Bahrain

Kingdom of BahrainMamlakat al Bahrayn

constitutional hereditary monarchyIndependence 15 August 1971 (from UK)

Bahrain as the 2003 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 124 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.

CapitalManama

Position26 00 N, 50 33 E

Area665 sq km

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

Populationas each edition published it

667,238 people July 2003 est. · 520,186 in 1990

Population growth% a year

1.61% 2003 est. · 3.01% in 1993

Median ageyears

28.7 years 2002 · 33.5 yrs in 2025

Life expectancyyears at birth

73.72 years 2003 est. · 73.12 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

2.71 children per woman 2003 est. · 4.1 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

18.59 deaths per 1,000 live births 2003 est. · 19 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$15,100 2002 est. · $7,800 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

2.9% 2002 est. · 3% in 1993

Introduction

1 field

Background

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. The new amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community.

In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.

Geography

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

18 fields

Area

665sq km

water: 0 sq kmland: 665 sq km3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Coastline

161km

land boundaries: 0 kmcontiguous zone: 24 NMterritorial sea: 12 NMcontinental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Highest point

122m

Jabal ad Dukhanlowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

Irrigated land

50sq km

(1998 est.)

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

26 00 N, 50 33 E

Map references

Middle East

Climate

arid;
mild, pleasant winters;
very hot, humid summers

Terrain

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Natural resources

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

Land use

arable land:: 4.35%
permanent crops:: 4.35%
other:: 91.3% (1998 est.)

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; dust storms

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, 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

19 fields

Population

667,238

note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)growth rate: 1.61% (2003 est.)

Per 1,000 population(2003 est.)

Birth

19.02Death

3.99Net migration

1.07

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (2003 est.)73.72

71.28 · 76.24Infant mortality deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)18.59

21.65 · 15.45

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (2003 est.)89.1%

91.9% · 85%Median age years (2002)28.7

31.6 · 25.1

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 63%Asian 19%other Arab 10%Iranian 8%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.3%

(2001 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years:: 28.8% (male 97,294; female 94,930)
15-64 years:: 68% (male 266,351; female 187,473)
65 years and over:: 3.2% (male 10,807; female 10,383) (2003 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.42 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 1,000

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Nationality

noun:: Bahraini(s)
adjective:: Bahraini

Religions

Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%

Languages

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Government

Constitutional hereditary monarchy; King HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971)

18 fields

House of Deputies, 40 seats, elected 31 October 2002one dot, one seat

independents 21Sunni Islamists 9other 10

Country name

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

Government type

constitutional hereditary monarchy

Capital

Manama

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

Independence

15 August 1971 (from UK)

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; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)

Legal system

based on Islamic law and English common law

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 NA 1971)
cabinet:: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections:: none;
the monarchy is hereditary;
prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly elected to serve four-year terms)

elections:: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next election to be held NA 2006)

note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14 February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25 December 2002

election results:: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10

Judicial branch

High Civil Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders

political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed

Political pressure groups and leaders

Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 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, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid AL KHALIFA
chancery:: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general:: New York
FAX:: [1] (202) 362-2192
telephone:: [1] (202) 342-0741

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission:: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy:: Building #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: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone:: [973] 273-300
FAX:: [973] 272-594

Flag description

red with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

Economy

42 fields

Real growth rate

2.9%

(2002 est.)industrial production growth: 2% (2000 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

0.5%

(2002 est.)

Unemployment rate

15%

(1998 est.)

Labor force

295,000

note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector(2001 est.)

agriculture 1%industry 35%services 64% (2001 est.)

Trading partnersexports left, imports right

2.1%

Saudi Arabia

30.1%

4.5%

11.7%

Japan

7.1%

Germany

6.5%

5.6%

3.2%

India

Exports $5.8 billion (2002)Imports $4.2 billion (2002)(2002)

Budget

Revenues

$1.8 billionExpenditures

$2.2 billion (2002 est.)

expenditures including capital expenditures of $700 million

Electricity

fossil fuel 100%hydro 0% · other 0% · nuclear 0%

Electricity production

6.257 billion (2001)Electricity consumption

5.819 billion (2001)

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 granted as aid.

A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $9.91 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Labor force - by occupation

industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)

Industries

petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism

Oil - production

43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption

31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - proved reserves

62.28 million bbl (37257)

Natural gas - production

8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

46 billion cu m (37257)

Agriculture - products

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

Exports

$5.8 billion (2002)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Imports

$4.2 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Debt - external

$3.7 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient

$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)

Currency

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Currency code

BHD

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38 (2000), 0.38 (1999), 0.38 (1998)

Fiscal year

calendar year

Communications

8 fields

Mobile cellular

58,543

(1997)

Internet users

(2000)

Fixed lines

152,000

(1997) · country code .bh

Telephone 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)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Television broadcast stations

4 (1997)

Internet users

140,200 (2002)

Transportation

10 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved only

over 3,047 m

21524 to 2437 m

Airports by runway lengthunpaved only

1,524 to 2,437 m

Networkskm

Highways

3,261Railways

Highways: paved: 2,531 km · unpaved: 730 km (2000)

Highways

total:: 3,261 km
paved:: 2,531 km
unpaved:: 730 km (2000)

Waterways

none

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2003)

Ports and harbors

Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Merchant marine

total:: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 234,599 GRT/336,528 DWT
ships by type:: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 1, includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Kuwait 1 (2002 est.)