Bahrain Population: 1,214,705
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| Background | |
| In 1783, the Sunni 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. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. 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. In addition, the Sunni-led government has struggled to manage relations with its approximately 70% Shia-majority population. During the mid-to-late 1990s, Shia activists mounted a low-intensity uprising to demand that the Sunni-led government stop systemic economic, social, and political discrimination against Shia Bahrainis. King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa, after succeeding his late father in 1999, pushed economic and political reforms in part to improve relations with the Shia community. After boycotting the country's first round of democratic elections under the newly-promulgated constitution in 2002, Shia political societies participated in 2006 and 2010 in legislative and municipal elections and Wifaq, the largest Shia political society, won the largest bloc of seats in the elected lower-house of the legislature both times. Nevertheless, Shia discontent persisted, often manifesting itself in street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence. In early 2011, Bahrain's fractious opposition sought to ride a rising tide of popular Arab protests to petition for the redress of popular grievances. In mid-February, a vanguard of hardline activists - who reject the legitimacy of the Al Khalifa regime and have sometimes instigated low-level violence - organized demonstrations in Shia neighborhoods demanding a new constitution, release of hundreds of Shia prisoners, and an end to discriminations in all sectors of society. Cycles of protestor deaths, funerals, and clashes with security forces ensued, escalating domestic tensions. The government's offers of modest political and economic concessions went nowhere as did the king's "national dialogue" with the opposition. In mid-March 2011, with the backing of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) capitals - especially Riyadh and Abu Dhabi - King HAMAD put an end to the mass public gatherings and increasingly disruptive demonstrations by declaring a state of emergency and authorizing the military to take all measures to "protect the safety of the country and its citizens." Manama also welcomed a contingent of mostly Saudi and Emirati forces as part of a GCC deployment intended to help Bahraini security forces maintain order. By mid-April security forces had largely relegated demonstrations to outlying Shia neighborhoods and villages, and negotiations between the government and opposition reached a stalemate. Manama exacted retribution against opposition groups and their supporters through mass firings, arrests, and sectarian incitement. In March, the Gulf Cooperation Council pledged $20 billion in financial aid to Bahrain and Oman over a 10-year period to assist the two nations in their struggle with Arab protests. In June, in an effort to salvage Bahrain's image and economy, King HAMAD lifted the state of emergency, offered to renew talks with opposition leaders, and formed an independent commission of experts from the legal community to investigate abuses during the February and March protests. The government held a byelection in September 2011 to fill 18 seats that were vacated earlier in the year when Wifaq withdrew from the National Assembly. |
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| Geography | |
| 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 | |
| Location: | Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia |
| Geographic coordinates: | 26 00 N, 50 33 E |
| Area: | total: 760 sq km land: 760 sq km water: 0 sq km Size comparison: 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
| Land Boundaries: | 0 km |
| Coastline: | 161 km |
| Maritime claims: | territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined |
| Climate: | arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
| Terrain: | mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m |
| Natural resources: | oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 40 sq km (2008) |
| Natural hazards: | periodic droughts; dust storms |
| Current Environment 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) |
| International Environment 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 |
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| People | |
| Population: | 1,214,705 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2011 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 20.5% (male 126,313/female 122,359) 15-64 years: 77% (male 595,244/female 339,635) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 14,791/female 16,363) (2011 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 30.9 years male: 32.2 years female: 28.1 years (2011 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.814% (2011 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 14.64 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Death rate: | 2.61 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 16.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.028 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 10.43 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.68 deaths/1,000 live births female: 9.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 78.15 years male: 76.03 years female: 80.33 years (2011 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.88 children born/woman (2011 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.2% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | fewer than 600 (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | fewer than 200 (2003 est.) |
| Nationality: | noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini |
| Ethnic groups: | Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census) |
| Religions: | Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census) |
| Languages: | Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 86.5% male: 88.6% female: 83.6% (2001 census) |
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| Government | |
| 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 |
| Government type: | constitutional monarchy |
| Capital: | name: Manama geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor |
| Independence: | 15 August 1971 (from the UK) |
| 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 |
| Constitution: | adopted 14 February 2002 |
| Legal system: | mixed legal system of Islamic law and English common law |
| Suffrage: | 20 years of age; universal; note - Bahraini Cabinet in May 2011 endorsed a draft law lowering eligibility to 18 years |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent 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); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa, Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch (For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch |
| Legislative branch: | 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 in two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014) election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Wifaq (Shia) 18, Asala (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17 |
| Judicial branch: | High Civil Appeals Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Shia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators other: several small leftist and other groups are active |
| International organization participation: | ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, 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 |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador Huda Azra Ibrahim NUNU chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111 FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Stephanie WILLIAMS 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 |
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| Economy | |
| Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Persian Gulf. 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. Petroleum production and refining account for more than 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries). 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. Unemployment, especially among the young, is a long-term economic problem Bahrain struggles to address. In 2009, to help lower unemployment among Bahraini nationals, Bahrain reduced sponsorship for expatriate workers, increasing the costs of employing foreign labor. The global financial crisis caused funding for many non-oil projects to dry up and resulted in slower economic growth for Bahrain. Other challenges facing Bahrain include the slow growth of government debt as a result of a large subsidy program, the financing of large government projects, and debt restructuring, such as the bailout of state-owned Gulf Air. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $29.71 billion (2010 est.) $28.55 billion (2009 est.) $27.69 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $22.66 billion (2010 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 4.1% (2010 est.) 3.1% (2009 est.) 6.3% (2008 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $40,300 (2010 est.) $39,200 (2009 est.) $38,500 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 0.5% industry: 57.3% services: 42.2% (2010 est.) |
| Labor force: | 656,200 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2010 est.) |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 1% industry: 79% services: 20% (1997 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 15% (2005 est.) |
| Population below poverty line: | NA% |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | Inflation rate (consumer prices): 2% (2010 est.) 2.8% (2009 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 26.7% of GDP (2010 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $5.61 billion expenditures: $6.128 billion (2010 est.) |
| Public debt: | 65.8% of GDP (2010 est.) 41.8% of GDP (2009 est.) |
| Agriculture - products: | fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish |
| Industries: | petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 1.5% (2010 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 11.22 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 10.48 billion kWh (2008 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 0 kWh (2009 est.) |
| Oil - production: | 46,430 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - consumption: | 47,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | 239,900 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - imports: | 213,000 bbl/day (2009 est.) |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 124.6 million bbl (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 12.58 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 12.58 billion cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2009 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2011 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $239.5 million (2010 est.) $560.2 million (2009 est.) |
| Exports: | $14.61 billion (2010 est.) $12.05 billion (2009 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles |
| Exports - partners: | Saudi Arabia 2.9%, Japan 2%, UAE 1.9%, India 1.9% (2010) |
| Imports: | $11.91 billion (2010 est.) $9.613 billion (2009 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | crude oil, machinery, chemicals |
| Imports - partners: | Saudi Arabia 24.7%, US 12.2%, China 7.8%, Brazil 6%, Japan 5.8%, France 5% (2010) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $4.495 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $3.54 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $14.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $10.55 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $15.77 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $15 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $8.399 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $7.549 billion (31 December 2009 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $20.43 billion (31 December 2010) $16.93 billion (31 December 2009) $21.18 billion (31 December 2008) |
| Exchange rates: | Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2010) 0.376 (2009) 0.376 (2008) 0.376 (2007) 0.376 (2006) |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 238,400 (2009) country comparison to the world: 124 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 1.578 million (2009) |
| 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) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | |
| Television broadcast stations: | |
| Internet country code: | .bh |
| Internet hosts: | 53,944 (2010) |
| Internet users: | 419,500 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 4 (2010) country comparison to the world: 184 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2010) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2010) |
| Pipelines: | gas 20 km; oil 29 km (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 3,851 km paved: 3,121 km unpaved: 730 km (2007) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 7 by type: bulk carrier 2, container 4, petroleum tanker 1 foreign-owned: 5 (Kuwait 5) registered in other countries: 6 (Honduras 5, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Mina' Salman, Sitrah |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force, Royal Bahraini Navy (RBN), Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), Royal Bahraini Air Defense Force (RBADF) (2011) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2010) |
| 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.) |
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