2001 Edition

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.6% (male 96,697; female 94,330) 15-64 years: 67.43% (male 257,360; female 177,839) 65 years and over: 2.97% (male 9,721; female 9,414) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish

Airports

3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Area

total: 620 sq km land: 620 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Background

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. Possessing minimal oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining, and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir is pushing economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In 2001, the International Court of Justice awarded the Hawar Islands, long disputed with Qatar, to Bahrain. Bahrain Geography

Birth rate

20.07 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Budget

revenues: $1.8 billion expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)

Capital

Manama

Climate

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Coastline

161 km

Constitution

adopted late December 2000 (new constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)

Country name

conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun

Currency

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Currency code

BHD

Death rate

3.92 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$2.7 billion (2000)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: #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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741

Disputes - international

in March of 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Hawar Islands to Bahrain and also adjusted Bahrain's maritime boundary with Qatar

Economic aid - recipient

$48.4 million (1995)

Economy - overview

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 revenue granted as aid. 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

5.752 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

6.185 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

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

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.3760 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

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 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 monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Exports

$5.8 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7%

Exports - partners

India 14%, Saudi Arabia 5%, US 5%, UAE 5%, Japan 4%, South Korea 4% (1999)

FAX

[1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York

[973] 272-594

Fiscal year

calendar year Bahrain Communications

Flag description

red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side Bahrain Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $10.1 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1% industry: 46% services: 53% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $15,900 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5% (2000 est.)

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 Bahrain People

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Heliports

1 (2000 est.) Bahrain Military

Highways

total: 3,164 km paved: 2,433 km unpaved: 731 km note: there is a paved causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia (1997)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.15% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$4.2 billion (f.o.b., 2000)

Imports - commodities

nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%

Imports - partners

France 20%, US 14%, UK 8%, Saudi Arabia 7%, Japan 5% (1999)

Independence

15 August 1971 (from UK)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2000 est.)

Industries

petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism

Infant mortality rate

19.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2% (2000 est.)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Internet country code

.bh

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

37,500 (2000) Bahrain Transportation

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

High Civil Appeals Court

Labor force

295,000 (1998 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.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)

Languages

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

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; the National Action Charter created a bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum of 14 February 2001

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.2 years male: 70.81 years female: 75.67 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.2% male: 89.1% female: 79.4% (1995 est.) Bahrain Government

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

Merchant marine

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 175,609 GRT/207,652 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2 (2000 est.)

Military branches

Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$318 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5.2% (FY99) Bahrain Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 222,141 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 121,833 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

15 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 5,926 (2001 est.)

National holiday

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

Nationality

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; dust storms

Natural resources

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

Net migration rate

1.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km

Political parties and leaders

political parties prohibited

Political pressure groups and leaders

Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically 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

Population

645,361 note: includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.73% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

338,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

Religions

Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.45 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.29 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Suffrage

none

Telephone system

general assessment: modern system domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones 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 (1997)

Telephones - main lines in use

152,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

58,543 (1997)

Television broadcast stations

4 (1997)

Televisions

275,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Total fertility rate

2.79 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (1998 est.)

Waterways

none