2010 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 2010 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, Shia discontent has resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence.

Area

land

760 sq km

total

760 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

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)

per capita

411 cu m/yr (2000)

total

0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%)

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%

other

91.55% (2005)

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

Total renewable water resources

0.1 cu km (1997)

Age structure

0-14 years: 25.9% (male 95,258/female 93,256) 15-64 years: 70.1% (male 293,340/female 217,815) 65 years and over: 4% (male 15,274/female 13,766) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

16.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

4.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

2.9% of GDP (2008)

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 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

12.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

17.01 deaths/1,000 live births

total

14.76 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

female

78.01 years (2010 est.)

male

72.87 years

total population

75.4 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

83.6% (2001 census)

male

88.6%

total population

86.5%

Median age

female

27.1 years (2010 est.)

male

33.5 years

total

30.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Bahraini

noun

Bahraini(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

738,004 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.243% (2010 est.)

Religions

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

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

15 years (2006)

male

14 years

total

14 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female

total population

1.24 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.47 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

89% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

26 14 N, 50 34 E

name

Manama

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

former

Dilmun

local long form

Mamlakat al Bahrayn

local short form

Al Bahrayn

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Joseph Adam ERELI

embassy

Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama

FAX

[973] 1727-0547

mail

American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama

mailing address

PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100; international

telephone

[973] 1724-2700

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Huda Azra Ibrahim NUNU

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 362-2192

telephone

[1] (202) 342-1111

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)

elections

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

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 bin Salim al-ARAIDH

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 note: until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

15 August 1971 (from the UK)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, 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)

election results

Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - al Wifaq (Shia) 18, al Asala (Sunni Salafi) 3, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17

elections

Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014)

National anthem

lyrics/music

unknown note: adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom

name

"Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)

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

Commercial bank prime lending rate

NA% (31 December 2009 est.) NA% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

$589 million (2010 est.) $560.2 million (2009 est.)

Debt - external

$14.68 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $10.55 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Economy - overview

Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Persian Gulf. Highly developed communication and transport facilities make Bahrain home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Bahrain's economy, however, continues to depend heavily on oil. Petroleum production and refining account for more than 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries). Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil - finance, and construction. Bahrain competes with Malaysia as a worldwide center for Islamic banking and continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment, especially among the young, is a long-term economic problem Bahrain struggles to address. In 2009, to help lower unemployment among Bahraini nationals, Bahrain reduced sponsorship for expatriate workers, increasing the costs of employing foreign labor. The global financial crisis caused funding for many non-oil projects to dry up and resulted in slower economic growth for Bahrain. Other challenges facing Bahrain include the slow growth of government debt as a result of a large subsidy program, the financing of large government projects, and debt restructuring, such as the bailout of state-owned Gulf Air.

Electricity - consumption

10.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

10.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2010), 0.376 (2009), 0.376 (2008), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006)

Exports

$15.13 billion (2010 est.) $12.05 billion (2009 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners

India 4.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.78% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

0.5%

industry

56.6%

services

42.9% (2010 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$40,400 (2010 est.) $39,400 (2009 est.) $38,700 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.9% (2010 est.) 3.1% (2009 est.) 6.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$21.73 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$29.82 billion (2010 est.) $28.7 billion (2009 est.) $27.83 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$12.14 billion (2010 est.) $9.613 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 22.91%, France 9.76%, US 7.95%, China 6.4%, South Korea 5.26%, Japan 5.19%, Germany 5.01%, UK 4.34% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1.5% (2010 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% (2010 est.) 2.8% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

26.6% of GDP (2010 est.)

Labor force

611,000 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1%

industry

79%

services

20% (1997 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$16.93 billion (31 December 2009) $21.18 billion (31 December 2008) $28.13 billion (31 December 2007)

Natural gas - consumption

12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - production

12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

39,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

238,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

228,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

48,560 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

124.6 million bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

59.2% of GDP (2010 est.) 38.5% of GDP (2009 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$3.766 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$21.02 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $18.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$8.399 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $7.549 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$15.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $15 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$18.46 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $16.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$6.372 billion (31 December 2010 est) $5.74 billion (31 December 2009 est)

Unemployment rate

15% (2005 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run broadcast media; Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; state-run BRTC broadcasts over several radio stations; 1 private FM station directs broadcasts to Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2007)

Internet country code

.bh

Internet hosts

53,944 (2010)

Internet users

419,500 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones

general assessment

modern system

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

238,400 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

1.578 million (2009)

Airports

4 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

4 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010)

Heliports

1 (2010)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, container 4, petroleum tanker 1

foreign-owned

5 (Kuwait 5)

registered in other countries

6 (Honduras 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1) (2010)

total

7

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 32 km (2009)

Ports and terminals

Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Roadways

paved

3,121 km

total

3,851 km

unpaved

730 km (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 208,365 females age 16-49: 174,375 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 170,633 females age 16-49: 146,243 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

6,475 (2010 est.)

male

6,590

Military branches

Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF)

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

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 (2010)

Disputes - international

none page last updated on January 19, 2011 ======================================================================