A small Islamic sultanate, Brunei is one of the few remaining countries in the world without personal income tax. Located on the northwestern coast of the island of Borneo, it was a powerful state in the 16th century, with authority over the whole island. The sultanate is bounded on the north by the South China Sea and on its landlocked sides by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The geographic position of Sarawak also divides Brunei into two separate portions. The climate in this hilly and rugged country is determined by the equatorial monsoons, or rain-bearing winds.
Rainfall is heavy and is distributed throughout the year.
Dense tropical rain forests cover three fourths of the country and are characterized by a variety of hardwood species. Brunei's animal life includes lions, tigers, monkeys, birds, insects, snakes, and lizards. The principal language is Malay, but Chinese and English are widely spoken. Most of the people live near the petroleum fields at Seria and Kuala Belait. Brunei is a major petroleum producer and enjoys one of the highest standards of living in Southeast Asia.