost totally supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for over half of GDP. read more
The oil and gas sector dominates the economy and generates the bulk of export earnings and government revenues. Brunei is vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices: the slump in oil prices was largely responsible for negative growth in the 1980s. read more