Bahrain

Internet country code

.bh

Internet hosts

1,334 (2003)

Internet users

195,700 (2003)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

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; 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)

Telephones - main lines in use

185,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular

443,100 (2003)

Television broadcast stations

4 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $3.825 billion expenditures: $3.262 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2004 est.)

Currency (code)

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Current account balance

$586.1 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external

$6.215 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

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

Economy - overview

In well-to-do 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. A large share of exports consist 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. In September 2004 Bahrain signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States - the first such agreement undertaken by a Gulf state. Both countries must ratify the FTA before it is enforced.

Electricity - consumption

6.379 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production

6.86 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001), 0.376 (2000)

Exports

$8.205 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 3%, US 2.9%, UAE 2.2% (2004)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$13.01 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 0.7% industry: 41% services: 58.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

5.6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports

$5.87 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 32.4%, Japan 7.3%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.6%, UK 5.4%, France 4.8% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

12.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force

370,000 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Natural gas - consumption

32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - production

32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

46 billion cu m (2004)

Oil - consumption

40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports

NA

Oil - imports

NA

Oil - production

44,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves

126 million bbl (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

63.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.141 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (1998 est.)

Area

total: 665 sq km land: 665 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

161 km

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

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

Geographic coordinates

26 00 N, 50 33 E

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

Irrigated land

50 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2001)

Location

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

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; dust storms

Natural resources

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

Terrain

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

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

Capital

Manama

Constitution

new constitution 14 February 2002

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 1724-2700 FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir al-BALUSHI chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111 FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York

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

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

Government type

constitutional hereditary monarchy

Independence

15 August 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch

High Civil Appeals Court

Legal system

based on Islamic law and English common law

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

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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 202,126 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 161,372 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males: 6,013 (2005 est.)

Military branches

Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$628.9 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

6.3% (2004)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.8% (male 96,807/female 94,863) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 275,792/female 197,424) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 12,078/female 11,381) (2005 est.)

Birth rate

18.1 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate

4.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 17.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.23 years male: 71.76 years female: 76.78 years (2005 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.1% male: 91.9% female: 85% (2003 est.)

Median age

total: 29.19 years male: 32.16 years female: 25.54 years (2005 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Net migration rate

1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population

688,345 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate

1.51% (2005 est.)

Religions

Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.4 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.63 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports

1 (2004 est.)

Highways

total: 3,459 km paved: 2,653 km unpaved: 806 km (2002)

Merchant marine

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 2 (Kuwait 2) (2005)

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)

Ports and harbors

Mina' Salman, Sitrah