ARCHIVE // BH // 1993
Bahrain
1993 Edition — sovereign
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Communications
Airports
[time series]
total: 3 usable: 3 with permanent-surface runways: 2 with runways over 3,659 m: 2 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 1
Roadways
(Highways)
[time series]
200 km bituminous surfaced, including 25 km bridge-causeway to Saudi Arabia opened in November 1986; NA km natural surface tracks
Merchant marine
[time series]
9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 186,331 GRT/249,490 DWT; includes 5 cargo, 2 container, 1 liquefied gas, 1 bulk
Pipelines
[time series]
crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
Ports
[time series]
Mina' Salman, Manama, Sitrah
Telecommunication systems
(Telecommunications)
[time series]
modern system; good domestic services; 98,000 telephones (1 for every 6 persons); excellent international connections; tropospheric scatter to Qatar, UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV
Defense Forces
Affiliation
[time series]
(territory of the US)
Military and security forces
(Branches)
[time series]
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Police Force
Military expenditures
(Defense expenditures)
[time series]
exchange rate conversion - $245 million, 6% of GDP (1990)
Manpower availability
[time series]
males age 15-49 194,770; fit for military service 107,696; reach military age (15) annually 5,043 (1993 est.)
Economy
Agricultural products
(Agriculture)
[time series]
including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP; not self-sufficient in food production; heavily subsidized sector produces fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, fish; fish catch 9,000 metric tons in 1987
Budget
[time series]
revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.32 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)
Exchange rates
(Currency)
[time series]
1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils
Economic aid
[time series]
US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $24 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $45 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.8 billion
Electricity
[time series]
1,600,000 kW capacity; 4,700 million kWh produced, 8,500 kWh per capita (1992 est.)
Exchange rates
[time series]
Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)
Exports
[time series]
$3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7% partners: Japan 13%, UAE 12%, India 10%, Pakistan 8%
Debt - external
(External debt)
[time series]
$1.8 billion (1991 est.)
Fiscal year
[time series]
calendar year
Imports
[time series]
$3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991) commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41% partners: Saudi Arabia 41%, US 14%, UK 7%, Japan 5%
Industrial production growth rate
(Industrial production)
[time series]
growth rate 3.8% (1988); accounts for 44% of GDP
Industries
[time series]
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
[time series]
2% (1992 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
(National product)
[time series]
GDP - exchange rate conversion - $4.3 billion (1992 est.)
Real GDP per capita
(National product per capita)
[time series]
$7,800 (1992 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
(National product real growth rate)
[time series]
3% (1992 est.)
Economic overview
(Overview)
[time series]
Petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 31% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. Bahrain with its highly developed communication and transport facilities is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude.
Unemployment rate
[time series]
8%-10% (1989)
Geography
Area
[time series]
total area: 620 km2 land area: 620 km2 comparative area: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Climate
[time series]
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Coastline
[time series]
161 km
Environment - current issues
(Environment)
[time series]
subsurface water sources being rapidly depleted (requires development of desalination facilities); dust storms; desertification
Disputes - international
(International disputes)
[time series]
territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Qatar
Irrigated land
[time series]
10 km2 (1989 est.)
Land boundaries
[time series]
0 km
Land use
[time series]
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 2% meadows and pastures: 6% forest and woodland: 0% other: 90%
Location
[time series]
Middle East, in the central Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Map references
[time series]
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the World
Maritime claims
[time series]
contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: not specified territorial sea: 12 nm
Natural resources
[time series]
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish
Note
[time series]
close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Terrain
[time series]
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Government
Administrative divisions
[time series]
12 districts (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, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
Capital
[time series]
Manama
Constitution
[time series]
26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Digraph
[time series]
BA
Diplomatic representation in the US
(Diplomatic representation in US)
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador 'Abd al-Rahman Faris Al KHALIFA chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 342-0741 or 342-0742 consulate general: New York
Executive branch
(Elections)
[time series]
none
Executive branch
[time series]
amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime minister, Cabinet
Flag
[time series]
red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
Independence
[time series]
15 August 1971 (from UK)
Judicial branch
[time series]
High Civil Appeals Court
Executive branch
(Leaders)
[time series]
Chief of State: Amir 'ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin 'Isa Al Khalifa (son of Amir; born 28 January 1950) Head of Government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
Legal system
[time series]
based on Islamic law and English common law
Legislative branch
[time series]
unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
International organization participation
(Member of)
[time series]
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Country name
(Names)
[time series]
conventional long form: State of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn
National holiday
[time series]
Independence Day, 16 December
Political parties
(Political parties and leaders)
[time series]
political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active
Suffrage
[time series]
none
Government type
(Type)
[time series]
traditional monarchy
Diplomatic representation from the US
(US diplomatic representation)
[time series]
chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Charles W. HOSTLER embassy: Road No. 3119 (next to Alahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama mailing address: P. O. 26431, Manama, or FPO AE 09834-6210 telephone: [973] 273-300 FAX: (973) 272-594
People
Birth rate
[time series]
26.89 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate
[time series]
3.87 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Ethnic groups
(Ethnic divisions)
[time series]
Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%
Infant mortality rate
[time series]
20.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Labor force
[time series]
140,000 by occupation: industry and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3% (1982) note: 42% of labor force is Bahraini
Languages
[time series]
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Life expectancy at birth
[time series]
total population: 73.12 years male: 70.72 years female: 75.63 years (1993 est.)
Literacy
[time series]
age 15 and over can read and write (1990) total population: 77% male: 82% female: 69%
Nationality
[time series]
noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini
Net migration rate
[time series]
7.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Population
[time series]
568,471 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate
[time series]
3.01% (1993 est.)
Religions
[time series]
Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Total fertility rate
[time series]
3.99 children born/woman (1993 est.)