MigrantoImmigrants in Brunei
118.7K foreign-born residents — the #130 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 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
Asia is the leading region of origin at 97%
114.9K
2.8K
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Brunei.
Malaysia is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
Malaysia accounts for 47% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 14%.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 4 residents of Brunei is foreign-born — 118.7K out of 462.7K, representing 25.7% of the population.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
22% of the population growth of Brunei since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
Immigration sources have diversified since 1990
The top source country's share fell from 56% to 47%, indicating a broader spread of origins.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 72400 |
| 1995 | 83870 |
| 2000 | 95333 |
| 2005 | 97457 |
| 2010 | 99582 |
| 2015 | 101707 |
| 2020 | 110816 |
| 2024 | 118709 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | Malaysia | Thailand | Philippines | Indonesia | Nepal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Brunei as a destination, by diaspora
Share of each country's emigrants who settled in Brunei
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Brunei?
Around 118.7K foreign-born residents live in Brunei, making it the #130-largest immigrant population in the world.
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 foreign-born residents.
What share 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.
How has immigration to Brunei changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Brunei has grown from 101.7K to 118.7K people, a growth of about 17%.
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