MigrantoImmigrants in Brunei
118.7K foreigners live in Brunei — 26% of the country's population
Immigrants in Brunei by country
The 3 largest groups make up 75% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | 56375 |
| Thailand | 16790 |
| Philippines | 15708 |
| Indonesia | 7195 |
| Nepal | 6237 |
| India | 3596 |
| China | 2397 |
| United Kingdom | 2397 |
| Singapore | 1798 |
| Bangladesh | 1439 |
| Sri Lanka | 1439 |
| Pakistan | 957 |
| Hong Kong | 599 |
| Australia | 599 |
| Netherlands | 357 |
| Japan | 236 |
| New Zealand | 236 |
| South Korea | 177 |
| USA | 177 |
By region of origin
97% of immigrants come from Asia
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Key facts
Immigrants in Brunei in numbers
Malaysians are the largest group by a wide margin
47% of all immigrants were born in Malaysia, while the next group accounts for just 14%.
1 in 4 residents of Brunei was born abroad
118.7K of 462.7K residents were born abroad — 25.7% of the population.
Immigration drives population growth
22% of the population growth of Brunei since 1990 came from immigrants.
Immigrants come from a wider range of countries than in 1990
The largest group's share fell from 56% to 47%.
Immigrant population in Brunei over time
Foreigners living in Brunei, by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 72400 |
| 1995 | 83870 |
| 2000 | 95333 |
| 2005 | 97457 |
| 2010 | 99582 |
| 2015 | 101707 |
| 2020 | 110816 |
| 2024 | 118709 |
Largest groups over time
The 5 largest groups in Brunei, by year
| Year | Malaysians | Thais | Filipinos | Indonesians | Nepalis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 40306 | 6612 | 7837 | 3324 | 3665 |
| 1995 | 42782 | 10047 | 10226 | 4551 | 4337 |
| 2000 | 45258 | 13482 | 12614 | 5778 | 5008 |
| 2005 | 46267 | 13782 | 12895 | 5907 | 5120 |
| 2010 | 47276 | 14083 | 13176 | 6036 | 5232 |
| 2015 | 48285 | 14384 | 13457 | 6165 | 5344 |
| 2020 | 52628 | 15674 | 14664 | 6717 | 5822 |
| 2024 | 56375 | 16790 | 15708 | 7195 | 6237 |
Fastest-changing groups
How each group's numbers have changed since the selected year
Share of each diaspora living in Brunei
Of each group's emigrants worldwide, the share who live in Brunei
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many foreigners live in Brunei?
Around 118.7K immigrants live in Brunei — the world's #130 largest immigrant population.
What percentage of the population of Brunei are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 26% of the population of Brunei — that's 118.7K out of a total population of 462.7K.
Where do most immigrants in Brunei come from?
Most immigrants in Brunei come from Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines — these three countries account for about 75% of all immigrants.
How many Malaysians live in Brunei?
Around 56.4K Malaysians live in Brunei — about 47% of all immigrants, the largest group.
Is the immigrant population in Brunei growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of immigrants in Brunei has grown from 101.7K to 118.7K, about 17%.
Where does the data on immigrants in Brunei come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born abroad who now live in Brunei. Their children born in Brunei are not included.
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Living in Brunei
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