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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.7 billion expenditures: $1.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $400 million (1998 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$3.2 billion (1995)

Economic aid [time series]

$NA

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

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 - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

1.05 million kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

7,640 kWh (1995)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

4.4 billion kWh (1995)

Exchange rates [time series]

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

Exports [time series]

total value: $4.6 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: petroleum and petroleum products 61%, aluminum 7% partners: India 22%, Japan 12%, Saudi Arabia 6%, US 6%, UAE 5% (1995)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$8.2 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 1% industry: 38% services: 61% (1995)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$13,700 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

2.7% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1996) commodities: nonoil 63%, crude oil 37% partners: Saudi Arabia 40%, US 13%, UK 7%, Japan 5%, Switzerland 5% (1995)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.4% (1995)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

-0.2% (1996 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 140,000 by occupation: industry, commerce, and service 78%, government 21%, agriculture 1% (1994) note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

320,000 (1993 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

modern system; good domestic services and excellent international connections domestic: NA 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 - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

73,552 (1987 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

2 (1988 est.)

Televisions [time series]

270,000 (1993 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

15% (1996 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 620 sq km land: 620 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Climate [time series]

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Coastline [time series]

161 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

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

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

26 00 N, 50 33 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

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 [time series]

10 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

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

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

periodic droughts; dust storms

Natural resources [time series]

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish

Terrain [time series]

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Johnny YOUNG embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama mailing address: FPO AE 09834-5100; International Mail Box 26431, Manama (International Mail) telephone: [973] 273-300

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR Abdallah chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741, 342-0742

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January 1949) head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the amir elections: none; the amir is a traditional Arab monarch; prime minister appointed by the amir

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[973] 275-418

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

traditional monarchy

Independence [time series]

15 August 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Civil Appeals Court

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

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Manama

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 16 December (1971)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

political parties prohibited

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

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

Suffrage [time series]

none

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Internal Security Forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$256 million (1994)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

5.4% (1995)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 218,831 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 120,753 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

15 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: NA

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 31% (male 95,871; female 93,232) 15-64 years: 67% (male 245,099; female 164,946) 65 years and over: 2% (male 8,799; female 8,395) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

22.43 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

3.25 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

15.54 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.96 years male: 72.42 years female: 77.57 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

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

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Net migration rate [time series]

1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Population [time series]

616,342 (July 1998 est.) note: includes 224,640 non-nationals (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.09% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Shi'a Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim 25%

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.49 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

3.01 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands and maritime boundary dispute with Qatar currently before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) BAKER ISLAND (territory of the US)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

3 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 2 over 3,047 m: 2 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 3,013 km paved: 2,284 km unpaved: 729 km (1996 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 131,919 GRT/212,510 DWT ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 3, oil tanker 1 (1997 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

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

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Railways [time series]

0 km