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 hosts

47,727 (2012) country comparison to the world: 97

Internet users

419,500 (2009) country comparison to the world: 122

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 (2007)

Telephones - main lines in use

290,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 118

Telephones - mobile cellular

2.125 million (2012) country comparison to the world: 144

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $8.143 billion expenditures: $9.232 billion (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-3.8% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 141

Commercial bank prime lending rate

6.8% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 130 6.05% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

$1.907 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 42 $2.221 billion (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$28.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 74 $27.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Economy - overview

Bahrain has made great efforts to diversify its economy; its 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. In 2012, petroleum production and refining accounted for 77% of Bahrain's export receipts, 87% of government revenues, and 19% of GDP. 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 and 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, however, the economy recovered in 2012-13, partly as a result of improved tourism. Some economic policies aimed at restoring confidence in Bahrain's economy, such as the suspension of an expatriate labor tax and frequent bailouts of Gulf Air, will make Bahrain's long-term economic challenges - youth unemployment and the growth of government debt - more difficult to address.

Exchange rates

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2013 est.) 0.376 (2012 est.) 0.376 (2010 est.) 0.376 (2009) 0.376 (2008)

Exports

$20.69 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 72 $20.39 billion (2012 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 3.3%, India 2.2%, UAE 2.2%, South Korea 2% (2012)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP (official exchange rate)

$28.36 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$34.96 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 110 $33.48 billion (2012 est.) $31.95 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 39.8% government consumption: 15.6% investment in fixed capital: 20.7% investment in inventories: 0.8% exports of goods and services: 74.8% imports of goods and services: -51.7% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 0.3% industry: 46.7% services: 53% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$29,800 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 49 $29,100 (2012 est.) $28,300 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

4.4% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 69 4.8% (2012 est.) 2.1% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

27.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 36 27.6% of GDP (2012 est.) 27.5% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$14.41 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $13.24 billion (2012 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners

Saudi Arabia 27.4%, US 9.6%, China 9.5%, Japan 6.4%, India 4.9%, France 4.7% (2012)

Industrial production growth rate

4.7% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3.1% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 116 2.8% (2012 est.)

Labor force

716,500 country comparison to the world: 151 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 1% industry: 79% services: 20% (1997 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$16.06 billion (31 December 2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 61 $17.15 billion (31 December 2011) $20.43 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA%

Public debt

61.2% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 48 54.2% of GDP (2012 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.933 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 89 $5.211 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$23.93 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 $22.51 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$10.86 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 $9.699 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$17.81 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 76 $16.83 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$25.96 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $22.19 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$7.431 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 90 $6.944 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

28.7% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 99

Unemployment rate

15% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 136

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

29.7 million Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

152,600 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 33

Crude oil - imports

256,000 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 29

Crude oil - production

49,160 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 62

Crude oil - proved reserves

124.6 million bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 68

Electricity - consumption

12.97 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 4

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Electricity - imports

214 million kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.169 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 88

Electricity - production

13.16 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87

Natural gas - consumption

12.77 billion cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 60

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 155

Natural gas - production

12.62 billion cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 37

Natural gas - proved reserves

92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Refined petroleum products - consumption

51,450 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 98

Refined petroleum products - exports

226,000 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Refined petroleum products - imports

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Refined petroleum products - production

270,800 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 46

Area

total: 760 sq km country comparison to the world: 188 land: 760 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; 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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.36 cu km/yr (50%/6%/45%) per capita: 386 cu m/yr (2003)

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

40.15 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

0 km

Land use

arable land: 1.79% permanent crops: 3.95% other: 94.26% (2011)

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

Terrain

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Total renewable water resources

0.12 cu km (2011)

Administrative divisions

5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asamah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern), Wasat (Central) 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)

Constitution

adopted 14 February 2002; amended 2012 (2012)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI (since 26 October 2011) 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Shaikh ABDULLA Mohamed Rashed Al Khalifa (since 26 November 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, KHALID bin Abdallah Al Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: 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 (consists of a chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of a president and 6 members) note - the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into the civil law and sharia law courts judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation and Constitutional Court judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; higher and lower shariah courts, and the High Shariah Court of Appeal

Legal system

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

Legislative branch

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Shura Council or 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 two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in fall 2014); byelections to fill 18 vacated seats held in two rounds on 24 September and 1 October 2011 election results: Council of Representatives (2010) - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Wifaq (Shia) 18, Asalah (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17; Council of Representatives byelection for 18 seats vacated by Wifaq (2011) - seats by society - independent Sunni 8, independent Shia 8, other 2; note - Bahrain has societies rather than parties

National anthem

name: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)

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

Political parties and leaders

political parties are prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law progovernment: Arab Islamic Center Society [Ahmad Sanad AL-BENALI] Constitutional Gathering Society 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 Dialogue Society National Islamic Minbar [Ali AHMAD] National Unity Gathering [Abdullah AL-HUWAYHI] oppositon: National Democratic Action Society [Ibrahim SHARIF] National Democratic Assembly [Hasan AL-ALI] National Fraternity Society [Musa AL-ANSARI] National Progressive Tribune [Abd al-Nabi SALMAN] Unitary National Democratic Assemblage [Fadhil ABBAS] Wifaq National Islamic Society [Ali SALMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Sunni: Al-Fatih Awakening Shia: 14 February Revolution Youth Coalition Bahrain Islamic Freedom Movement [Said SHIHABI] Haqq Movement [Hasan MUSHAYMA] Islamic Amal [Muhammad Ali AL-MAHFUDH] Khalas [Abd al-Rauf AL-SHAYIB] Wafa Islamic Society [Abd al-Wahab HUSAYN]

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. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has become an international banking center. 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 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 protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces to Bahrain. Sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces continue in Bahrain. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo has led to a broader discussion termed the Bahrain National Dialogue, a process that convenes members of the executive, parliament, and political societies in an attempt to reach a political agreement.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 508,863 females age 16-49: 290,801 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 423,757 females age 16-49: 245,302 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 8,988 female: 8,117 (2010 est.)

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

3.14% of GDP (2012) country comparison to the world: 18 3.02% of GDP (2011) 3.14% of GDP (2010)

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: 19.7% (male 131,698/female 127,663) 15-24 years: 15.9% (male 117,156/female 91,477) 25-54 years: 56.2% (male 483,449/female 254,627) 55-64 years: 5.5% (male 47,172/female 25,354) 65 years and over: 2.7% (male 17,106/female 18,387) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

13.92 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 142

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 5,530 percentage: 5 % (2000 est.)

Death rate

2.67 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 222

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 30.9 % youth dependency ratio: 27.9 % elderly dependency ratio: 3 % potential support ratio: 33.3 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 100% of population rural: 100% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

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

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 46%, Asian 45.5%, other Arabs 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

0.2% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 107

HIV/AIDS - deaths

fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

fewer than 600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Health expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 168

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)

Infant mortality rate

total: 9.68 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 143 male: 10.69 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.58 years country comparison to the world: 51 male: 76.4 years female: 80.81 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 94.6% male: 96.1% female: 91.6% (2010 est.)

Major urban areas - population

MANAMA (capital) 262,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

20 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 138

Median age

total: 31.6 years male: 33 years female: 28.8 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Net migration rate

13.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 9

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

32.9% (2008) country comparison to the world: 20

Physicians density

1.49 physicians/1,000 population (2010)

Population

1,314,089 country comparison to the world: 157 note: immigrants make up almost 55% of the total population, according to UN data (2013) (July 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

2.49% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 31

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

improved: urban: 99.2% of population rural: 99.2% of population total: 99.2% of population unimproved: urban: 0.8% of population rural: 0.8% of population total 0.8% of population (2012 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.28 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.9 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.54 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.54 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.81 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 5% country comparison to the world: 138 male: 2.5% female: 11.6% (2010)

Urbanization

urban population: 88.7% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 2.21% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

none

Trafficking in persons

current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; unskilled and domestic workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Eritrea migrate willingly to Bahrain, but some face conditions of forced labor through the withholding of passports, restrictions on movement, nonpayment, threats, and abuse; many Bahraini labor recruitment agencies and some employers charge foreign workers exorbitant fees that make them vulnerable to forced labor and debt bondage; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to forced labor and sexual exploitation because they are not protected under labor laws; women from Thailand, the Philippines, Morocco, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, China, Vietnam, Russia, Ukraine, and Eastern European countries are forced into prostitution in Bahrain tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; the government has made few discernible efforts to investigate, prosecute, and convict trafficking offenses; cases of unpaid or withheld wages, passport retention, and other abuses - common indicators of trafficking - are treated as labor disputes and taken to civil court rather than criminal court; the government has made no indication of taking steps to institute a formal trafficking victim identification procedure and referral mechanism, resulting in the majority of victims seeking shelter at their embassies or the NGO-operated trafficking shelter; most victims have not filed lawsuits against employers because of a distrust of the legal system or a fear of reprisals (2013)

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)

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

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

Pipelines

gas 20 km; oil 54 km (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s): Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Roadways

total: 4,122 km country comparison to the world: 156 paved: 3,392 km unpaved: 730 km (2010)