Bahrain
Kingdom of BahrainMamlakat al Bahrayn
constitutional monarchyIndependence 15 August 1971 (from the UK)
Bahrain as the 2011 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 143 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
In 1783, the Sunni 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. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center.
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. In addition, the Sunni-led government has struggled to manage relations with its approximately 70% Shia-majority population. During the mid-to-late 1990s, Shia activists mounted a low-intensity uprising to demand that the Sunni-led government stop systemic economic, social, and political discrimination against Shia Bahrainis.
King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa, after succeeding his late father in 1999, pushed economic and political reforms in part to improve relations with the Shia community. After boycotting the country's first round of democratic elections under the newly-promulgated constitution in 2002, Shia political societies participated in 2006 and 2010 in legislative and municipal elections and Wifaq, the largest Shia political society, won the largest bloc of seats in the elected lower-house of the legislature both times. Nevertheless, Shia discontent persisted, often manifesting itself in street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence.
In early 2011, Bahrain's fractious opposition sought to ride a rising tide of popular Arab protests to petition for the redress of popular grievances. In mid-February, a vanguard of hardline activists - who reject the legitimacy of the Al Khalifa regime and have sometimes instigated low-level violence - organized demonstrations in Shia neighborhoods demanding a new constitution, release of hundreds of Shia prisoners, and an end to discriminations in all sectors of society.
Cycles of protestor deaths, funerals, and clashes with security forces ensued, escalating domestic tensions. The government's offers of modest political and economic concessions went nowhere as did the king's "national dialogue" with the opposition. In mid-March 2011, with the backing of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) capitals - especially Riyadh and Abu Dhabi - King HAMAD put an end to the mass public gatherings and increasingly disruptive demonstrations by declaring a state of emergency and authorizing the military to take all measures to "protect the safety of the country and its citizens."
Manama also welcomed a contingent of mostly Saudi and Emirati forces as part of a GCC deployment intended to help Bahraini security forces maintain order. By mid-April security forces had largely relegated demonstrations to outlying Shia neighborhoods and villages, and negotiations between the government and opposition reached a stalemate. Manama exacted retribution against opposition groups and their supporters through mass firings, arrests, and sectarian incitement.
In March, the Gulf Cooperation Council pledged $20 billion in financial aid to Bahrain and Oman over a 10-year period to assist the two nations in their struggle with Arab protests. In June, in an effort to salvage Bahrain's image and economy, King HAMAD lifted the state of emergency, offered to renew talks with opposition leaders, and formed an independent commission of experts from the legal community to investigate abuses during the February and March protests. The government held a byelection in September 2011 to fill 18 seats that were vacated earlier in the year when Wifaq withdrew from the National Assembly.
Geography
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
20 fieldsLand useshare of 760 sq km
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- total:
- 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%)
- per capita:
- 411 cu m/yr (2000)
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
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
People and Society
29 fieldsAge structuremale left, female right · (2011 est.)
Per 1,000 population
Male · female
Religions(2001 census)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.028 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 (2011 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
fewer than 600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 148
Government
Constitutional monarchy; King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 1971)
20 fieldsCountry name
- conventional long form:
- Kingdom of Bahrain
- conventional short form:
- Bahrain
- local long form:
- Mamlakat al Bahrayn
- local short form:
- Al Bahrayn
- former:
- Dilmun, State of Bahrain
Capital
- name:
- Manama
- geographic coordinates:
- 26 14 N, 50 34 E
- time difference:
- UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions
5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor
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
International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Suffrage
- 20 years of age;
- universal;
- note - Bahraini Cabinet in May 2011 endorsed a draft law lowering eligibility to 18 years
Executive branch
- 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)
- 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
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the monarch; (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website)
- elections:
- the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
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)
- elections:
- Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014)
- election results:
- Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA;
- seats by society - Wifaq (Shia) 18, Asala (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17
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
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
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Huda Azra Ibrahim NUNU
- chancery:
- 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 342-1111
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 362-2192
- consulate(s) general:
- New York
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI
- embassy:
- Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
- mailing address:
- PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
- telephone:
- [973] 1724-2700
- FAX:
- [973] 1727-0547
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
National anthem
- name:
- "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
- 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
Economy
Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Persian Gulf.
52 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2010 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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.
Labor force
654,900 country comparison to the world: 151 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2010 est.)
Central bank discount rate
0.5% (31 December 2010 est.) · 0.5% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135
Commercial bank prime lending rate
7.25% (31 December 2010 est.) · 7.9% (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129
Stock of narrow money
$6.127 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $5.74 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Stock of broad money
$20.92 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $18.93 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 82
Stock of domestic credit
$17.26 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $16.34 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 85
Industries
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
Natural gas - proved reserves
92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 55
Current account balance
$239.5 million (2010 est.) · $559.9 million (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 58
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
$4.789 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $3.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 86
Debt - external
$14.58 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $10.55 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 81
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$15.15 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $15 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 74
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$7.883 billion (31 December 2010 est.) · $7.549 billion (31 December 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 52
Exchange rates
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2010) · 0.376 (2009) · 0.376 (2008) · 0.376 (2007) · 0.376 (2006)
Communications
7 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- modern system
- domestic:
- modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones
- 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)
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)
Transportation
7 fieldsMerchant marine, 7 ships by typeone square, one ship
Military
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force, Royal Bahraini Navy (RBN), Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), Royal Bahraini Air Defense Force (RBADF) (2011)
6 fieldsMilitary branches
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force, Royal Bahraini Navy (RBN), Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), Royal Bahraini Air Defense Force (RBADF) (2011)
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)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldCite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Bahrain.” The World Factbook 2011. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bahrain/2011.