2015 Edition

Background

In 1783, the Sunni Al-Khalifa family took power in Bahrain. 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. The steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy, in the process developing successful petroleum processing and refining, aluminum production, and hospitality and retail sectors, and also to become a leading regional banking center, especially with respect to Islamic finance. Bahrain's small size and central location among Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors.

The Sunni-led government has long struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. In early 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government confronted similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces to Bahrain. Political talks throughout 2014 between the government and opposition and loyalist political groups failed to reach an agreement, prompting opposition political societies to boycott parliamentary and municipal council elections in late 2014. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

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

386 cu m/yr (2003)

total

0.36 cu km/yr (50%/6%/45%)

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

40.15 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land 2.1%; permanent crops 3.9%; permanent pasture 5.3%

agricultural land

11.3%

forest

0.7%

other

88% (2011 est.)

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

0.12 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

19.48% (male 133,201/female 129,140)

15-24 years

15.84% (male 120,073/female 93,182)

25-54 years

56.13% (male 494,405/female 261,399)

55-64 years

5.79% (male 50,466/female 27,501)

65 years and over

2.77% (male 18,092/female 19,154) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

13.66 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

5% (2000 est.)

total number

5,530

Death rate

2.69 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

3.2%

potential support ratio

31.6% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

31.4%

youth dependency ratio

28.2%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.7% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 46%, Asian 45.5%, other Arabs 4.7%, African 1.6%, European 1%, other 1.2% (includes Gulf Co-operative country nationals, North and South Americans, and Oceanians) (2010 est.)

Health expenditures

4.9% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

10.4 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.35 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

female

80.98 years (2015 est.)

male

76.53 years

total population

78.73 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

93.5% (2015 est.)

male

96.9%

total population

95.7%

Major urban areas - population

MANAMA (capital) 411,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

female

29.1 years (2015 est.)

male

33.3 years

total

31.8 years

Nationality

adjective

Bahraini

noun

Bahraini(s)

Net migration rate

13.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

34.1% (2014)

Physicians density

0.92 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

1,346,613

note

immigrants make up almost 55% of the total population, according to UN data (2013) (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

2.41% (2015 est.)

Religions

Muslim 70.3%, Christian 14.5%, Hindu 9.8%, Buddhist 2.5%, Jewish 0.6%, folk religion

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99.2% of population

rural: 99.2% of population

total: 99.2% of population

urban: 0.8% of population

rural: 0.8% of population

total 0.8% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.29 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.89 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.84 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.95 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.54 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.78 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

12.2% (2012 est.)

male

2.6%

total

5.3%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.71% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

88.8% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Bahrain

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals

Constitution

adopted 14 February 2002; amended 2012 (2015)

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Bahrain

conventional short form

Bahrain

etymology

the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies surrounding the archipelago

former

Dilmun, State of Bahrain

local long form

Mamlakat al Bahrayn

local short form

Al Bahrayn

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador William V. ROEBUCK (since 12 December 2014)

embassy

Building

FAX

[973] 1727-0547

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

chancery

3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador ABDALLAH bin Muhammad bin Rashid Al Khalifa (since 3 December 2013)

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 362-2192

telephone

[1] (202) 342-1111

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the monarch

chief of state

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

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 1971); First Deputy Prime Minister SALMAN bin Hamad Al Khalifa (since 11 March 2013); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH (since 11 December 2006), KHALID bin Abdallah Al Khalifa (since November 2010), MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa (since September 2005)

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 law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Court of Cassation or Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal

judge selection and term of office

Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA

note

the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts

subordinate courts

Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Consultative Council or Majlis al Shura (40 seats; members appointed by the king) and the Council of Representatives or Majlis al Nuwab (40 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 4-year renewable terms)

election results

Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Al-Asalah (Sunni Salafi) 2, Islamic Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 1, independent 36, other 1; note - Bahrain has societies rather than parties

elections

Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 29 November 2014 (next in November 2018)

National anthem

lyrics/music

unknown

name

"Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)

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

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

National symbol(s)

a red field surmounted by a white serrated band with five white points; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society or Al-Wefeq [Ali SALMAN]

Arab Islamic Center Society [Abdulrahman AL-BAKER]

Constitutional Gathering Society [Abdulrahman AL-BAKER]

Islamic Asalah [Abd al-Halim MURAD]

Islamic Saff Society [Abdullah Khalil BU GHAMAR]

Islamic Shura Society

Movement of National Justice Society [Muhi al-Din KHAN]

National Action Charter Society [Muhammad AL-BUAYNAYN]

National Democratic Action Society [Radhi AL-MOUSAWI]

National Democratic Assembly [Hasan AL-ALI]

National Dialogue Society

National Fraternity Society [Musa AL-ANSARI]

National Islamic Minbar [Ali AHMAD]

National Progressive Tribune [Abd al-Nabi SALMAN]

National Unity Gathering [Abdullatif AL-MAHMOOD]

Unitary National Democratic Assemblage [Fadhil ABBAS]

note

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal; note - Bahraini Cabinet in May 2011 endorsed a draft law lowering eligibility to 18 years

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$9.427 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$8.217 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.88% (31 December 2014 est.)

5.93% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$1.123 billion (2014 est.)

$2.56 billion (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$18.75 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$17.66 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Economy - overview

Bahrain has made great efforts to diversify its economy; its 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. In 2013, petroleum production and refining accounted for 73% of Bahrain's export receipts, 88% of government revenues, and 21% of GDP. Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil - finance, and construction. Bahrain continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. In 2011 Bahrain experienced economic setbacks as a result of domestic unrest, however, the economy recovered in 2012-14, partly as a result of improved tourism. Lower oil prices in 2015 will likely exacerbate Bahrain's budget deficit.

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -

0.376 (2014 est.)

0.376 (2013 est.)

0.376 (2012 est.)

0.376 (2011 est.)

0.376 (2010 est.)

Exports

$20.75 billion (2014 est.)

$20.93 billion (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 3.3%, US 2.4%, UAE 2.2% (2014)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

71.2%

government consumption

15.7%

household consumption

41%

imports of goods and services

-44.1%

investment in fixed capital

15.3%

investment in inventories

1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.3%

industry

47.1%

services

52.6% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$49,000 (2014 est.)

$46,900 (2013 est.)

$44,500 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.5% (2014 est.)

5.3% (2013 est.)

3.6% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$33.86 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$62.17 billion (2014 est.)

$59.49 billion (2013 est.)

$56.47 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

19.6% of GDP (2014 est.)

24.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

27.3% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA%

lowest 10%

NA%

Imports

$13.32 billion (2014 est.)

$13.66 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 24%, Algeria 11.9%, China 8.2%, US 7%, Japan 5.7%, Australia 4.4% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

4.3% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.7% (2014 est.)

3.3% (2013 est.)

Labor force

738,000

note

excludes unemployed; 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2014 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1%

industry

32%

services

67% (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$22.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$18.57 billion (31 December 2013)

$15.65 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

42.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

41.3% of GDP (2013 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.051 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$6.049 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$25.95 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$24.36 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$10.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$10.75 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$18.77 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$17.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$25.44 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$25.77 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$7.996 billion (30 September 2014 est.)

$7.416 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

24.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2014 est.)

4.3% (2013 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

32.2 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

152,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - imports

243,300 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Crude oil - production

49,500 bbl/day (2014 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

124.6 million bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

Electricity - consumption

11.69 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - exports

190 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

Electricity - imports

35 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.94 million kW (2012 est.)

Electricity - production

13.26 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

15.7 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - production

15.7 billion cu m (2013 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

50,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

242,900 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

2,357 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

278,500 bbl/day (2012 est.)

Broadcast media

state-run Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks and several radio stations; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; 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 users

percent of population

96.5% (2014 est.)

total

1.3 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

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 - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

22 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

280,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

177 (2014 est.)

total

2.3 million

Television broadcast stations

4 (1997)

Airports

4 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

over 3,047 m

3

total

4

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

bulk carrier 2, container 4, petroleum tanker 2

foreign-owned

5 (Kuwait 5)

registered in other countries

5 (Honduras 5) (2010)

total

8

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 54 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Roadways

paved

3,392 km

total

4,122 km

unpaved

730 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

290,801 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

508,863

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

245,302 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

423,757

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

8,117 (2010 est.)

male

8,988

Military branches

Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (RBA), Royal Bahraini Navy (RBN), Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), Royal Bahraini Air Defense Force (RBADF) (2013)

Military expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2014)

4.1% of GDP (2013)

3.9% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2012)

Disputes - international

none