Bahrain
State of BahrainDawlat al Bahrayn
traditional monarchyIndependence 15 August 1971 (from UK)
Bahrain as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 99 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi | Arabia
18 fieldsLand useshare of 620 sq km
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;
- no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water 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
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
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
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1998 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 31% (male 95,871; female 93,232)
- 15-64 years:
- 67% (male 245,099; female 164,946)
- 65 years and over:
- 2% (male 8,799; female 8,395) (July 1998 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.49 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1.05 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Government
Traditional monarchy; Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
21 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- State of Bahrain
- conventional short form:
- Bahrain
- local long form:
- Dawlat al Bahrayn
- local short form:
- Al Bahrayn
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
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January 1949)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the amir
- elections:
- none;
- the amir is a traditional Arab monarch;
- prime minister appointed by the amir
Legislative branch
- unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet;
- appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
Political pressure groups and leaders
- several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active;
- following the arrest of a popular Shi'a cleric, Shi'a activists have fomented unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah
- chancery:
- 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 342-0741, 342-0742
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Johnny YOUNG
- embassy:
- Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama
- mailing address:
- FPO AE 09834-5100; International Mail Box 26431, Manama (International Mail)
- telephone:
- [973] 273-300
Economy
28 fieldsGDP-composition by sector(1995)
Economy-overview
In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf.
A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
Labor force
- total:
- 140,000
- by occupation:
- industry, commerce, and service 78%, government 21%, agriculture 1% (1994)
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)
Industries
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Exports
- total value:
- $4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
- commodities:
- petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7%
- partners:
- India 22%, Japan 12%, Saudi Arabia 6%, US 6%, UAE 5% (1995)
Imports
- total value:
- $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996)
- commodities:
- nonoil 63%, crude oil 37%
- partners:
- Saudi Arabia 40%, US 13%, UK 7%, Japan 5%, Switzerland 5% (1995)
Telephone system
modern system; good domestic services and excellent international connections
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- tropospheric scatter to Qatar and 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
Transportation
9 fieldsMerchant marine, 6 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1997 est.)
Airports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, | Internal Security Forces
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes-international
territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Qatar currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) BAKER ISLAND (territory of the US)
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bahrain.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bahrain/1998.