| Introduction:: |
 |
| Background: |
In 1783, the 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. 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. King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa, after coming to power in 1999, pushed economic and political reforms to improve relations with the Shia community. Shia political societies participated in 2006 parliamentary and municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shia political society, won the largest number of seats in the elected chamber of the legislature. However, Shia discontent has resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence. |
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| Geography:: |
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| Location: |
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia |
| Geographic coordinates: |
26 00 N, 50 33 E |
| Map References: |
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| Area:: |
total: 741 sq km
country comparison to the world: 190
land: 741 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Land boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline: |
161 km |
| Maritime claims: |
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined |
| Climate: |
Arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
| Terrain: |
Mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment |
| Elevation extremes: |
Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m |
| Natural resources: |
Oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls |
| Land use: |
Arable land: 2.82%
Permanent crops: 5.63%
Other: 91.55% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: |
40 sq km (2003) |
| Total Renewable Water Resources: |
0.1 cu km (1997) |
| Freshwater withdrawal (domestic-industrial-agricultural): |
Total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%)
Per Capital: 411 cu m/yr (2000) |
| 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, 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: |
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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
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| People:: |
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| Population : |
728,709
Country comparison to the world: 162
Note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2009 est.) |
| Age structure : |
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0-14 years: 25.9% (male 95,224/female 93,241)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 292,941/female 217,729)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 15,106/female 13,544) (2009 est.)
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| Median age : |
Total: 30.1 years
Male: 33.2 years
Female: 26.7 years (2009 est.) |
| Population growth rate : |
1.292% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 103 |
| Birth rate : |
17.01 births/1,000 Population (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 123 |
| Net migration rate : |
0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 71 |
| Urbanization: |
Urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
Rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.) |
| Sex ratio: |
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (2009 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: |
Total population: 75.19 years
Country comparison to the world: 84
Male: 72.67 years
Female: 77.78 years (2009 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: |
2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 95 |
| Nationality: |
Noun: Bahraini(s)
Adjective: Bahraini |
| Ethnic groups: |
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census) |
| Religions: |
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Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
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| Languages: |
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu |
| Literacy: |
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 86.5%
Male: 88.6%
Female: 83.6% (2001 census |
| School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): |
Total: 15 years
Male: 14 years
Female: 16 years (2006 |
| Education expenditures: |
3.9% of GDP (1991)
Country comparison to the world: 107 |
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| Government:: |
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| Country name: |
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
Conventional short form: Bahrain
Local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
Local short form: Al Bahrayn
Former: Dilmun |
| Government type: |
Constitutional monarchy |
| 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 |
| Independence: |
15 August 1971 (from the UK) |
| 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
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|
| Constitution: |
Adopted 14 February 2002 |
| Legal system: |
Based on Islamic law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: |
20 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 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 al-ARAIDH
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
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| 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 November-December 2006 (next election to be held in 2010)
Election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - al Wifaq (Shia) 17, al Asala (Sunni Salafi) 5, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 7, independents 11; note - seats by society as of February 2007 - al Wifaq 17, al Asala 8, al Minbar 7, al Mustaqbal (Moderate Sunni pro-government) 4, unassociated independents (all Sunni) 3, independent affiliated with al Wifaq (Sunni oppositionist) 1 |
| Judicial branch: |
High Civil Appeals Court |
| International organization participation: |
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, 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 |
| 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 |
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| Economy:: |
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| Economy - overview: |
Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Arabian 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. Future economic growth hinges on Bahrain's ability to acquire 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 reduce 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. Lower oil prices also caused Bahrain's budget to slip back into deficit for the first time since 2002, prompting Bahrain to issue an emergency budget supplement and finance its deficits with bonds. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$28 billion (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 108
$27.21 billion (2008 est.)
$25.6 billion (2007 est.)
Note: Data are in 2009 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): |
$19.36 billion (2009 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: |
2.9% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 66
6.3% (2008 est.)
8.4% (2007 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$38,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24
$37,800 (2008 est.)
$36,100 (2007 est
Note Data are in 2009 US Dollars
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| GDP - composition by sector: |
Agriculture: 0.5%
Industry: 58%
Services: 41.5% (2009 est.) |
| Labour force: |
595,000
Country comparison to the world: 154
Note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2009 est.) |
| Labour force - by occupation: |
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Agriculture: 1%
Industry: 79%
Services: 20% (1997 est.)
|
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| Unemployment rate: |
15% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 147 |
| Population below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
Lowest 10%: NA%
Highest 10%: NA% |
| Investment (gross fixed): |
27% of GDP (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 36 |
| Budget: |
Revenues: $5.809 billion
Expenditures: $5.86 billion (2009 est.) |
| Public debt: |
30.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 88
28.7% of GDP (2008 est.) |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
3% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 93
7% (2008 est.) |
| Commercial bank prime lending rate: |
NA% (31 December 2008)
Country comparison to the world: 102
8.35% (31 December 2007) |
| Stock of money: |
|
$NA (31 December 2008)
$4.169 billion (31 December 2007)
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|
| Stock of quasi money: |
$NA (31 December 2008)
$10.63 billion (31 December 2007) |
| Stock of domestic credit: |
$NA (31 December 2008)
$10.32 Billion (31 December 2007) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: |
|
$21.18 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 65
$28.13 billion (31 December 2007)
$21.12 billion (31 December 2006)
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| Agriculture - products: |
Fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish |
| Industries: |
Petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate: |
0.5% (2009 est.)
Country comparison to the world: 75 |
| Electricity - production: |
10.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 90 |
| Electricity – consumption: |
10.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84 |
| Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity – imports: |
0 kWh (2008 est.) |
| Oil – production: |
48,520 bbl/day (2008 est)
country comparison to the world: 63 |
| Oil - consumption: |
38,000 bbl/day (2008 est)
country comparison to the world: 104 |
| Oil - exports: |
238,300 bbl/day (2007 est)
country comparison to the world: 48 |
| Oil – imports: |
228,400 bbl/day (2007 est)
country comparison to the world: 43 |
| Oil - proved reserves: |
124.6 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63 |
| Natural gas - production: |
12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38 |
| Natural gas - consumption: |
12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44 |
| Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46 |
| Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71 |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: |
92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55 |
| Current account balance: |
$1.808 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$2.257 billion (2008 est.) |
| Exports: |
$12.5 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$17.49 billion (2008 est |
| Exports - commodities: |
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles |
| Exports – partners: |
India 4%, Saudi Arabia 3.4%, UAE 2.2% (2008) |
| Imports: |
$10.37 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
$14.25 billion (2008 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: |
crude oil, machinery, chemicals |
| Imports - partners: |
Saudi Arabia 26%, Japan 8.7%, US 7.6%, China 6%, Germany 4.7%, South Korea 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2008) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$3.465 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$3.803 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Debt – external: |
$10.87 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 82
$10.33 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$16.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 68
$15.01 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$10.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
$9.34 billion (31 December 2008 est.) |
| Exchange rates: |
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2009), 0.376 (2008), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005 |
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| Communications:: |
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| Telephones - main lines in use: |
220,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 123 |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: |
1.4 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 135 |
| Telephone 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 |
| Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998 |
| Television broadcast stations: |
4 (1997) |
| Internet country code: |
bh |
| Internet hosts: |
51,489 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 82 |
| Internet users: |
402,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 112 |
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| Transportation:: |
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| Airports: |
3 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 191 |
| Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2009) |
| Heliports: |
1 (2009) |
| Pipelines: |
gas 20 km; oil 32 km (2009) |
| Roadways: |
total: 3,851 km
country comparison to the world: 158
paved: 3,121 km
unpaved: 730 km (2007 |
| Merchant marine: |
total: 9
country comparison to the world: 114
by type: bulk carrier 4, container 4, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Kuwait 5, UAE 1) (2008) |
| Ports and terminals: |
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| Military:: |
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| Military branches: |
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard |
| Military service age and obligation: |
17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008) |
| Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49: 210,938
females age 16-49: 170,471 (2008 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 171,004
females age 16-49: 144,555 (2009 est.) |
| Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: |
male: 6,612
female: 6,499 (2009 est.) |
| Military expenditures: |
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4.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 22
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| Transnational Issues:: |
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| Disputes - international: |
none |
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| Local Weather |
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| Local Time |
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