Brunei is an independent Islamic sultanate located on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. The country is divided into two parts, each surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak; they both have coastlines on the South China Sea and Brunei Bay. The country has a population of approximately 445,900 people. The capital of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan, and the official language is Malay. Brunei is a monarchy (sultanate), with one (legislative) advisory body; the head of state and government is the sultan. The narrow northern coastal plain gives way to rugged hills in the south. Much of Brunei is covered by dense tropical rainforest; very little land is arable. Its economy is dominated by production from major oil and natural gas fields. It has one of the highest per capita incomes in Asia