Legend:  Definition
 Field
Listing  Rank
Order
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Background:
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Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries
require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among
its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has
turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed
itself into an international banking center. The new amir, installed
in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked
to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001,
Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter
- the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program.
In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself
king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house
of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
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Location:
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Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
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Geographic coordinates:
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26 00 N, 50 33 E |
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Map references:
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Middle
East |
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Area:
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total: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 665 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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3.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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161 km |
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Maritime claims:
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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
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Climate:
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arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m |
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Natural resources:
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oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls |
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Land use:
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arable land: 4.35%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 91.3% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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50 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts; dust storms |
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Environment - current issues:
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desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable
land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage
to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil
spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries,
and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater
and seawater are the only sources for all water needs |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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Geography - note:
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close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location
in Persian Gulf, which much of Western world's petroleum must transit
to reach open ocean
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Population:
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667,238
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2003 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 28.8% (male 97,294; female 94,930)
15-64 years: 68% (male 266,351; female 187,473)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 10,807; female 10,383) (2003
est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 28.7 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 25.1 years (2002) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.61% (2003 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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19.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Death rate:
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3.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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1.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.42 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 18.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 73.72 years
male: 71.28 years
female: 76.24 years (2003 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.71 children born/woman (2003 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.3% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 1,000 |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini |
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Ethnic groups:
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Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8% |
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Religions:
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Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% |
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Languages:
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Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.9%
female: 85% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn |
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Government type:
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constitutional hereditary monarchy |
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Capital:
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Manama |
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Administrative divisions:
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12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah,
Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash
Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd
Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
note: all municipalities administered from Manama |
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Independence:
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15 August 1971 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date
of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence
from British protection |
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Constitution:
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adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February
2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised constitution calls
for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy,
and an independent judiciary) |
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Legal system:
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based on Islamic law and English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March
1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch,
born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al
Khalifa (since NA 1971)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister
appointed by the monarch |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed
by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly elected
to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002
(next election to be held NA 2006)
note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National
Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created
bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum
14 February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on
25 December 2002
election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by
party - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9,
other 10 |
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Judicial branch:
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High Civil Appeals Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies
are allowed |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97, demanding
the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment;
several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups
are active |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid AL
KHALIFA
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports
Club), Block 321, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE
09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 273-300
FAX: [973] 272-594 |
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Flag description:
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red with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist
side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam
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Economy - overview:
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In Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about
60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP.
With its highly developed communication and transport facilities,
Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in
the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil granted as
aid. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made
from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major
industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and
the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term
economic problems. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $9.91 billion (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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2.9% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 35%
services: 64% (2001 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0.5% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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295,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(1998 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture
1% (1997 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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15% (1998 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.8 billion
expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures
of $700 million (2002 est.) |
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Industries:
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petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking,
ship repairing; tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2% (2000 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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6.257 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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5.819 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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62.28 million bbl (37257) |
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Natural gas - production:
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8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption:
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8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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46 billion cu m (37257) |
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Agriculture - products:
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fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish |
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Exports:
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$5.8 billion (2002) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles |
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Exports - partners:
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US 4.5%, India 3.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.1% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$4.2 billion (2002) |
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Imports - commodities:
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crude oil, machinery, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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Saudi Arabia 30.1%, US 11.7%, Japan 7.1%, Germany 6.5%, UK 5.6%
(2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$3.7 billion (2002) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of
Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002) |
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Currency:
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Bahraini dinar (BHD) |
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Currency code:
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BHD |
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Exchange rates:
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Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38 (2000),
0.38 (1999), 0.38 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Railways:
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0 km |
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Highways:
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total: 3,261 km
paved: 2,531 km
unpaved: 730 km (2000) |
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Waterways:
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none |
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Pipelines:
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gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2003) |
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Ports and harbors:
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Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 234,599 GRT/336,528 DWT
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 2, petroleum tanker
1, includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience:
Kuwait 1 (2002 est.) |
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Airports:
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4 (2002) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2002)
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Disputes - international:
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none
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This page was last updated on 18 December,
2003
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