View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2009 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.bh

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

51,489 (2009) country comparison to the world: 82

Internet users [time series]

402,900 (2008) country comparison to the world: 112

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

220,000 (2008) country comparison to the world: 123

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

1.4 million (2008) country comparison to the world: 135

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: $6.934 billion expenditures: $5.612 billion (2008 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

NA% (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 101 8.35% (31 December 2007)

Current account balance [time series]

$2.257 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 40 $2.907 billion (2007 est.)

Debt - external [time series]

$10.33 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 86 $7.858 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Petroleum production and refining account for over 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, over 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries), underpinning Bahrain's strong economic growth in recent years. Aluminum is Bahrain's second major export after oil. Other major segments of Bahrain's economy are the financial and construction sectors. Bahrain is focused on Islamic banking and is competing on an international scale with Malaysia as a worldwide banking center. Bahrain is actively pursuing the diversification and privatization of its economy to reduce the country's dependence on oil. As part of this effort, in August 2006 Bahrain and the US implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Continued strong growth hinges on Bahrain's ability to acquire new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are long-term economic problems. The global financial crisis is likely to result in slower economic growth for Bahrain during 2009 as tight international credit and a slowing global economy cause funding for many non-oil projects to dry up. Lower oil prices may also cause Bahrain's budget to slip back into deficit.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

10.1 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 84

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

0 kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

10.25 billion kWh (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 90

Exchange rates [time series]

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2008 est.), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004)

Exports [time series]

$17.49 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 $13.79 billion (2007 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners [time series]

Saudi Arabia 3.4%, India 2.7%, UAE 2.2% (2008)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$21.24 billion (2008 est.)

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

$26.89 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 112 $25.29 billion (2007 est.) $23.34 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

agriculture: 0.4% industry: 66.2% services: 33.3% (2008 est.)

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

$37,400 (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 28 $35,700 (2007 est.) $33,400 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars

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

6.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 51 8.4% (2007 est.) 6.7% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

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

Imports [time series]

$14.25 billion (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 85 $10.93 billion (2007 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Saudi Arabia 26.7%, Japan 8.9%, US 7.8%, China 6.2%, Germany 4.8%, South Korea 4.7%, UK 4.5% (2008)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

6.3% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 115 3.3% (2007 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

26.6% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 39

Labor force [time series]

557,000 country comparison to the world: 152 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2008 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

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

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$21.18 billion (31 December 2008) country comparison to the world: 65 $28.13 billion (31 December 2007) $21.12 billion (31 December 2006)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 44

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2008) country comparison to the world: 45

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 70

Natural gas - production [time series]

12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 38

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 55

Oil - consumption [time series]

38,000 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 104

Oil - exports [time series]

238,300 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 48

Oil - imports [time series]

228,400 bbl/day (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 43

Oil - production [time series]

48,520 bbl/day (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

124.6 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 63

Population below poverty line [time series]

NA%

Public debt [time series]

28.7% of GDP (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 75 63.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]

$3.803 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 88 $4.101 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$9.34 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 47 $7.72 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$15.01 billion (31 December 2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 71 $13.31 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $10.32 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of money) [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $4.169 billion (31 December 2007)

Stock of narrow money (Stock of quasi money) [time series]

$NA (31 December 2008) $10.63 billion (31 December 2007)

Unemployment rate [time series]

15% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 741 sq km country comparison to the world: 190 land: 741 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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%) per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000)

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]

40 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

0 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2005)

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

0.1 cu km (1997)

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Capital [time series]

name: Manama geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Constitution [time series]

adopted 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 J. Adam ERELI 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 [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Houda Ibrahim Ezra NUNU 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 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Jawad al-ARAIDH cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: 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 monarchy

Independence [time series]

15 August 1971 (from the UK)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

High Civil Appeals Court

Legal system [time series]

based on Islamic law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral legislature consists of the 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 November-December 2006 (next election to be held in 2010) election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - al Wifaq (Shia) 17, al Asala (Sunni Salafi) 5, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 7, independents 11; note - seats by society as of February 2007 - al Wifaq 17, al Asala 8, al Minbar 7, al Mustaqbal (Moderate Sunni pro-government) 4, unassociated independents (all Sunni) 3, independent affiliated with al Wifaq (Sunni oppositionist) 1

National holiday [time series]

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 (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law

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

Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators other: several small leftist and other groups are active

Suffrage [time series]

20 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

In 1783, the al-Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians. 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. 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. King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa, after coming to power in 1999, pushed economic and political reforms to improve relations with the Shia community. Shia political societies participated in 2006 parliamentary and municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shia political society, won the largest number of seats in the elected chamber of the legislature. However, Shia discontent has resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 210,938 females age 16-49: 170,471 (2008 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 171,004 females age 16-49: 144,555 (2009 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 6,612 female: 6,499 (2009 est.)

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

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

Military expenditures [time series]

4.5% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 22

Military service age and obligation [time series]

17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 25.9% (male 95,224/female 93,241) 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 292,941/female 217,729) 65 years and over: 3.9% (male 15,106/female 13,544) (2009 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

17.02 births/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 122

Death rate [time series]

4.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 202

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

3.9% of GDP (1991) country comparison to the world: 107

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.2% (2001 est.) country comparison to the world: 110

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

fewer than 200 (2003 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

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

fewer than 600 (2007 est.) country comparison to the world: 145

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 15.25 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 125 male: 17.81 deaths/1,000 live births female: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

Languages [time series]

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 75.16 years country comparison to the world: 83 male: 72.64 years female: 77.76 years (2009 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 88.6% female: 83.6% (2001 census)

Median age [time series]

total: 30.1 years male: 33.2 years female: 26.7 years (2009 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini

Net migration rate [time series]

0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 73

Population [time series]

727,785 country comparison to the world: 162 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2009 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

1.285% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Religions [time series]

Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 15 years male: 14 years female: 16 years (2006)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (2009 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 95

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 89% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

none

Trafficking in persons [time series]

current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men and women trafficked for the purposes of involuntary servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; men and women from Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia migrate voluntarily to Bahrain to work as laborers or domestic servants where some face conditions of involuntary servitude such as unlawful withholding of passports, restrictions on movements, non-payment of wages, threats, and physical or sexual abuse; women from Thailand, Morocco, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia are trafficked to Bahrain for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain is on the Tier 2 Watch List for failing to show evidence of increased efforts to combat human trafficking, particularly efforts that enforce laws against trafficking in persons, and that prevent the punishment of victims of trafficking; during 2007, Bahrain passed a comprehensive law prohibiting all forms of trafficking in persons; the government also established a specialized anti-trafficking unit within the Ministry of Interior to investigate trafficking crimes; however, the government did not report any prosecutions or convictions for trafficking offenses during 2007, despite reports of a substantial problem of involuntary servitude and sex trafficking (2008)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

3 (2009) country comparison to the world: 191

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2009)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2009)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 country comparison to the world: 114 by type: bulk carrier 4, container 4, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 6 (Kuwait 5, UAE 1) (2008)

Pipelines [time series]

gas 20 km; oil 32 km (2008)

Ports (Ports and terminals) [time series]

Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Roadways [time series]

total: 3,498 km country comparison to the world: 161 paved: 2,768 km unpaved: 730 km (2003)