 |
| Government type | constitutional sultanate (locally known as Malay Islamic Monarchy) |
| Head of State | Head of State and Head of Government: Sultan and Prime Minister: Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); Note: monarch is both chief of state and head of government |
| Independence |
1 January 1984 (from the UK) 23 February 1984 (independence from British protection) |
| Constitution | 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984) |
| Legal system | based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic sharia law supersedes civil law concerning Muslim marriages and inheritance; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage | 18 years of age for village elections; universal |
| Administrative divisions | 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei-Muara, Temburong, Tutong |