Bahrain

Broadcast media

state-run Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks and several radio stations; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; 1 private FM station directs broadcasts to Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2007)

Internet country code

.bh

Internet users

total: 1.259 million | percent of population: 93.5% (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 116

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 (2015)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 278,976 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 21 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 2.519 million | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 187 (July 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 148

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $5.436 billion | expenditures: $9.464 billion (2015 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-13.2% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 208

Commercial bank prime lending rate

5.16% (31 December 2015 est.) | 5.87% (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 140

Current account balance

-$987 million (2015 est.) | $1.523 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 120

Debt - external

$19.74 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $18.88 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 87

Economy - overview

Low oil prices have generated a budget deficit of at least a $4 billion deficit in 2015, 13% of GDP. Bahrain has few options for covering this deficit, with meager foreign assets and a constrained borrowing ability, stemming in part from a sovereign debt rating averaging just above “junk” status. | Oil comprises 86% of Bahraini budget revenues, despite past efforts to diversify its economy and to build communication and transport facilities for 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. | Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil - finance, and construction. Bahrain continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. | In 2011 Bahrain experienced economic setbacks as a result of domestic unrest driven by the majority Shia population, however, the economy recovered in 2012-15, partly as a result of improved tourism. In addition to addressing its current fiscal woes, Bahraini authorities face the long-term challenge of boosting Bahrain’s regional competitiveness—especially regarding industry, finance, and tourism—and reconciling revenue constraints with popular pressure to maintain generous state subsidies and a large public sector.

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - | 0.376 (2015 est.) | 0.376 (2014 est.) | 0.376 (2013 est.) | 0.376 (2012 est.) | 0.376 (2011 est.)

Exports

$14.2 billion (2015 est.) | $20.75 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 75

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 3.6%, UAE 2.4%, US 2.2% (2015)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$30.41 billion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$64.8 billion (2015 est.) | $62.82 billion (2014 est.) | $60.12 billion (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 100

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 46.7% | government consumption: 17.2% | investment in fixed capital: 17.6% | investment in inventories: -0.9% | exports of goods and services: 54.7% | imports of goods and services: -35.3% (2015 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.3% | industry: 38.3% | services: 61.4% (2015 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$50,100 (2015 est.) | $49,500 (2014 est.) | $48,400 (2013 est.) | note: data are in 2015 US dollars | country comparison to the world: 23

GDP - real growth rate

3.2% (2015 est.) | 4.5% (2014 est.) | 5.4% (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 106

Gross national saving

16.1% of GDP (2015 est.) | 19.9% of GDP (2014 est.) | 25% of GDP (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 82

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$8.848 billion (2015 est.) | $13.32 billion (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 29.1%, US 9.5%, China 7.6%, Japan 6.6%, Australia 5.1%, India 4.9% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

2.2% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 97

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

1.8% (2015 est.) | 2.7% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 113

Labor force

786,100 | note: excludes unemployed; 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 150

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1% | industry: 32% | services: 67% (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$22.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $18.57 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | $15.65 billion (31 December 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

66.7% of GDP (2015 est.) | 42.6% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$4.657 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $6.049 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 95

Stock of broad money

$27 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $25.95 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$11.22 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $10.72 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 58

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$17.31 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $18.77 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Stock of domestic credit

$28.29 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $25.44 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Stock of narrow money

$8.762 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | $8.232 billion (31 December 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Taxes and other revenues

17.9% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 174

Unemployment rate

4.1% (2014 est.) | 4.3% (2013 est.) | note: official estimate; actual rate is higher | country comparison to the world: 39

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

37 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 74

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 33

Crude oil - imports

219,100 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 30

Crude oil - production

50,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Crude oil - proved reserves

100 million bbl (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 70

Electricity - consumption

25 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 86

Electricity - exports

200 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 76

Electricity - from fossil fuels

99.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 118

Electricity - imports

200 million kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 105

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.9 million kW (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Electricity - production

26 billion kWh (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 89

Electricity access

population without electricity: 41,317 | electrification - total population: 98% | electrification - urban areas: 98% | electrification - rural areas: 93% (2012)

Natural gas - consumption

16.9 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 43

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 59

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 158

Natural gas - production

16.9 billion cu m (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 36

Natural gas - proved reserves

92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2016 es) | country comparison to the world: 55

Refined petroleum products - consumption

55,000 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Refined petroleum products - exports

243,000 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 28

Refined petroleum products - imports

15,960 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 179

Refined petroleum products - production

272,900 bbl/day (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 46

Area

total: 760 sq km | land: 760 sq km | water: 0 sq km | country comparison to the world: 188

Area - comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate

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

Coastline

161 km

Elevation

mean elevation: NA | 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 (2012)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

agricultural land: 11.3% | arable land 2.1%; permanent crops 3.9%; permanent pasture 5.3% | forest: 0.7% | other: 88% (2011 est.)

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

Population - distribution

smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq

Terrain

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Administrative divisions

4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern) | 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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no | citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bahrain | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals

Constitution

adopted 14 February 2002; amended 2012 (2016)

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, State of Bahrain | etymology: the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies surrounding the archipelago

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador William V. ROEBUCK (since 12 December 2014) | embassy: Building | 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 ABDALLAH bin Muhammad bin Rashid Al Khalifa (since 3 December 2013) | 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); 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); First Deputy Prime Minister SALMAN bin Hamad Al Khalifa (since 11 March 2013); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH (since 11 December 2006), KHALID bin Abdallah Al Khalifa (since November 2010), MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa (since September 2005) | cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch | elections/appointments: 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 | note: until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

15 August 1971 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Court of Cassation or Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge); appeals beyond the High Sharia Court of Appeal are heard by the Supreme Court of Appeal | note: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim | judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointment and tenure NA | subordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law

Legislative branch

description: bicameral National Assembly consists of the Consultative Council or Majlis al Shura (40 seats; members appointed by the king) and the Council of Representatives or Majlis al Nuwab (40 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in two rounds if needed; members serve 4-year renewable terms) | elections: Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 29 November 2014 (next to be held in November 2018) | election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Al-Asalah (Sunni Salafi) 2, Islamic Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 1, independent 36, other 1; note - Bahrain has societies rather than parties

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

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

National symbol(s)

a red field surmounted by a white serrated band with five white points; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

note: political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 law | Al-Wefaq National Islamic Society or Al-Wefeq [Ali SALMAN] | Arab Islamic Center Society [Abdulrahman AL-BAKER] | Constitutional Gathering Society [Abdulrahman AL-BAKER] | Islamic Asalah [Abd al-Halim MURAD] | Islamic Saff Society [Abdullah Khalil BU GHAMAR] | Islamic Shura Society | Movement of National Justice Society [Muhi al-Din KHAN] | National Action Charter Society [Muhammad AL-BUAYNAYN] | National Democratic Action Society [Radhi AL-MOUSAWI] | National Democratic Assembly [Hasan AL-ALI] | National Dialogue Society | National Fraternity Society [Musa AL-ANSARI] | National Islamic Minbar [Ali AHMAD] | National Progressive Tribune [Abd al-Nabi SALMAN] | National Unity Gathering [Abdullatif AL-MAHMOOD] | Unitary National Democratic Assemblage [Fadhil ABBAS]

Political pressure groups and leaders

none

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal; note - Bahraini Cabinet in May 2011 endorsed a draft law lowering eligibility to 18 years

Background

In 1783, the Sunni Al-Khalifa family took power in Bahrain. 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. A steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy, in the process developing successful petroleum processing and refining, aluminum production, and hospitality and retail sectors, and also to become a leading regional banking center, especially with respect to Islamic finance. Bahrain's small size and central location among Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. | The Sunni-led government has long struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. In early 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government confronted similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces to Bahrain. Political talks throughout 2014 between the government and opposition and loyalist political groups failed to reach an agreement, prompting opposition political societies to boycott parliamentary and municipal council elections in late 2014. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

Military branches

Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (RBA), Royal Bahraini Navy (RBN), Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), Royal Bahraini Air Defense Force (RBADF) (2013)

Military expenditures

4.2% of GDP (2014) | 4.1% of GDP (2013) | 3.9% of GDP (2010) | country comparison to the world: 19

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 19.27% (male 134,899/female 130,792) | 15-24 years: 15.76% (male 122,683/female 94,627) | 25-54 years: 56.07% (male 505,181/female 268,034) | 55-64 years: 6.05% (male 53,693/female 29,717) | 65 years and over: 2.85% (male 19,253/female 20,025) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

13.5 births/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 144

Death rate

2.7 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 223

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 31.4% | youth dependency ratio: 28.2% | elderly dependency ratio: 3.2% | potential support ratio: 31.6% (2015 est.)

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population | rural: 100% of population | total: 100% of population | urban: 0% of population | rural: 0% of population | total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

2.6% of GDP (2012) | country comparison to the world: 153

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 46%, Asian 45.5%, other Arab 4.7%, African 1.6%, European 1%, other 1.2% (includes Gulf Co-operative country nationals, North and South Americans, and Oceanians) (2010 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

NA

Health expenditures

5% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 165

Hospital bed density

2.1 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.2 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 8.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 143

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.9 years | male: 76.7 years | female: 81.1 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 51

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 95.7% | male: 96.9% | female: 93.5% (2015 est.)

Major urban areas - population

MANAMA (capital) 411,000 (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

15 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 138

Median age

total: 32.1 years | male: 33.5 years | female: 29.3 years (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 99

Nationality

noun: Bahraini(s) | adjective: Bahraini

Net migration rate

12.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 6

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

34.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 20

Physicians density

0.92 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

1,378,904 (July 2016 est.) | note: immigrants make up approximately 50% of the total population, according to UN data (2015) | country comparison to the world: 156

Population distribution

smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq

Population growth rate

2.33% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Religions

Muslim 70.3%, Christian 14.5%, Hindu 9.8%, Buddhist 2.5%, Jewish 0.6%, folk religion <.1, unaffiliated 1.9%, other 0.2% (2010 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 99.2% of population | rural: 99.2% of population | total: 99.2% of population | urban: 0.8% of population | rural: 0.8% of population | total: 0.8% of population (2015 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1.3 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 1.88 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 1.81 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female | total population: 1.54 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.77 children born/woman (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 157

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 5.3% | male: 2.6% | female: 12.2% (2012 est.) | country comparison to the world: 127

Urbanization

urban population: 88.8% of total population (2015) | rate of urbanization: 1.71% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Airports

4 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 184

Airports - with paved runways

total: 4 | over 3,047 m: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A9C (2016)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

total: 8 | by type: bulk carrier 2, container 4, petroleum tanker 2 | foreign-owned: 5 (Kuwait 5) | registered in other countries: 5 (Honduras 5) (2010) | country comparison to the world: 119

National air transport system

number of registered air carriers: 6 | inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 42 | annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 5,313,756 | annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 240,107,004 mt-km (2015)

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 54 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Roadways

total: 4,122 km | paved: 3,392 km | unpaved: 730 km (2010) | country comparison to the world: 157