2004 Edition

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.

Area

land

665 sq km

total

665 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

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

Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous

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, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

Irrigated land

50 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land

2.82%

other

91.55% (2001)

permanent crops

5.63%

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, pearls

Terrain

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.4% (male 97,179; female 95,043) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 271,015; female 192,342) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 11,426; female 10,881) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

18.54 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

20.93 deaths/1,000 live births

total

17.91 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

female

76.51 years (2004 est.)

male

71.52 years

total population

73.98 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

85% (2003 est.)

male

91.9%

total population

89.1%

Median age

female

25.3 years (2004 est.)

male

31.9 years

total

29 years

Nationality

adjective

Bahraini

noun

Bahraini(s)

Net migration rate

1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

677,886

note

includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

1.56% (2004 est.)

Religions

Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.41 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.27 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.02 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

2.67 children born/woman (2004 est.)

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

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

Block 331, Zinj District, Manama

09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama

FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular)

chief of mission

Ambassador William T. MONROE

embassy

Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club),

mailing address

American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE

telephone

[973] 1724-2700

Diplomatic representation in the US

FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192

chancery

3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador KHALIFA bin ALI bin Rashid Al Khalifa

consulate(s) general

New York

telephone

[1] (202) 342-1111

Executive branch

Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)

(since NA 1971)

appointed by the monarch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the monarch

chief of state

King HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999);

elections

none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister

head of government

Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa

Flag description

red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

Government type

constitutional hereditary monarchy

Independence

15 August 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch

High Civil Appeals Court

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 to be held NA 2006)

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

seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10

election results

House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;

elections

House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next

note

first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

million (2003 est.)

expenditures

$3.019 billion, including capital expenditures of $700

revenues

$2.981 billion

Currency

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Currency code

BHD

Current account balance

$53 million (2003)

Debt - external

$4.682 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient

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

Economy - overview

In well-to-do 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 consist 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)

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001), 0.376 (2000), 0.376 (1999)

Exports

$6.492 billion (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners

US 3.5%, India 3.3%, South Korea 2.2% (2003)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $11.29 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

0.7%

industry

42.1%

services

57.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $16,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4.9% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$5.126 billion (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 30.7%, US 11.4%, Japan 7.8%, UK 5.7%, Germany 5.4% (2003) Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $1.785 billion (2003)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

-0.2% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

11.9% of GDP (2003)

Labor force

350,000

(2003 est.)

note

44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.)

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 (1 January 2003)

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

125 million bbl (1 January 2003)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

57.5% of GDP (2003)

Unemployment rate

15% (1998 est.)

Internet country code

.bh

Internet hosts

1,334 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

195,700 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

338,000 (1997)

Telephone system

with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones

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)

domestic

modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network

general assessment

modern system

international

country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and

Telephones - main lines in use

185,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

443,100 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

4 (1997)

Televisions

275,000 (1997)

Airports

4 (2003 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

over 3,047 m

2

total

3

Airports - with unpaved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

total

1

Heliports

1 (2003 est.)

Highways

paved

2,531 km

total

3,261 km

unpaved

730 km (2000)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1

foreign-owned

Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 1

registered in other countries

2 (2004 est.)

total

6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Military branches

Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$618.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

7.5% (2003)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49

221,661 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49

121,484 (2004 est.)

Military manpower - military age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

6,396 (2004 est.)

Disputes - international

none This page was last updated on 10 February, 2005 @Baker Island