Bahrain. English. |
| The World Factbook 2002 | ||
| Bahrain | 
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| Introduction | Bahrain |
| 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. Possessing minimal 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 local elections held in May 2002, Bahraini women were allowed to vote and run for office for the first time. |
| Geography | Bahrain |
| Location: |
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
26 00 N, 50 33 E |
| Map
references: |
Middle East |
| Area: |
total: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 665 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land
boundaries: |
0 km |
| Coastline: |
161 km |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM territorial sea: 12 NM continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined |
| Climate: |
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
| Terrain: |
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point: Persian
Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m |
| Natural
resources: |
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls |
| Land
use: |
arable land: 4.35%
permanent crops: 4.35% other: 91.3% (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
50 sq km (1998 est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
periodic droughts; dust storms |
| 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 |
| Geography
- note: |
close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean |
| People | Bahrain |
| Population: |
656,397 note: includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2002 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: 29.2%
(male 97,022; female 94,605) 15-64 years: 67.7% (male 261,919; female 182,727) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 10,230; female 9,894) (2002 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.67% (2002 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
19.53 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
3.95 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.43 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.29 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
19.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
73.47 years female: 75.96 years (2002 est.) male: 71.05 years |
| Total
fertility rate: |
2.75 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
0.15% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
NA |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
NA |
| Nationality: |
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8% |
| Religions: |
Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% |
| Languages: |
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu |
| Literacy: |
definition: age 15
and over can read and write total population: 88.5% male: 91.6% female: 84.2% (2002 est.) |
| Government | Bahrain |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn |
| Government
type: |
constitutional hereditary monarchy |
| Capital: |
Manama |
| 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 |
| Independence: |
15 August 1971 (from UK) |
| 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 |
| Constitution: |
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) |
| Legal
system: |
based on Islamic law and English common law |
| Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal |
| 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 |
| Legislative
branch: |
bicameral Parliament consists
of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies
(40 members elected by restricted vote 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 - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10 |
| Judicial
branch: |
High Civil Appeals Court |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
political parties prohibited but politically oriented nongovernment organizations 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 |
| International
organization participation: |
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
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 |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
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 |
| Flag
description: |
red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side |
| Economy | Bahrain |
| Economy
- overview: |
In 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 revenue granted as aid. A large share of exports consists 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. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $8.4 billion (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
4% (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $13,000 (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 1% industry: 35% services: 64% (2001 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
1.5% (2001 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
295,000 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.) (1998 est.) |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.) |
| Unemployment
rate: |
15% (1998 est.) |
| Budget: |
revenues: $1.8 billion
expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2002 est.) |
| Industries: |
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
2% (2000 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
5.765 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
5,361.45 million kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
0 kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
0 kWh (2000) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish |
| Exports: |
$5.5 billion (2001) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles |
| Exports
- partners: |
India 8.4%, US 3.9%, Saudi Arabia 3.4%, Japan 2.8%, South Korea 2.1% (2000) |
| Imports: |
$4.5 billion (2001) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
crude oil, machinery, chemicals |
| Imports
- partners: |
Saudi Arabia 28.7%, US 12.5%, UK 6.6%, France 6%, Japan 4% (2000) |
| Debt
- external: |
$2.8 billion (2000) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$48.4 million (1995) (1995) |
| Currency: |
Bahraini dinar (BHD) |
| Currency
code: |
BHD |
| Exchange
rates: |
Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.3760 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar) |
| Fiscal
year: |
calendar year |
| Communications | Bahrain |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
152,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
58,543 (1997) |
| Telephone
system: |
general assessment:
modern system domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones international: 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) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Radios: |
338,000 (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
4 (1997) |
| Televisions: |
275,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.bh |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
| Internet
users: |
140,200 (2002) |
| Transportation | Bahrain |
| Railways: |
0 km |
| Highways: |
total: 3,164 km paved: 2,433 km unpaved: 731 km note: a paved causeway links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia |
| Waterways: |
none |
| Pipelines: |
crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km |
| Ports
and harbors: |
Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah |
| Merchant
marine: |
total: 8 ships (1,000
GRT or over) totaling 270,784 GRT/384,561 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 4, container 2, includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Kuwait 1 (2002 est.) |
| Airports: |
4 (2001) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 (2002) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
| Heliports: |
1 (2002) |
| Military | Bahrain |
| Military
branches: |
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) comprising Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force, Amiri Guards, National Guard |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
15 years of age (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49: 222,572 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49: 121,955 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 5,926 (2002 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$526.2 million (FY01) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
6.7% (FY01) |
| Transnational Issues | Bahrain |
| Disputes
- international: |
none |
Source:
The World Factbook 2002
Last Updated: 19 March 2003
2000-2007
Association for Human Rights Defense International
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