Bahrain

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

3 (1999)

Radio broadcast stations

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios

338,000 (1997)

Telephone system

modern system; good domestic services and excellent international connections 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

Telephones - main lines in use

141,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

130,000 (1999 est.)

Television broadcast stations

4 (1997)

Televisions

275,000 (1997)

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $1.5 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1998)

Currency

1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils

Debt - external

$2 billion (1997)

Economic aid - recipient

$48.4 million (1995)

Economy - overview

In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.

Electricity - consumption

1.09 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - imports

0 kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

4.77 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998)

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)

Exports

$3.3 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7%

Exports - partners

India 18%, Japan 11%, Saudi Arabia 8%, South Korea 7%, UAE 5% (1997)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP

purchasing power parity - $8.6 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 1% industry: 46% services: 53% (1996 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $13,700 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

4% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1998)

Imports - commodities

nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 45%, US 10%, UK 6%, Japan 5%, Germany 4% (1997)

Industrial production growth rate

3.4% (1995)

Industries

petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

0.5% (1998 est.)

Labor force

295,000 (1998 est.) note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Unemployment rate

15% (1998 est.)

Area

total: 620 sq km land: 620 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; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water 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

Geographic coordinates

26 00 N, 50 33 E

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

Irrigated land

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 1% permanent crops: 1% permanent pastures: 6% forests and woodland: 0% other: 92% (1993 est.)

Location

Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined territorial sea: 12 nm

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; dust storms

Natural resources

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish

Terrain

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

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

Capital

Manama

Constitution

26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973

Country name

conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn

Data code

BA

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: Building Number 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 311, 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741 FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York

Executive branch

chief of state: Amir 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 monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Flag description

red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side

Government type

traditional monarchy

Independence

15 August 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation

ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch

High Civil Appeals Court

Legal system

based on Islamic law and English common law

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992

National holiday

National Day, 16 December (1971)

Political parties and leaders

political parties prohibited

Political pressure groups and leaders

Shi'a activists have fomented unrest sporadically since late 1994, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active

Suffrage

none

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 is pushing economic and political reforms, and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community.

Military branches

Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$318 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

5.2% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 221,109 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 121,442 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

15 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 5,699 (2000 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 30% (male 96,240; female 93,846) 15-64 years: 67% (male 252,767; female 173,072) 65 years and over: 3% (male 9,270; female 8,942) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

20.61 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

3.89 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%

Infant mortality rate

20.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 72.98 years male: 70.58 years female: 75.45 years (2000 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.2% male: 89.1% female: 79.4% (1995 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Net migration rate

1.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Population

634,137 note: includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

1.78% (2000 est.)

Religions

Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25%

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.46 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female total population: 1.3 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.82 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

the territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands and the maritime boundary dispute with Qatar are currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]

Airports

3 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Heliports

1 (1999 est.)

Highways

total: 3,164 km paved: 2,433 km unpaved: 731 km (1998 est.) note: there is a paved causeway connecting Bahrain to Saudi Arabia

Merchant marine

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 228,273 GRT/304,654 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1 (1999 est.)

Pipelines

crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km

Ports and harbors

Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Railways

0 km