Bahrain

Internet country code

.bh

Internet hosts

2,413 (2007)

Internet users

157,300 (2006)

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; 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 stations - 1 (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

193,300 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular

898,900 (2006)

Television broadcast stations

4 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $4.894 billion expenditures: $4.516 billion (2006 est.)

Currency (code)

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Current account balance

$1.918 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external

$7.159 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient

$103.9 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from the UAE and Kuwait (2004)

Economy - overview

With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Petroleum production and refining account for over 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, over 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries), underpinning Bahrain's strong economic growth in recent years. Other major segments of Bahrain's economy are the financial and construction sectors. Bahrain is actively pursuing the diversification and privatization of its economy to reduce the country's dependence on oil. As part of this effort, in August 2006 Bahrain and the US implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.

Electricity - consumption

7.614 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - production

8.187 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002)

Exports

$11.7 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 3.2%, US 3%, Japan 2.3% note: excludes oil exports (2006)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$12.07 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$17.91 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 0.3% industry: 45% services: 54.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$25,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.1% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$8.565 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 37.6%, Japan 6.8%, US 6.2%, UK 6.2%, Germany 5.1%, UAE 4.2% (2006)

Industrial production growth rate

2% (2000 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

2.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed)

17.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Labor force

352,000 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1% industry: 79% services: 20% (1997 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$21.12 billion (2006)

Natural gas - consumption

10.27 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - production

10.27 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

88.26 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption

27,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports

NA bbl/day

Oil - production

188,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

121 million bbl (1 January 2006)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

31% of GDP (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$2.818 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$6.039 billion (2006 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$11.55 billion (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate

15% (2005 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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

40 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2005)

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

5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Capital

name: Manama geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution

adopted 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 J. Adam ERELI 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Muhammad 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 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 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 monarchy

Independence

15 August 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

High Civil Appeals Court

Legal system

based on Islamic law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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 party - NA; seats by party - al Wifaq (Shia) 17, al Asala (Sunni Salafi) 5, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 7, independents 11; note - seats by party 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

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

Political parties and leaders

political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law

Political pressure groups and leaders

Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97 and have recently engaged in protests with occasional low-level violence; protests related to a host of issues, including the 2002 constitution, elections, unemployment, and release of detainees; Sunni Islamist legislators support a greater role for Shari'a in daily life; several small leftist and other groups are active

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Background

In 1782, 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 Shi'a community and Shi'a political societies participated in 2006 parliamentary and municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shi'a political society, won the largest number of seats in the elected chamber of the legislature. However, Shi'a discontent has resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence.

Manpower available for military service

males age 18-49: 202,126 females age 18-49: 151,734 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 18-49: 161,372 females age 18-49: 125,488 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males age 18-49: 6,013 females age 18-49: 5,852 (2005 est.)

Military branches

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

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

4.5% (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.9% (male 96,217/female 94,275) 15-64 years: 69.5% (male 284,662/female 207,555) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 13,451/female 12,413) (2007 est.)

Birth rate

17.53 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Death rate

4.21 deaths/1,000 population (2007 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: 16.18 deaths/1,000 live births male: 18.89 deaths/1,000 live births female: 13.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)

Languages

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 74.68 years male: 72.18 years female: 77.25 years (2007 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 88.6% female: 83.6% (2001 census)

Median age

total: 29.7 years male: 32.7 years female: 26.1 years (2007 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Net migration rate

0.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)

Population

708,573 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2007 est.)

Population growth rate

1.392% (2007 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: 1.021 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.372 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.084 male(s)/female total population: 1.255 male(s)/female (2007 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.57 children born/woman (2007 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men and women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly to work as laborers or domestic servants, but may be subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude when faced with exorbitant recruitment and transportation fees, withholding of their passports, restrictions on their movement, non-payment of wages, and physical or sexual abuse; women from Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Morocco, and Thailand are also trafficked to Bahrain for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor tier rating: Tier 3 - Bahrain made no discernable progress in preventing trafficking in 2006; the government failed to enact a comprehensive anti-trafficking law and did not report any prosecutions or convictions for trafficking offenses, despite reports of a substantial problem of involutary servitude and trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation

Airports

3 (2007)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)

Heliports

1 (2007)

Merchant marine

total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 220,264 GRT/314,289 DWT by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 3 (Kuwait 3) (2007)

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 52 km (2006)

Ports and terminals

Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Roadways

total: 3,498 km paved: 2,768 km unpaved: 730 km (2003)