MigrantoBruneian Diaspora
46.6K Bruneians live abroad — 10% of the population of Brunei
Bruneian diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 93% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| India | 21878 |
| Malaysia | 16887 |
| Canada | 4347 |
| Australia | 3357 |
| Norway | 38 |
| Tajikistan | 21 |
| Denmark | 16 |
| Finland | 5 |
| Cyprus | 1 |
| Bulgaria | 1 |
| Hungary | 1 |
By region
83% of the diaspora lives in Asia
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Key facts
The Bruneian diaspora in numbers
Most Bruneians abroad live in India
47% of the diaspora lives in India, while the next country accounts for just 36%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 65% to 47%.
1 in 10 people born in Brunei lives abroad
46.6K people born in Brunei now live in other countries — 10.1% of a population of 462.7K.
Bruneian diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 31408 |
| 1995 | 44425 |
| 2000 | 45229 |
| 2005 | 45524 |
| 2010 | 45555 |
| 2015 | 45924 |
| 2020 | 46349 |
| 2024 | 46552 |
Largest communities over time
Bruneians living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | India | Malaysia | Canada | Australia | Norway |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 20347 | 5023 | 4430 | 1545 | 20 |
| 1995 | 31409 | 6778 | 4388 | 1791 | 20 |
| 2000 | 30195 | 8533 | 4342 | 2105 | 21 |
| 2005 | 28201 | 10288 | 4418 | 2561 | 22 |
| 2010 | 26311 | 12051 | 4102 | 3030 | 29 |
| 2015 | 24634 | 13798 | 4527 | 2893 | 34 |
| 2020 | 23062 | 15510 | 4543 | 3159 | 34 |
| 2024 | 21878 | 16887 | 4347 | 3357 | 38 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Bruneians in each country has changed since the selected year
Bruneians among immigrants in other countries
Where Bruneians make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Bruneians live outside Brunei?
Around 46.6K Bruneians live abroad, the world's #165 largest diaspora.
Where do most Bruneians abroad live?
Most Bruneians live in India, Malaysia and Canada — these three countries account for about 93% of all Bruneians living abroad.
Which country has the largest Bruneian population outside Brunei?
India is home to the largest Bruneian community abroad — 21.9K people, about 47% of all Bruneians living abroad.
What share of the population of Brunei lives abroad?
About 10% of the population of Brunei lives abroad — that's 46.6K out of a total population of 462.7K.
Is the Bruneian diaspora growing?
Barely — over the past decade, the number of Bruneians living abroad has changed from 45.9K to 46.6K, about 1%.
Where does the data on the Bruneian diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Brunei who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Brunei
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