Population figures
Total country population
455,858
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
0
Asylum-seekers:
0
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
0
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
20,863
Host community
0
Others of concern to UNHCR
0
Country context
Brunei Darussalam is situated on the northern coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia, bordered by the Malaysian state of Sarawak and facing the South China Sea. The country comprises two non-contiguous segments and is entirely surrounded by Malaysia, except for its coastline.
Brunei has not acceded to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees or its 1967 Protocol. Consequently, there is no formal legal framework for the recognition or protection of refugees or asylum-seekers within the country. The government has reported the absence of asylum-seekers or refugees in its territory.
...Regarding internally displaced persons (IDPs), there is no publicly available information indicating the presence of such populations in Brunei. The country has not reported instances of internal displacement due to conflict, natural disasters, or other causes. As such, there is no specific legal or policy framework addressing the protection or assistance of IDPs within Brunei.
Statelessness remains a significant legal and social issue in Brunei. As of 2023, the government reported a stateless population of 20,863 individuals. This population primarily consists of long-term residents who, despite having regularized stay and access to identity documents, have not acquired Bruneian citizenship. Brunei's nationality law is based on jus sanguinis principles, requiring applicants to demonstrate Malay ethnicity and pass rigorous assessments in Malay language, culture, and customs. These requirements have posed challenges for non-Malay residents, particularly ethnic Chinese and Indian communities, many of whom have resided in Brunei for generations.
The government has made efforts to facilitate the naturalization of certain stateless persons who are permanent residents. In 2022, 442 individuals were granted citizenship through such processes. However, the overall number of stateless persons has remained relatively stable over the past decade. Stateless individuals in Brunei are typically issued International Certificates of Identity, allowing for international travel but not conferring the full rights associated with citizenship.
Brunei has acceded to several international human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). However, it maintains reservations to certain provisions, such as Article 9(2) of CEDAW, which pertains to equal rights in nationality for women and men. The country has not acceded to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
Brunei's legal framework lacks specific provisions for the recognition and protection of refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced persons. While efforts have been made to address statelessness among long-term residents, challenges persist due to stringent nationality requirements and the absence of accession to key international conventions on statelessness.
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