Measure
Annual changes
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Analysis
Brunei is a minor power in Asia.
Its overall score has remained unchanged over the past year.
Brunei performs best in the resilience measure, where it places 15th. This reflects its internal stability and favourable but declining energy trade balance. Its lowest ranking is in the military capability measure, coming in at 22nd place.
In 2020, Brunei saw its greatest improvement in its future resources, where it moved up three places. However, it has also slipped by two places in the diplomatic influence measure relative to 2019.
Brunei exerts less influence in the region than expected given its available resources, as indicated by the country’s negative power gap score. While Brunei is a net underachiever in Asia, its negative power gap improved in 2020.
Read more analysis in the Key Findings report. Explore further results in the Scores section.
Scores
Comprehensive power
A country’s weighted average across eight measures of power
19th
— 9.1
Rank
Change
Trend
Score
Economic capability
Economic size and attributes with the most geopolitical relevance
18th −1
— 3.4
Military capability
Conventional military strength
22nd +1
— 3.0
Resilience
Capacity to deter real or potential threats to state stability
15th
— 29.1
Future resources
Projected distribution of future economic, military and demographic resources
21st +3
— 1.8
Economic relationships
The capacity to exercise influence and leverage through economic interdependencies
16th
— 8.8
Defence networks
Defence partnerships that act as force multipliers of military capability
18th +2
8.3
Diplomatic influence
The extent and standing of a state’s foreign relations
21st −2
23.8
Cultural influence
Ability to shape international public opinion through cultural appeal and interaction
21st +2
— 3.7