Bahrain
State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun
constitutional monarchyIndependence 15 August 1971 (from UK)
Bahrain as the 2001 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 117 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
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. Possessing minimal oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining, and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir is pushing economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In 2001, the International Court of Justice awarded the Hawar Islands, long disputed with Qatar, to Bahrain.
Geography
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
18 fieldsLand use
arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)
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, Wetlands 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
18 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2001 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years: 29.6% (male 96,697; female 94,330) 15-64 years: 67.43% (male 257,360; female 177,839) 65 years and over: 2.97% (male 9,721; female 9,414) (2001 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.45 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.29 male(s)/female (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 73.2 years male: 70.81 years female: 75.67 years (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.2% male: 89.1% female: 79.4% (1995 est.)
Government
Constitutional monarchy; Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)
20 fieldsCountry name
conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun
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
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
Constitution
adopted late December 2000 (new constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Amir 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 NA 1971) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none;
- the monarch is hereditary;
- prime minister appointed by the monarch
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;
- the National Action Charter created a bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000;
- approved by referendum of 14 February 2001
Political pressure groups and leaders
- Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically 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
International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 321, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100;
- international mail:
Economy
32 fieldsTrading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
Economy - overview
In 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 revenue granted as aid.
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 - by occupation
industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
Budget
revenues: $1.8 billion expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2001 est.)
Industries
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Communications
10 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- modern system domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services;
- digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones 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 (1997)
Transportation
10 fieldsHighways
total: 3,164 km paved: 2,433 km unpaved: 731 km note: there is a paved causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia (1997)
Merchant marine
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 175,609 GRT/207,652 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2 (2000 est.)
Military
Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force
7 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
in March of 2001, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded the Hawar Islands to Bahrain and also adjusted Bahrain's maritime boundary with Qatar
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bahrain.” The World Factbook 2001. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bahrain/2001.