Bahrain Population: 1,281,332
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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 large 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 national elections under the newly promulgated constitution in 2002, Shia political societies participated in the 2006 and 2010 legislative and municipal elections. Wifaq, the most prominent Shia political party, won the largest bloc of seats in the elected lower house of the legislature both times. Beginning in February 2011, Bahrain's opposition sought to ride out a rising tide of popular Arab protests to petition for the redress of popular grievances. In mid-March 2011, the Bahraini Government took action to halt the momentum of the growing protest movement by declaring a state of emergency that put an end to the mass public gatherings and increasingly disruptive civil disobedience. Manama also welcomed a contingent of Gulf Cooperation Council forces under the Peninsula Shield umbrella intended to protect critical infrastructure as Bahraini security forces deployed to the protest areas. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), formed in June 2011 to investigate abuses during the unrest and state of emergency, released its final report in November 2011. The King fully endorsed the report, and since then Manama has begun to implement a number of the BICI's recommendations, including improving policing procedures, reinstating dismissed workers, rebuilding some religious sites, and establishing a compensation fund for those affected by the unrest and crackdown. The opposition continues to express concern about the recommendations that have not been implemented. The summer 2011 National Dialogue between the government and political societies did not ultimately address core opposition grievances, and protests continued. Street protests have grown increasingly violent. A new round of National Dialogue was launched in February 2013 with participation by the government, both opposition and more pro-government political societies, and legislators. |
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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 (2003) |
| 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: | 1,281,332 July 2013 est. note: includes 235,108 non-nationals |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 20% (male 130,097/female 126,067) 15-24 years: 15.9% (male 113,973/female 89,602) 25-54 years: 56.2% (male 472,537/female 247,873) 55-64 years: 5.2% (male 43,884/female 23,352) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 16,262/female 17,685) (2013 est.) population pyramid: |
| Median age: | total: 31.1 years male: 32.5 years female: 28.3 years (2012 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.652% (2012 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 14.41 births/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Death rate: | 2.63 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 14.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.75 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female total population: 1.54 male(s)/female (2011 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births male: 11.43 deaths/1,000 live births female: 8.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 78.29 years male: 76.16 years female: 80.48 years (2012 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 1.83 children born/woman (2013 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 46%, non-Bahraini 54% (2010 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: 94.6% male: 96.1% female: 91.6% (2010 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 (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern), Wasat (Central) 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, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary 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); 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); First Deputy Prime Minister SALMAN bin Hamad Al Khalifa (since 11 March 2013); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH, KHALID bin Abdallah Al Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa 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 National Assembly consists of the Shura Council or 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); byelections to fill 18 vacated seats held in two rounds on 24 September and 1 October 2011 election results: Council of Representatives (2010) - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Wifaq (Shia) 18, Asala (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17; Council of Representatives byelection for 18 seats vacated by Wifaq (2011) - seats by society - independent Sunni 8, Asala (Sunni Salafi) 1, independent Shia 8, Islamic Society League (Shia) 1; note - Bahrain has societies rather than parties |
| Judicial branch: | High Civil Appeals Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | note: political parties are prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law progovernment: Arab Islamic Center Society [Ahmad Sanad AL-BENALI]; Constitutional Gathering Society; Islamic Asalah [Abd al-Halim MURAD]; Islamic Saff Society [Abdullah Khalil BU GHAMAR]; Islamic Shura Society; Movement of National Justice Society [Muhi al-Din KHAN]; National Action Charter Society [Muhammad AL-BUAYNAYN]; National Dialogue Society; National Islamic Minbar [Ali AHMAD]; National Unity Gathering [Abdullah AL-HUWAYHI] oppositon: National Democratic Action Society [Ibrahim SHARIF]; National Democratic Assemblage [Fadhil ABBAS]; National Democratic Assembly [Hasan AL-ALI]; National Fraternity Society [Musa AL-ANSARI]; National Islamic Society [Ali SALMAN]; National Progressive Tribune [Abd al-Nabi SALMAN] |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Sunni: Al-Fatih Awakening Shia: 14 February Revolution Youth Coalition; Bahrain Islamic Freedom Movement [Said SHIHABI]; Haqq Movement [Hasan MUSHAYMA]; Islamic Amal [Muhammad Ali AL-MAHFUDH]; Khalas [Abd al-Rauf AL-SHAYIB]; Wafa Islamic Society [Abd al-Wahab HUSAYN] |
| International organization participation: | ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), 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 Thomas C. KRAJESKI 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 has taken great strides in diversifying its economy and its 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. 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. In 2011 and 2012, Bahrain experienced economic setbacks as a result of domestic unrest, however, several factors indicate that the economy is beginning to recover, such as the return of the formula one race and tourist cruise ships to Bahrain. Economic policies aimed at restoring confidence in Bahrain's economy, such as the suspension of an expatriate labor tax and frequent bailouts of Gulf Air, will make Bahrain's foremost long-term economic challenges - youth unemployment and the growth of government debt - more difficult to address. | |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | GDP (purchasing power parity): $32.44 billion (2012 est.) $31.81 billion (2011 est.) $31.16 billion (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | GDP (official exchange rate): $26.51 billion (2012 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 2% (2012 est.) 2.1% (2011 est.) 4.7% (2010 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | GDP - per capita (PPP): $28,200 (2012 est.) $28,200 (2011 est.) $28,200 (2010 est.) note: data are in 2012 US dollars |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 0.4% industry: 50.7% services: 48.9% (2012 est.) |
| Labor force: | 705,900 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2012 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): 3% (2012 est.) -0.4% (2011 est.) |
| Investment (gross fixed): | Investment (gross fixed): 19.9% of GDP (2012 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $8.466 billion expenditures: $8.911 billion (2012 est.) |
| Public debt: | 56.2% of GDP (2012 est.) 54% of GDP (2011 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: | 13.16 billion kWh (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 87 |
| Electricity - consumption: | 12.97 billion kWh (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - exports: | 0 kWh (2011 est.) |
| Electricity - imports: | 214 million kWh (2011 est.) |
| Natural gas - production: | 12.58 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 12.25 billion cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - exports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - imports: | 0 cu m (2010 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2012 est.) |
| Current account balance: | $2.846 billion (2012 est.) $3.247 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports: | $20.95 billion (2012 est.) $19.91 billion (2011 est.) |
| Exports - commodities: | petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles |
| Exports - partners: | Saudi Arabia 3.3%, UAE 2.2%, Japan 2%, Qatar 1.9% (2011) |
| Imports: | $14.95 billion (2012 est.) $12.11 billion (2011 est.) |
| Imports - commodities: | crude oil, machinery, chemicals |
| Imports - partners: | Saudi Arabia 28.2%, US 10.5%, China 7.6%, Brazil 6%, India 5.7%, Germany 4.8%, Japan 4.1% (2011) |
| Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: | $4.853 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $4.245 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Debt - external: | $25.27 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $25.15 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: | $16.87 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $15.94 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: | $10.02 billion (31 December 2012 est.) $8.777 billion (31 December 2011 est.) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $17.15 billion (31 December 2011) $20.43 billion (31 December 2010) $16.93 billion (31 December 2009) |
| Exchange rates: | Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2012 est.) 0.376 (2011 est.) 0.376 (2010 est.) 0.376 (2009) 0.376 (2008) |
| Fiscal year: | calendar year |
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| Communications | |
| Telephones in use: | 276,500 (2011) country comparison to the world: 122 |
| Cellular Phones in use: | 1.694 million (2011) |
| 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: | 47,727 (2012) |
| Internet users: | 419,500 (2009) |
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| Transportation | |
| Airports: | 4 (2012) country comparison to the world: 185 |
| Airports (paved runways): | total: 4 over 3,047 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2012) |
| Pipelines: | gas 20 km; oil 29 km (2010) |
| Roadways: | total: 4,122 km paved: 3,392 km unpaved: 730 km (2010) |
| Merchant marine: | total: 8 by type: bulk carrier 2, container 4, petroleum tanker 2 foreign-owned: 5 (Kuwait 5) registered in other countries: 5 (Honduras 5) (2010) |
| Ports and terminals: | Mina' Salman, Sitrah |
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| Military | |
| Military branches: | Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (RBA), Royal Bahraini Navy (RBN), Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), Royal Bahraini Air Defense Force (RBADF) (2013) |
| 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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