Brunei Rate of Natural Increase

Brunei’s rate of natural increase (RNI)—the difference between its crude birth rate and crude death rate—has been relatively modest in recent years, typically hovering around 1% per year or slightly below. This is lower than some of its Southeast Asian neighbors, such as Malaysia and Indonesia, which have historically reported higher RNIs due to larger birth rates and younger populations. For example, Indonesia’s RNI is approximately 1.1%, while Malaysia’s is around 1.2%, reflecting higher fertility rates and continued population momentum. In contrast, Singapore, another nearby country, has a much lower RNI, often close to zero or even negative, due to its low birth rates and aging population. Brunei’s RNI reflects its status as a small, high-income nation with improving healthcare and declining fertility, positioning it between the higher growth rates of its larger neighbors and the very low growth of more developed city-states like Singapore.

Data from US Census International Database