BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The total population of Brunei Darussalam based on the 2011 census stands at 393,372 people compared to 323,844 people in the 2001 census, Borneo Bulletin reported.
This represents an average annual growth rate of 1.7 per cent during the last decade compared to the 2.5 per cent population growth experienced in the 1991-2001 period.
These statistics were presented by Awg Haji Abd Amin bin Haji Hashim, Acting Director-General of the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE), during a press conference on The Population and Housing Census (BPP) 2011 Report held yesterday.
Awg Haji Abd Amin said that the Sultanate’s population comprises 203,144 males (51.6 per cent) and 190,228 females (48.4 per cent).
He said the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, through JPKE, conducted the Population and Housing Census (BPP) 2011 between June 20 arid July 3, 2011.
The main findings of the demographic report indicate that 71.6 per cent of the population are citizens (281,660 persons), while permanent residents as well as temporary residents and others accounted for 6.6 per cent (25,792 persons) and 21.8 per cent (85,920 persons) respectively.
Regarding geographic distribution, the BruneiMuara District remained the most populated district with 279,924 persons, which makes up 71.2 per cent of the Sultanate’s total population, followed by the Belait District with 15.4 per cent (60,744 persons), Tutong District at 11.1 per cent (43,852 persons) and the Temburong District with 2.3 per cent (8,852 persons).
The age distribution shows that roughly a quarter of the population (99,435 persons) are below the age of 15 years old, while around three-quarters of the population (280,069 persons) fall in the 15 – 64 years old range, with a small remainder (13,868 persons) being over the age of 65 years old. The median age in 2011 was 27.6 years compared to 24.7 years in 2001.
The Malay community makes up 65.7 per cent (258,446 persons) of the population, while the Chinese society and other smaller groupings make up the remaining 10.3 per cent (40,534 persons) .and 24 per cent (94,923 persons) respectively.
Muslims account for 78.8 per cent (309,962 persons) of the total population, with Christians standing at 8.7 per cent (34,176 persons), Buddhists at 7.8 per cent (30,814 persons), while other people who follow other faiths or do not have any religious association stand at 4.7 per cent (18,420 persons).
Over half of the population above the age of 15 years old (57.5 per cent) are married, 37.1 per cent (109,172 persons) are single; 2.3 per cent (6,650 persons) are divorced and 3.1 per cent (8,997 persons) are widowers.
Almost 74.4 per cent (292,785 persons) of the population were born in the Sultanate. The number of foreign-born residents stands at 25.6 per cent (100,587 persons), of which 19.4 per cent (19,539 persons) are citizens.
The mid-year population estimates released earlier on an annual basis for the years 2002 to 2010 have now been revised based on the final BPI) 2011 data. These are available in the Brunei Darussalam Statistical Year Book (BDSYB) 2011.
Also taking place yesterday was the presentation of a prize to the winner of the BPP 2011 quiz, Dyg Yap Chuon Li from the Tutong District.