Legend:
 Definition
 Field Listing
 Rank Order
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Background:
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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.
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Location:
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Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
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Geographic coordinates:
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26 00 N, 50 33 E
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Map references:
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Middle East
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Area:
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total: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 665 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
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Land boundaries:
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0 km
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Coastline:
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161 km
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
contiguous zone: 24 NM
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Climate:
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arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
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Terrain:
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mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
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Natural resources:
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oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
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Land use:
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arable land: 4.35%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 91.3% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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50 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts; dust storms
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Environment - current issues:
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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
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Environment - international agreements:
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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
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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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Population:
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677,886
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 28.4% (male 97,179; female 95,043)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 271,015; female 192,342)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 11,426; female 10,881) (2004 est.)
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Median age:
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total: 29 years
male: 31.9 years
female: 25.3 years (2004 est.)
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Population growth rate:
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1.56% (2004 est.)
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Birth rate:
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18.54 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Death rate:
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4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Net migration rate:
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1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.41 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 17.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 73.98 years
male: 71.52 years
female: 76.51 years (2004 est.)
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Total fertility rate:
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2.67 children born/woman (2004 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.3% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 1,000
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA
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Nationality:
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noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
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Ethnic groups:
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Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
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Religions:
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Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
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Languages:
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Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.9%
female: 85% (2003 est.)
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
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Government type:
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constitutional hereditary monarchy
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Capital:
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Manama
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Administrative divisions:
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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
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Independence:
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15 August 1971 (from UK)
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National holiday:
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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
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Constitution:
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adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)
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Legal system:
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based on Islamic law and English common law
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch:
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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
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Legislative branch:
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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)
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
election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10
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Judicial branch:
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High Civil Appeals Court
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Political parties and leaders:
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political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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
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International organization participation:
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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, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid AL KHALIFA
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
consulate(s) general: New York
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 321, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 273-300
FAX: [973] 272-594
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Flag description:
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red 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 - overview:
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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. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil granted as aid. 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.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $11.38 billion (2003 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.6% (2003 est.)
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $17,100 (2003 est.)
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 35%
services: 64% (2002 est.)
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% (2000)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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0.4% (2003 est.)
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Labor force:
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295,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (1998 est.)
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Labor force - by occupation:
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industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
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Unemployment rate:
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15% (1998 est.)
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.8 billion
expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2002 est.)
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Industries:
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petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2% (2000 est.)
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Electricity - production:
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6.257 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
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Electricity - consumption:
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5.819 billion kWh (2001)
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001)
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Oil - production:
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43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - consumption:
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31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
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Oil - exports:
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NA
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Oil - imports:
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NA
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Oil - proved reserves:
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125 million bbl (1 January 2003)
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Natural gas - production:
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8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption:
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8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2001 est.)
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Natural gas - proved reserves:
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46 billion cu m (1 January 2003)
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Agriculture - products:
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fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
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Exports:
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$6.492 billion (2003 est.)
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
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Exports - partners:
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US 4.5%, India 3.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.1% (2002)
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Imports:
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$5.126 billion (2003 est.)
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Imports - commodities:
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crude oil, machinery, chemicals
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Imports - partners:
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Saudi Arabia 29.5%, US 11.4%, Japan 7%, Germany 6.4%, UK 5.5% (2002)
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Debt - external:
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$5.9 billion (2003)
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)
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Currency:
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Bahraini dinar (BHD)
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Currency code:
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BHD
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Exchange rates:
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Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.38 (2003), 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38 (2000), 0.38 (1999)
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year
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Highways:
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total: 3,261 km
paved: 2,531 km
unpaved: 730 km (2000)
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Waterways:
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none
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Pipelines:
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gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2003)
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Ports and harbors:
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Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
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Merchant marine:
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total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT
by type: bulk 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 2 (2003 est.)
foreign-owned: Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 1
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Airports:
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4 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2003 est.)
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2003 est.)
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Heliports:
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1 (2003 est.)
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Disputes - international:
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none
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This page was last updated on 11 May, 2004
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