Middle East :: Bahrain
page last updated on April 21, 2010
Flag of Bahrain
Location of Bahrain
 
Map of Bahrain
Introduction ::Bahrain
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.
Geography ::Bahrain
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
26 00 N, 50 33 E
total: 741 sq km
country comparison to the world: 190
land: 741 sq km
water: 0 sq km
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
0 km
161 km
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
Current Weather
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
arable land: 2.82%
permanent crops: 5.63%
other: 91.55% (2005)
40 sq km (2003)
0.1 cu km (1997)
total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%)
per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000)
periodic droughts; dust storms
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)
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
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
People ::Bahrain
738,004
country comparison to the world: 163
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2010 est.)
0-14 years: 25.4% (male 94,819/female 92,799)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 296,942/female 222,669)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 16,356/female 14,419) (2010 est.)
total: 30.4 years
male: 33.5 years
female: 27.1 years (2010 est.)
1.243% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 101
16.81 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 120
4.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (2010 est.)
total: 14.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 126
male: 17.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)
total population: 75.4 years
country comparison to the world: 84
male: 72.87 years
female: 78.01 years (2010 est.)
2.47 children born/woman (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
0.2% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 111
fewer than 600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 145
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.6%
female: 83.6% (2001 census)
total: 15 years
male: 14 years
female: 16 years (2006)
3.9% of GDP (1991)
country comparison to the world: 107
Government ::Bahrain
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun
constitutional monarchy
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor
15 August 1971 (from the UK)
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
adopted 14 February 2002
based on Islamic law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
20 years of age; universal
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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elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
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 in November-December 2006 (next election to be held in November 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
High Civil Appeals Court
political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law
Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators
other: several small leftist and other groups are active
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
chief of mission: Ambassador Houda Ibrahim Ezra NUNU
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
consulate(s) general: New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph 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
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
Economy ::Bahrain
Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Persian 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.
$27.99 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
$27.2 billion (2008 est.)
$25.59 billion (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
$19.59 billion (2009 est.)
2.9% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 61
6.3% (2008 est.)
8.4% (2007 est.)
$38,400 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
$37,800 (2008 est.)
$36,100 (2007 est.)
note: data are in 2009 US dollars
agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 58%
services: 41.5% (2009 est.)
595,000
country comparison to the world: 154
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2009 est.)
agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.)
15% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
NA%
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
27% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 36
revenues: $5.809 billion
expenditures: $5.86 billion (2009 est.)
30.1% of GDP (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
28.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
7% (2008 est.)
NA% (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 109
8.35% (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2008)
$4.169 billion (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2008)
$10.63 billion (31 December 2007)
$NA (31 December 2008)
$10.32 billion (31 December 2007)
$21.18 billion (31 December 2008)
country comparison to the world: 60
$28.13 billion (31 December 2007)
$21.12 billion (31 December 2006)
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
-0.5% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 74
10.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
10.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
0 kWh (2008 est.)
0 kWh (2008 est.)
48,520 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
38,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
238,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
228,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 41
124.6 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 63
12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 38
12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 44
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 46
0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 55
$1.808 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$2.257 billion (2008 est.)
$12.5 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 76
$17.49 billion (2008 est.)
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
India 4%, Saudi Arabia 3.4%, UAE 2.2% (2008)
$10.37 billion (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
$14.25 billion (2008 est.)
crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Saudi Arabia 26%, Japan 8.7%, US 7.6%, China 6%, Germany 4.7%, South Korea 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2008)
$3.465 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80
$3.803 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$10.87 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$10.33 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$16.18 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$15.01 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
$10.04 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 47
$9.34 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2009), 0.376 (2008), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005)
Communications ::Bahrain
220,000 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 123
1.4 million (2008)
country comparison to the world: 137
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)
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
4 (1997)
.bh
51,489 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 82
402,900 (2008)
country comparison to the world: 112
Transportation ::Bahrain
3 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 191
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2009)
1 (2009)
gas 20 km; oil 32 km (2009)
total: 3,851 km
country comparison to the world: 158
paved: 3,121 km
unpaved: 730 km (2007)
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)
Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Military ::Bahrain
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard
17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008)
males age 16-49: 208,365
females age 16-49: 174,375 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 170,633
females age 16-49: 146,243 (2010 est.)
male: 6,590
female: 6,475 (2010 est.)
4.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 20
Transnational Issues ::Bahrain
none
current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; men and women from Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to work as laborers or domestic servants where some face conditions of involuntary servitude such as unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions on movements, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse; women from Thailand, Morocco, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia are trafficked to Bahrain for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increased efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly efforts that enforce laws against trafficking in persons, and that prevent the punishment of victims of trafficking; during 2007, Bahrain passed a comprehensive law prohibiting all forms of trafficking in persons; the government also established a specialized anti-trafficking unit within the Ministry of Interior to investigate trafficking crimes; however, the government did not report any prosecutions or convictions for trafficking offenses during 2007, despite reports of a substantial problem of involuntary servitude and sex trafficking (2008)