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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.bh

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

1,334 (2003)

Internet users [time series]

195,700 (2003)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: modern system domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones international: country code - 973; 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)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

185,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

443,100 (2003)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

4 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3.825 billion expenditures: $3.262 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2004 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Current account balance [time series]

$586.1 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$6.215 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

In well-to-do 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. A large share of exports consist 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. In September 2004 Bahrain signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States - the first such agreement undertaken by a Gulf state. Both countries must ratify the FTA before it is enforced.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

6.379 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - production [time series]

6.86 billion kWh (2002)

Exchange rates [time series]

Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001), 0.376 (2000)

Exports [time series]

$8.205 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners [time series]

Saudi Arabia 3%, US 2.9%, UAE 2.2% (2004)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

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

$13.01 billion (2004 est.)

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

agriculture: 0.7% industry: 41% services: 58.4% (2004 est.)

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

purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2004 est.)

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

5.6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA

Imports [time series]

$5.87 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Saudi Arabia 32.4%, Japan 7.3%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.6%, UK 5.4%, France 4.8% (2004)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

2% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

2.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

12.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Labor force [time series]

370,000 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

46 billion cu m (2004)

Oil - consumption [time series]

40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

Oil - imports [time series]

Oil - production [time series]

44,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

126 million bbl (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

Public debt [time series]

63.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$2.141 billion (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

15% (1998 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 665 sq km land: 665 sq km water: 0 sq km

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 [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; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater 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, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

26 00 N, 50 33 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 [time series]

50 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2001)

Location [time series]

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

Map references [time series]

Middle East

Maritime claims [time series]

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

Natural hazards [time series]

periodic droughts; dust storms

Natural resources [time series]

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

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

Capital [time series]

Manama

Constitution [time series]

new constitution 14 February 2002

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 1724-2700 FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular)

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir al-BALUSHI 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 [time series]

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

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

constitutional hereditary monarchy

Independence [time series]

15 August 1971 (from UK)

International organization participation [time series]

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

High Civil Appeals Court

Legal system [time series]

based on Islamic law and English common law

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly elected to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next election to be held NA 2006) election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10 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

National holiday [time series]

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

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

political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

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. Facing declining 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 October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 202,126 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 161,372 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males: 6,013 (2005 est.)

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

Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$628.9 million (2004)

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

6.3% (2004)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 27.8% (male 96,807/female 94,863) 15-64 years: 68.7% (male 275,792/female 197,424) 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 12,078/female 11,381) (2005 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

18.1 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate [time series]

4.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 600 (2003 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 17.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 20.17 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 74.23 years male: 71.76 years female: 76.78 years (2005 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.1% male: 91.9% female: 85% (2003 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 29.19 years male: 32.16 years female: 25.54 years (2005 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Net migration rate [time series]

1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Population [time series]

688,345 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.51% (2005 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.4 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.63 children born/woman (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Transportation

Airports [time series]

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2004 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 3,459 km paved: 2,653 km unpaved: 806 km (2002)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 2 (Kuwait 2) (2005)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Mina' Salman, Sitrah