Edition 2003 — Bahrain — World Factbook

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: 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.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

4 (2002)

Airports - with paved runways

over 3,047 m: 2 1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)
total: 3

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)

Area

land: 665 sq km
total: 665 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. 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. Geography Bahrain

Birth rate

19.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Budget

expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2002 est.)
revenues: $1.8 billion

Capital

Manama

Climate

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

Coastline

161 km

Constitution

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)

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
former: Dilmun
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn

Currency

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Currency code

BHD

Death rate

3.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Debt - external

$3.7 billion (2002)

Diplomatic representation from the US

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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
chief of mission: Ambassador Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid AL KHALIFA
consulate(s) general: New York

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

Economic aid - recipient

$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)

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 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.

Electricity - consumption

5.819 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

6.257 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Elevation extremes

highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 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; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater 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 - 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38 (2000), 0.38 (1999), 0.38 (1998)

Executive branch

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
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)
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971)

Exports

$5.8 billion (2002)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners

US 4.5%, India 3.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.1% (2002)

FAX

[1] (202) 362-2192; [973] 272-594
telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications Bahrain

Flag description

red with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam Economy Bahrain

GDP

purchasing power parity - $9.91 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1%
industry: 35%
services: 64% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

2.9% (2002 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 People Bahrain

Government type

constitutional hereditary monarchy

Heliports

1 (2002) Military Bahrain

Highways

paved: 2,531 km
total: 3,261 km
unpaved: 730 km (2000)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 1,000

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$4.2 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 30.1%, US 11.7%, Japan 7.1%, Germany 6.5%, UK 5.6% (2002)

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

female: 15.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births
total: 18.59 deaths/1,000 live births

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.5% (2002 est.)

International organization participation

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

Internet country code

.bh

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

140,200 (2002) Transportation Bahrain

Irrigated land

50 sq km (1998 est.)

Judicial branch

High Civil Appeals Court

Labor force

295,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (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: 4.35%
other: 91.3% (1998 est.)
permanent crops: 4.35%

Languages

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Legal system

based on Islamic law and English common law

Legislative branch

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)
election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10
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

Life expectancy at birth

female: 76.24 years (2003 est.)
male: 71.28 years
total population: 73.72 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
female: 85% (2003 est.) Government Bahrain
male: 91.9%
total population: 89.1%

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

Median age

female: 25.1 years (2002)
male: 31.6 years
total: 28.7 years

Merchant marine

convenience: Kuwait 1 (2002 est.)
ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 1, includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 234,599 GRT/336,528 DWT

Military branches

Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) comprising Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force, Amiri Guards, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$526.2 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

6.7% (FY01) Transnational Issues Bahrain

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 222,242 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 121,739 (2003 est.)

Military manpower - military age

15 years of age (2003 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 6,126 (2003 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

adjective: Bahraini
noun: Bahraini(s)

Natural gas - consumption

8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production

8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

46 billion cu m (37257)

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; dust storms

Natural resources

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

Net migration rate

1.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption

31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

62.28 million bbl (37257)

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2003)

Political parties and leaders

political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed

Political pressure groups and leaders

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

Population

667,238
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

1.61% (2003 est.)

Ports and harbors

Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

338,000 (1997)

Railways