2008 Edition

Background

In 1783, the al-Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. 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. King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa, after coming to power in 1999, pushed economic and political reforms to improve relations with the Shia community. Shia political societies participated in 2006 parliamentary and municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shia political society, won the largest number of seats in the elected chamber of the legislature. However, Shi'a discontent has resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence.

Area

total: 665 sq km land: 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

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; lack of freshwater resources (groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs)

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%) per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000)

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

40 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2005)

Location

Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

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

Total renewable water resources

0.1 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 95,709/female 93,747) 15-64 years: 69.8% (male 288,957/female 212,706) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 14,224/female 12,963) (2008 est.)

Birth rate

17.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate

4.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Education expenditures

3.9% of GDP (1991)

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 15.64 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.27 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)

Languages

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.92 years male: 72.41 years female: 77.5 years (2008 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 88.6% female: 83.6% (2001 census)

Median age

total: 29.9 years male: 33 years female: 26.4 years (2008 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Net migration rate

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Population

718,306 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)

Population growth rate

1.337% (2008 est.)

Religions

Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2006)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.36 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2008 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.53 children born/woman (2008 est.)

Administrative divisions

5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Capital

name: Manama geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 14 February 2002

Country name

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador J. Adam ERELI embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 1724-2700

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Houda Ezra Ibrahim NUNU chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111

Executive branch

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 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, Jawad al-ARAIDH cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

FAX

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

[973] 1727-0547

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 monarchy

Independence

15 August 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

High Civil Appeals Court

Legal system

based on Islamic law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

bicameral legislature consists of the Consultative Council (40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly elected to serve four-year terms) elections: Council of Representatives - last held November-December 2006 (next election to be held in 2010) election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - al Wifaq (Shia) 17, al Asala (Sunni Salafi) 5, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 7, independents 11; note - seats by party as of February 2007 - al Wifaq 17, al Asala 8, al Minbar 7, al Mustaqbal (Moderate Sunni pro-government) 4, unassociated independents (all Sunni) 3, independent affiliated with al Wifaq (Sunni oppositionist) 1

National holiday

National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection

Political parties and leaders

political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law

Political pressure groups and leaders

Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators other: several small leftist and other groups are active

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $5.418 billion expenditures: $4.968 billion (2007 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.35% (31 December 2007)

Currency (code)

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Currency code

BHD

Current account balance

$2.907 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external

$7.858 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$103.9 million (2004)

Economy - overview

With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Petroleum production and refining account for over 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, over 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries), underpinning Bahrain's strong economic growth in recent years. Aluminum is Bahrain's second major export after oil. Other major segments of Bahrain's economy are the financial and construction sectors. Bahrain is focused on Islamic banking and is competing on an international scale with Malaysia as a worldwide banking center. Bahrain is actively pursuing the diversification and privatization of its economy to reduce the country's dependence on oil. As part of this effort, in August 2006 Bahrain and the US implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Continued strong growth hinges on Bahrain's ability to acquire new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are long-term economic problems.

Electricity - consumption

8.742 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - production

9.233 billion kWh (2006 est.)

Electricity - production by source

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

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003)

Exports

$13.79 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 3.5%, US 2.5%, UAE 2.5% (2007)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 0.3% industry: 43.6% services: 56% (2007 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$33,900 (2007 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6.7% (2007 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.66 billion (2007 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$24.01 billion (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$10.93 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 37.7%, Japan 7.2%, US 6.2%, Germany 4.7%, UK 4.5%, UAE 4.2%, China 4.1% (2007)

Industrial production growth rate

5.2% (2007 est.)

Industries

petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

22.3% of GDP (2007 est.)

Labor force

437,000 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1% industry: 79% services: 20% (1997 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$21.12 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

11.33 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2007 est.)

Natural gas - production

11.33 billion cu m (2006 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2008 est.)

Oil - consumption

32,830 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports

238,900 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports

221,500 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - production

48,610 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

124.6 million bbl (1 January 2008 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

31.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.101 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$7.72 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$13.31 billion (2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$10.32 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of money

$4.169 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of quasi money

$10.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate

15% (2005 est.)

Internet country code

.bh

Internet hosts

2,621 (2008)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

1 (2000)

Internet users

250,000 (2007)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

338,000 (1997)

Telephone system

general assessment: modern system domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones international: country code - 973; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

194,200 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.116 million (2007)

Television broadcast stations

4 (1997)

Televisions

275,000 (1997)

Airports

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 9 by type: bulk carrier 4, container 4, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 6 (Kuwait 5, UAE 1) (2008)

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 52 km (2007)

Ports and terminals

Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Roadways

total: 3,498 km paved: 2,768 km unpaved: 730 km (2003)

Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF)

Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 210,938 females age 16-49: 170,471 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 171,536 females age 16-49: 142,714 (2008 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 6,543 female: 6,429 (2008 est.)

Military expenditures

4.5% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008)

Disputes - international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; men and women from Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to work as laborers or domestic servants where some face conditions of involuntary servitude such as unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions on movements, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse; women from Thailand, Morocco, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia are trafficked to Bahrain for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increased efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly efforts that enforce laws against trafficking in persons, and that prevent the punishment of victims of trafficking; during 2007, Bahrain passed a comprehensive law prohibiting all forms of trafficking in persons; the government also established a specialized anti-trafficking unit within the Ministry of Interior to investigate trafficking crimes; however, the government did not report any prosecutions or convictions for trafficking offenses during 2007, despite reports of a substantial problem of involuntary servitude and sex trafficking (2008) This page was last updated on 18 December, 2008