1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
Geography
Area
total: 620 sq km land: 620 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area--comparative
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Coastline
161 km
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Environment--current issues
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; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needs
Environment--international agreements
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
Geographic coordinates
26 00 N, 50 33 E
Geography--note
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
Irrigated land
10 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
0 km
Land use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)
Location
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Map references
Middle East
Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural hazards
periodic droughts; dust storms
Natural resources
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish
Terrain
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 31% (male 97,316; female 94,708) 15-64 years: 67% (male 249,594; female 169,337) 65 years and over: 2% (male 9,241; female 8,894) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
21.86 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
3.24 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%
Infant mortality rate
14.81 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 75.32 years male: 72.75 years female: 77.96 years (1999 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.2% male: 89.1% female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini
Net migration rate
1.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Population
629,090 (July 1999 est.) note: includes 227,801 non-nationals (July 1999 est.)
Population growth rate
2% (1999 est.)
Religions
Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.47 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female total population: 1.3 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
2.97 children born/woman (1999 est.)
Government
Administrative divisions
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
Capital
Manama
Constitution
26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Country name
conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn
Data code
BA
Executive branch
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born NA 1969) head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Flag description
red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
Government type
traditional monarchy
Independence
15 August 1971 (from UK)
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 3119, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; International Mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
Judicial branch
High Civil Appeals Court Political parties and leaders: political parties prohibited Political pressure groups and leaders: several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active; following the arrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists have fomented unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment
Legal system
based on Islamic law and English common law
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
National holiday
National Day, 16 December (1971)
Suffrage
none
Economy
Agriculture--products
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Budget
revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1999 budget)
Currency
1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Debt--external
$2 billion (1997)
Economic aid--recipient
$48.4 million (1995)
Economy--overview
In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
Electricity--consumption
4.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
0 kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
4.7 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1--0.3760 (fixed rate)
Exports
$4.7 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Exports--commodities
petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7%
Exports--partners
India 18%, Japan 11%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South Korea 7%, UAE 5% (1997)
Fiscal year
calendar year
GDP
purchasing power parity--$8.2 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 1% industry: 46% services: 53% (1996 est.)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$13,100 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
-2% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$4.4 billion (f.o.b., 1997)
Imports--commodities
nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
Imports--partners
Saudi Arabia 45%, US 10%, UK 6%, Japan 5%, Germany 4% (1997)
Industrial production growth rate
3.4% (1995)
Industries
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
-0.2% (1996 est.)
Labor force
150,000 (1997 est.) note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Labor force--by occupation
industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
15% (1996 est.)
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios
320,000 (1993 est.)
Telephone system
modern system; good domestic services and excellent international connections domestic: NA international: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations--2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat
Telephones
73,552 (1987 est.)
Television broadcast stations
4 (1997)
Televisions
270,000 (1993 est.)
Transportation
Airports
3 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Heliports
1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 3,103 km paved: 2,374 km unpaved: 729 km (1997 est.)
Merchant marine
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 228,273 GRT/304,654 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2, oil tanker 1 (1998 est.)
Pipelines
crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km Ports and harbors: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$276.9 million (1994)
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
4.5% (1998)
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 220,670 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 121,451 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
15 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: NA
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Qatar currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ)