Photo: kulimpapat derivative work: Inkey · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale
Topic 03 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Brunei: Work & Labour
Can people find work, and on what terms?
Brunei is placed joint 72nd of 182 countries on work & labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Employment-to-Population Ratio 60.85 (2025); Labour Income Share 33.21 (2025).
Share
Work & Labour
joint72nd
of 182 countries placed
Placed from 4 of 4 key statistics
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Brunei on work & labour — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Employment-to-Population Ratio
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
60.85
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)
Higher is better
Brunei: 60.85. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 21.21 (São Tomé and Príncipe) to 86.9 (Qatar); the world median is 57.72.
- World median
- 57.72
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 82.17 Cambodia
- Land neighbours
- Malaysia 63.63
Key 3 of 4
Unemployment Rate
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
5.277
Unemployment (% of labour force)
Lower is better
Brunei: 5.277. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.13 (Qatar) to 34.2 (Eswatini); the world median is 5.084.
- World median
- 5.084
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 0.263 Cambodia
- Land neighbours
- Malaysia 3.764
Key 4 of 4
Vulnerable Employment
International Labour Organization (ILO)
2025 edition · data for 2025 · CC BY 4.0
4.478
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment)
Lower is better
Brunei: 4.478. Across the 182 countries in this edition, values run from 0.456 (Qatar) to 90.22 (Chad); the world median is 28.67.
- World median
- 28.67
- Best in South-eastern Asia
- 4.478 Brunei
- Land neighbours
- Malaysia 21.89
02Over time
Which way Brunei is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
Employed share of the population aged 15+ (%) · higher is better
BruneiWorld median
Brunei fell from 64.62 in 2000 to 60.85 in 2025; the world median went from 55.86 to 57.72.
Every year’s figures
Year Brunei World median 2025 60.846 57.720 2024 61.167 57.694 2023 61.305 58.158 2022 60.756 57.688 2021 60.761 56.066 2020 59.215 55.691 2019 60.517 57.871 2018 60.653 56.911 2017 59.117 56.738 2016 59.836 56.845 2015 60.623 56.788 2014 61.421 56.774 2013 61.744 56.229 2012 62.020 56.289 2011 62.178 56.297 2010 62.240 56.212 2009 62.360 56.255 2008 62.677 57.308 2007 63.091 56.933 2006 63.475 56.685 2005 63.743 56.129 2004 64.018 55.465 2003 64.269 55.630 2002 64.496 55.843 2001 64.702 56.018 2000 64.623 55.861 Labour Income Share
Labour income share of GDP (%) · higher is better
BruneiWorld median
Brunei rose from 27.68 in 2004 to 33.21 in 2025; the world median went from 46.01 to 46.23.
Every year’s figures
Year Brunei World median 2025 33.210 46.230 2024 32.365 46.060 2023 32.012 45.900 2022 27.272 45.615 2021 32.021 45.433 2020 35.803 47.267 2019 31.733 46.277 2018 30.691 46.187 2017 32.372 46.467 2016 34.526 46.798 2015 30.621 46.876 2014 25.598 47.281 2013 23.539 46.887 2012 22.282 46.231 2011 21.565 45.679 2010 26.808 46.024 2009 28.386 47.071 2008 29.055 45.312 2007 29.004 45.246 2006 26.317 45.670 2005 27.716 46.265 2004 27.680 46.012 Unemployment Rate
Unemployment (% of labour force) · lower is better
BruneiWorld median
Brunei fell from 5.53 in 2000 to 5.277 in 2025; the world median went from 6.918 to 5.084.
Every year’s figures
Year Brunei World median 2025 5.28 5.08 2024 5.18 5.15 2023 5.30 5.21 2022 5.19 5.34 2021 4.91 6.04 2020 7.41 6.38 2019 6.60 5.36 2018 8.70 5.35 2017 9.32 5.59 2016 8.54 5.90 2015 7.70 6.41 2014 6.86 6.58 2013 6.71 6.71 2012 6.57 6.79 2011 6.51 6.90 2010 6.49 7.04 2009 6.46 6.67 2008 6.31 5.79 2007 6.19 6.00 2006 6.06 6.50 2005 5.97 7.09 2004 5.85 6.80 2003 5.74 6.95 2002 5.65 6.91 2001 5.56 6.96 2000 5.53 6.92 Vulnerable Employment
Vulnerable employment (% of total employment) · lower is better
BruneiWorld median
Brunei fell from 4.861 in 2000 to 4.478 in 2025; the world median went from 35.67 to 28.67.
Every year’s figures
Year Brunei World median 2025 4.4783 28.67 2024 4.5812 29.04 2023 4.6898 29.33 2022 4.4776 29.67 2021 5.3965 30.01 2020 6.9641 30.54 2019 6.2682 29.98 2018 4.8045 30.15 2017 6.0922 29.93 2016 5.8623 29.91 2015 5.5902 30.26 2014 5.2724 30.47 2013 5.2348 31.14 2012 5.1159 31.00 2011 5.0567 31.41 2010 5.1130 32.37 2009 5.0364 32.59 2008 4.7136 31.76 2007 4.6623 33.47 2006 4.5724 34.27 2005 4.6107 34.66 2004 4.6672 35.51 2003 4.7674 35.90 2002 4.9029 35.96 2001 4.9452 35.27 2000 4.8606 35.67
03In context
Brunei beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 182 countries on work & labour, never a place within the region.
Brunei and the countries it borders
Standing among all 182; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Employment-to-Population RatioEmployed share of the population aged 15+ (%) | Labour Income ShareLabour income share of GDP (%) | Unemployment RateUnemployment (% of labour force) | Vulnerable EmploymentVulnerable employment (% of total employment) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Malaysia | 63rd | 63.63 | 40.71 | 3.764 | 21.89 |
| Brunei | =72nd | 60.85 | 33.21 | 5.277 | 4.478 |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across South-eastern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 182.
Placed either side on work & labour
The countries immediately above and below Brunei in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Brunei is ahead of the world, and behind
24 more statistics filed under work & labour, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median11
Statistics on which Brunei does better than the middle country measured.
GDP per Person EmployedWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 47,384163,54447,384No real change since 2015
Brunei: 163,544 · world median 47,384 · GDP per person employed (constant 2021 international $). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2,456 to 262,554; higher is better.
Position 7th of 168 · derived.
Firms with a Female Top ManagerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 19.1637.9319.16No earlier reading
Brunei: 37.93 · world median 19.16 · Firms with a female top manager (%). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1.429 to 62.9; higher is better.
Position 11th of 179 · derived.
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added per WorkerWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 6,74256,2686,742No real change since 2015
Brunei: 56,268 · world median 6,742 · Agricultural value added per worker (constant 2015 US$). World Bank Group, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 210.77 to 150,632; higher is better.
Position 12th of 151 · derived.
Labour Productivity per Hour WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 22.1671.0722.16▼ Worsened since 2015
Brunei: 71.07 · world median 22.16 · Output per hour worked (constant 2021 international $ at PPP). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.92 to 164.65; higher is better.
Position 21st of 182 · derived.
Employment Injury Protection CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 45.988.345.9No earlier reading
Brunei: 88.3 · world median 45.9 · Labour force covered in the event of a work injury (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
Composite Rate of Labour Underutilisation (LU4)ILO · 2024 · world median 12.5610.3212.56▲ Improved since 2014
Brunei: 10.32 · world median 12.56 · Composite rate of labour underutilisation, LU4 (% of the extended labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.495 to 49.82; lower is better.
Position 52nd of 76 · derived, 1st = worst.
Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 61.6664.2361.66▼ Worsened since 2015
Brunei: 64.23 · world median 61.66 · Population aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.34 to 87.01; higher is better.
Position 74th of 182 · derived.
Firms Offering Formal TrainingWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 32.0735.2732.07No earlier reading
Brunei: 35.27 · world median 32.07 · Firms offering formal training to permanent full-time workers (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.42 to 79.12; higher is better.
Informal Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 36.7633.1936.76No earlier reading
Brunei: 33.19 · world median 36.76 · Informal employment (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.857 to 94.44; lower is better.
Position 53rd of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Female Labour Force Participation RateILO · 2025 · world median 53.3654.4453.36▼ Worsened since 2015
Brunei: 54.44 · world median 53.36 · Women aged 15+ in the labour force (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 4.663 to 82.91; higher is better.
Position 86th of 182 · derived.
Female Share of Senior and Middle ManagementILO · 2024 · world median 35.8636.4335.86▼ Worsened since 2014
Brunei: 36.43 · world median 35.86 · Women in senior and middle management (% of managers). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.226 to 56.69; higher is better.
Position 41st of 86 · derived.
Behind the world median6
Statistics on which Brunei does worse than the middle country measured.
Firms Competing Against Informal FirmsWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 41.8145.5841.81No earlier reading
Brunei: 45.58 · world median 41.81 · Firms competing against unregistered or informal firms (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from 1.926 to 90.5; lower is better.
Position 79th of 181 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Maternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 989198▼ Worsened since 2015
Brunei: 91 · world median 98 · Paid maternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 410; higher is better.
Compliance with Labour RightsILO · 2024 · world median 1.612.581.61▲ Improved since 2015
Brunei: 2.58 · world median 1.61 · Compliance with freedom of association and collective bargaining rights (0 = best, 10 = worst). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 10; lower is better.
Youth Not in Education, Employment or TrainingILO · 2024 · world median 14.3119.0514.31▼ Worsened since 2014
Brunei: 19.05 · world median 14.31 · Youth not in education, employment or training (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.975 to 65.73; lower is better.
Position 33rd of 97 · derived, 1st = worst.
Youth Unemployment RateILO · 2025 · world median 12.8318.2312.83▲ Improved since 2015
Brunei: 18.23 · world median 12.83 · Unemployment, ages 15-24 (% of youth labour force). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.457 to 76.77; lower is better.
Position 59th of 182 · derived, 1st = worst.
Length of Paid Paternity LeaveWorld Bank Group · 2025 · world median 303▼ Worsened since 2015
Brunei: 0 · world median 3 · Paid paternity leave set in law (calendar days). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 196; higher is better.
Level with the median, or no median to compare1
Unemployment Benefit CoverageILO · 2024 · world median 000No earlier reading
Brunei: 0 · world median 0 · Unemployed people receiving unemployment benefits (%). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.
No better end6
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8944.7538.89No real change since 2015
Brunei: 44.75 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 23rd of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in ServicesILO · 2025 · world median 59.5178.4159.51Moved since 2015
Brunei: 78.41 · world median 59.51 · Employment in services (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.56 to 92.17.
Position 26th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Share of Temporary EmployeesILO · 2024 · world median 13.4532.4113.45No real change since 2014
Brunei: 32.41 · world median 13.45 · Employees on temporary contracts (% of employees). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.337 to 72.78.
Employment in IndustryILO · 2025 · world median 18.8820.3918.88Moved since 2015
Brunei: 20.39 · world median 18.88 · Employment in industry (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 3.103 to 39.44.
Position 74th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Employment in AgricultureILO · 2025 · world median 14.381.20114.38No real change since 2015
Brunei: 1.201 · world median 14.38 · Employment in agriculture (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.095 to 85.34.
Position 168th of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Self-Employment RateILO · 2025 · world median 31.847.27131.84No real change since 2015
Brunei: 7.271 · world median 31.84 · Self-employed (% of total employment). International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.832 to 91.56.
Position 171st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
No current reading for Brunei
Average Monthly Earnings of Employees (last 2014), Fatal Occupational Injuries, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings (last 2014), Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate (last 2014), Public Sector Employment, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density and Working Poverty Rate. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Work & Labour among Brunei’s 15 topics
Work & Labour is Brunei’s 4th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Risk & Resilience24th of 1933/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation44th of 1762/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions49th of 1943/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 72nd of 1824/4 keys
- Food & Agriculturejoint 73rd of 1843/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeing82nd of 2002/4 keys
- Peace & Security76th of 1772/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital88th of 1963/3 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties100th of 1982/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 97th of 1832/4 keys
- Mobility & Trade96th of 1773/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge127th of 1982/4 keys
- Digital & Technologyjoint 133rd of 1983/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability146th of 1862/4 keys
- Energy140th of 1653/3 keys
No standing on Poverty & Inequality: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on work & labour
The three countries placed highest of 182, and the leaders Brunei can most readily be measured against.
1
IcelandNorthern Europe
1st of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
JapanEastern Asia
2nd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: JurriaanH · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
South KoreaEastern Asia
3rd of 182 · 4 of 4 keys
Photo: Unknown author · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest in Asia
Japan2nd4/4 keysHighest in South-eastern Asia
Singapore17th4/4 keysThis page
Brunei=72nd4/4 keys
Positions out of 182 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Brunei and work & labour
On work & labour
Countries in Asia with the highest average salaries 2024
Thirteen Asian countries by gross average monthly wage, each carrying its WORLD rank rather than an Asian one — so the numbers skip, from 11th place to 45th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Highest Average Salaries in 2024
The ten highest-paying countries of 2024, their bars coloured by continent, and six more added for comparison — from Australia in 13th place to India in 85th.
On work & labour
Countries With The Lowest Average Salaries in 2024
The bottom ten of 196 countries, and six more added for comparison. Niger, Madagascar and Liberia are all published at US$47 a month and still carry three different ranks.
08Questions
Brunei on work & labour: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Brunei rank on work & labour?
Brunei is placed joint 72nd of 182 countries on Work & Labour in the Country Index 2026, from 4 of its 4 key statistics (Employment-to-Population Ratio, Labour Income Share, Unemployment Rate and Vulnerable Employment). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Employment-to-Population Ratio figure for Brunei?
60.85 in 2025 (employed share of the population aged 15+ (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 57.72.
What is the latest Labour Income Share figure for Brunei?
33.21 in 2025 (labour income share of GDP (%)), according to International Labour Organization (ILO). The world median in the same edition was 46.23.
How does Brunei compare with Malaysia on work & labour?
Malaysia is placed 63rd of 182, and Brunei joint 72nd. Employment-to-Population Ratio: Malaysia 63.63, Brunei 60.85; Labour Income Share: Malaysia 40.71, Brunei 33.21; Unemployment Rate: Malaysia 3.764, Brunei 5.277; Vulnerable Employment: Malaysia 21.89, Brunei 4.478.
How have Brunei’s work & labour figures changed?
Employment-to-Population Ratio fell from 64.62 in 2000 to 60.85 in 2025; Labour Income Share rose from 27.68 in 2004 to 33.21 in 2025; Unemployment Rate fell from 5.53 in 2000 to 5.277 in 2025; Vulnerable Employment fell from 4.861 in 2000 to 4.478 in 2025.
Which work & labour statistics are missing for Brunei?
No current reading is published for Brunei on Average Monthly Earnings of Employees, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Gini Index of Monthly Earnings, Human Capital Wealth per Capita, Labour Inspectors per 10,000 Employed Persons, Low Pay Rate, Public Sector Employment, Statutory Minimum Wage, Trade Union Density and Working Poverty Rate. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Wages in money terms are not a key here, because pay figures are hard to compare fairly across countries with very different prices. Labour productivity, working hours, youth unemployment and the balance between farming, industry and services are published on this page as context. The size and growth of the wider economy belong to Economy & Innovation.
How the Work & Labour standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The work & labour method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Employment-to-Population Ratio — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Labour Income Share — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Unemployment Rate — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
- Vulnerable Employment — International Labour Organization (ILO), CC BY 4.0
The other 24 statistics on this page come from 2 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Brunei’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Brunei (banner) — kulimpapat derivative work: Inkey, CC BY 2.0
- Iceland — Hansueli Krapf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Japan — JurriaanH, CC BY-SA 3.0
- South Korea — Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Brunei: Work & Labour — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/brunei/work