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Bahrain Historical and Political Profile








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Bahrain Index

  • Bahrain-The Constitutional Experiment
  • Bahrain-EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF ISLAM
  • Bahrain-Regional Security Problems
  • Bahrain-Geography Bahrain -- Geography and Population
  • Bahrain-Foreign Trade and the Balance of Payments
  • Bahrain-Health and Welfare
  • Bahrain-Historical Overview
  • Bahrain-Sunni Islam
  • Bahrain-NATIONAL SECURITY
  • Bahrain-TRIBAL NATURE OF GULF SOCIETY
  • Bahrain-Military Capabilities of the Persian Gulf States
  • Bahrain-Legal System
  • Bahrain-TREATIES WITH THE BRITISH
  • Bahrain-THE GULF IN THE ANCIENT WORLD
  • Bahrain-DISCOVERY OF OIL
  • Bahrain-Internal Security
  • Bahrain-Petroleum Industry
  • Bahrain-Agriculture and Fishing Bahrain -- The Economy
  • Bahrain-Foreword
  • Bahrain-Impact of the Iran-Iraq War, 1980-88
  • Bahrain-The Spread of Islam
  • Bahrain-Police and the Criminal Justice System
  • Bahrain-Labor
  • Bahrain-Internal Security
  • Bahrain-Background Kuwait
  • Bahrain-INDEPENDENCE
  • Bahrain-Budget
  • Bahrain-THE AGE OF COLONIALISM
  • Bahrain-Persian Gulf War, 1991
  • Bahrain-Human Rights Practices
  • Bahrain-Organization and Equipment of the Armed Forces
  • Bahrain-Chapter 3 - Bahrain
  • Bahrain-DEVELOPMENTS SINCE INDEPENDENCE
  • Bahrain-Role of Kuwaiti Armed Forces in the Persian Gulf War
  • Bahrain-Organization and Equipment
  • Bahrain-Bahrain
  • Bahrain-Shia Islam
  • Bahrain-Climate
  • Bahrain-Background Oman
  • Bahrain-TRADE IN THE GULF
  • Bahrain-WAHHABI ISLAM AND THE GULF
  • Bahrain-Education Bahrain -- Society
  • Bahrain-Collective Security under the Gulf Cooperation Council
  • Bahrain-Internal Security
  • Bahrain-The Role of the United Arab Emirates in the Iran-Iraq War and the Persian Gulf War
  • Bahrain-Personnel, Training, and Recruitment
  • Bahrain-Population
  • Bahrain-SOCIETY
  • Bahrain-Mission of the Armed Forces
  • Bahrain-Organization and Mission of the Forces
  • Bahrain-Bahrain -- Government and Politics
  • Bahrain-The Media
  • Bahrain-Background United Arab Emirates
  • Bahrain-Chapter 1 - Historical Setting
  • Bahrain-Introduction
  • Bahrain-Bahrain -- Foreign Relations
  • Bahrain-GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
  • Bahrain-GEOGRAPHY COUNTRY
  • Bahrain-ECONOMY
  • Bahrain-Acknowledgments
  • Bahrain
  • Bahrain-TRANSPORTATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
  • Bahrain-Omani Role in the Persian Gulf War, 1991
  • Bahrain-Territorial Disputes
  • Bahrain-THE GULF IN THE MIDDLE AGES
  • Bahrain
  • Bahrain-Chapter 7 - Regional and National Security Considerations
  • Bahrain-Banking and Finance
  • Bahrain-Other Industry
  • Bahrain-Transportation and Telecommunications
  • Bahrain-Preface
  • Bahrain-Persian Gulf War
  • BackgroundIn 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.
    LocationMiddle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
    Area(sq km)total: 741 sq km
    land: 741 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    Geographic coordinates26 00 N, 50 33 E
    Land boundaries(km)0 km

    Coastline(km)161 km

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

    Elevation extremes(m)lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
    highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
    Natural resourcesoil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
    Land use(%)arable land: 2.82%
    permanent crops: 5.63%
    other: 91.55% (2005)

    Irrigated land(sq km)40 sq km (2003)
    Total renewable water resources(cu km)0.1 cu km (1997)
    Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%)
    per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000)
    Natural hazardsperiodic droughts; dust storms
    Environment - current issuesdesertification 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)
    Environment - international agreementsparty 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
    Geography - noteclose 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
    Population727,785
    note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2009 est.)
    Age structure(%)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.)
    Median age(years)total: 30.1 years
    male: 33.2 years
    female: 26.7 years (2009 est.)
    Population growth rate(%)1.285% (2009 est.)
    Birth rate(births/1,000 population)17.02 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Death rate(deaths/1,000 population)4.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

    Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population)0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Urbanization(%)urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
    rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
    Sex ratio(male(s)/female)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.)
    Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births)total: 15.25 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 17.81 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

    Life expectancy at birth(years)total population: 75.16 years
    male: 72.64 years
    female: 77.76 years (2009 est.)

    Total fertility rate(children born/woman)2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)
    Nationalitynoun: 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, English, Farsi, Urdu

    Country nameconventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
    conventional short form: Bahrain
    local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
    local short form: Al Bahrayn
    former: Dilmun
    Government typeconstitutional monarchy
    Capitalname: Manama
    geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
    time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
    Administrative divisions5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat
    note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor
    Constitutionadopted 14 February 2002

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

    Suffrage20 years of age; universal
    Executive branchchief 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 al-ARAIDH
    cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
    elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

    Legislative branchbicameral 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

    Judicial branchHigh Civil Appeals Court

    Political pressure groups and leadersShia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators
    other: several small leftist and other groups are active
    International organization participationABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, 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
    Flag descriptionred, 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

    Economy - overviewWith 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.
    GDP (purchasing power parity)$26.89 billion (2008 est.)
    $25.29 billion (2007 est.)
    $23.34 billion (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP (official exchange rate)$21.24 billion (2008 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate(%)6.3% (2008 est.)
    8.4% (2007 est.)
    6.7% (2006 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP)$37,400 (2008 est.)
    $35,700 (2007 est.)
    $33,400 (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP - composition by sector(%)agriculture: 0.4%
    industry: 66.2%
    services: 33.3% (2008 est.)
    Labor force557,000
    note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2008 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%
    Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP)26.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
    Budgetrevenues: $6.934 billion
    expenditures: $5.612 billion (2008 est.)
    Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%)7% (2008 est.)
    3.3% (2007 est.)

    Stock of money$NA (31 December 2008)
    $4.169 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of quasi money$NA (31 December 2008)
    $10.63 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of domestic credit$NA (31 December 2008)
    $10.32 billion (31 December 2007)
    Market value of publicly traded shares$21.18 billion (31 December 2008)
    $28.13 billion (31 December 2007)
    $21.12 billion (31 December 2006)
    Economic aid - recipient$103.9 million (2004)

    Public debt(% of GDP)28.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
    63.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
    Agriculture - productsfruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
    Industriespetroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism

    Industrial production growth rate(%)6.3% (2008 est.)

    Current account balance$2.257 billion (2008 est.)
    $2.907 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports$17.49 billion (2008 est.)
    $13.79 billion (2007 est.)

    Exports - commodities(%)petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
    Exports - partners(%)Saudi Arabia 3.4%, India 2.7%, UAE 2.2% (2008)
    Imports$14.25 billion (2008 est.)
    $10.93 billion (2007 est.)

    Imports - commodities(%)crude oil, machinery, chemicals
    Imports - partners(%)Saudi Arabia 26.7%, Japan 8.9%, US 7.8%, China 6.2%, Germany 4.8%, South Korea 4.7%, UK 4.5% (2008)

    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$3.803 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $4.101 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Debt - external$10.33 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $7.858 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home$15.01 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $13.31 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad$9.34 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $7.72 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Exchange ratesBahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2008 est.), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004)

    Currency (code)Bahraini dinar (BHD)

    Telephones - main lines in use220,000 (2008)
    Telephones - mobile cellular1.4 million (2008)
    Telephone systemgeneral 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)
    Internet country code.bh
    Internet users402,900 (2008)
    Airports3 (2009)
    Pipelines(km)gas 20 km; oil 32 km (2008)
    Roadways(km)total: 3,498 km
    paved: 2,768 km
    unpaved: 730 km (2003)

    Ports and terminalsMina' Salman, Sitrah
    Military branchesBahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard
    Military service age and obligation(years of age)17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008)
    Manpower available for military servicemales age 16-49: 210,938
    females age 16-49: 170,471 (2008 est.)
    Manpower fit for military servicemales age 16-49: 171,004
    females age 16-49: 144,555 (2009 est.)
    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annuallymale: 6,612
    female: 6,499 (2009 est.)
    Military expenditures(% of GDP)4.5% of GDP (2006)
    Disputes - internationalnone

    Trafficking in personscurrent 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)
    Electricity - production(kWh)10.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - production by source(%)fossil fuel: 100%
    hydro: 0%
    nuclear: 0%
    other: 0% (2001)
    Electricity - consumption(kWh)10.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - exports(kWh)0 kWh (2008 est.)
    Electricity - imports(kWh)0 kWh (2008 est.)
    Oil - production(bbl/day)48,520 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - consumption(bbl/day)38,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - exports(bbl/day)238,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - imports(bbl/day)228,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - proved reserves(bbl)124.6 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
    Natural gas - production(cu m)12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - consumption(cu m)12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - exports(cu m)0 cu m (2008)
    Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m)92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%)0.2% (2001 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDSfewer than 600 (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deathsfewer than 200 (2003 est.)
    Literacy(%)definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 86.5%
    male: 88.6%
    female: 83.6% (2001 census)

    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years)total: 15 years
    male: 14 years
    female: 16 years (2006)
    Education expenditures(% of GDP)3.9% of GDP (1991)
    BackgroundIn 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.
    LocationMiddle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
    Area(sq km)total: 741 sq km
    land: 741 sq km
    water: 0 sq km
    Geographic coordinates26 00 N, 50 33 E
    Land boundaries(km)0 km

    Coastline(km)161 km

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

    Elevation extremes(m)lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
    highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
    Natural resourcesoil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
    Land use(%)arable land: 2.82%
    permanent crops: 5.63%
    other: 91.55% (2005)

    Irrigated land(sq km)40 sq km (2003)
    Total renewable water resources(cu km)0.1 cu km (1997)
    Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)total: 0.3 cu km/yr (40%/3%/57%)
    per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000)
    Natural hazardsperiodic droughts; dust storms
    Environment - current issuesdesertification 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)
    Environment - international agreementsparty 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
    Geography - noteclose 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
    Population727,785
    note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2009 est.)
    Age structure(%)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.)
    Median age(years)total: 30.1 years
    male: 33.2 years
    female: 26.7 years (2009 est.)
    Population growth rate(%)1.285% (2009 est.)
    Birth rate(births/1,000 population)17.02 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Death rate(deaths/1,000 population)4.37 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)

    Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population)0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
    Urbanization(%)urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
    rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
    Sex ratio(male(s)/female)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.)
    Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births)total: 15.25 deaths/1,000 live births
    male: 17.81 deaths/1,000 live births
    female: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

    Life expectancy at birth(years)total population: 75.16 years
    male: 72.64 years
    female: 77.76 years (2009 est.)

    Total fertility rate(children born/woman)2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)
    Nationalitynoun: 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, English, Farsi, Urdu

    Country nameconventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
    conventional short form: Bahrain
    local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
    local short form: Al Bahrayn
    former: Dilmun
    Government typeconstitutional monarchy
    Capitalname: Manama
    geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
    time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
    Administrative divisions5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat
    note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor
    Constitutionadopted 14 February 2002

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

    Suffrage20 years of age; universal
    Executive branchchief 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 al-ARAIDH
    cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
    elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

    Legislative branchbicameral 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

    Judicial branchHigh Civil Appeals Court

    Political pressure groups and leadersShia activists; Sunni Islamist legislators
    other: several small leftist and other groups are active
    International organization participationABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, 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
    Flag descriptionred, 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

    Economy - overviewWith 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.
    GDP (purchasing power parity)$26.89 billion (2008 est.)
    $25.29 billion (2007 est.)
    $23.34 billion (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP (official exchange rate)$21.24 billion (2008 est.)
    GDP - real growth rate(%)6.3% (2008 est.)
    8.4% (2007 est.)
    6.7% (2006 est.)
    GDP - per capita (PPP)$37,400 (2008 est.)
    $35,700 (2007 est.)
    $33,400 (2006 est.)
    note: data are in 2008 US dollars
    GDP - composition by sector(%)agriculture: 0.4%
    industry: 66.2%
    services: 33.3% (2008 est.)
    Labor force557,000
    note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2008 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%
    Investment (gross fixed)(% of GDP)26.6% of GDP (2008 est.)
    Budgetrevenues: $6.934 billion
    expenditures: $5.612 billion (2008 est.)
    Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%)7% (2008 est.)
    3.3% (2007 est.)

    Stock of money$NA (31 December 2008)
    $4.169 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of quasi money$NA (31 December 2008)
    $10.63 billion (31 December 2007)
    Stock of domestic credit$NA (31 December 2008)
    $10.32 billion (31 December 2007)
    Market value of publicly traded shares$21.18 billion (31 December 2008)
    $28.13 billion (31 December 2007)
    $21.12 billion (31 December 2006)
    Economic aid - recipient$103.9 million (2004)

    Public debt(% of GDP)28.7% of GDP (2008 est.)
    63.8% of GDP (2004 est.)
    Agriculture - productsfruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
    Industriespetroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism

    Industrial production growth rate(%)6.3% (2008 est.)

    Current account balance$2.257 billion (2008 est.)
    $2.907 billion (2007 est.)
    Exports$17.49 billion (2008 est.)
    $13.79 billion (2007 est.)

    Exports - commodities(%)petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
    Exports - partners(%)Saudi Arabia 3.4%, India 2.7%, UAE 2.2% (2008)
    Imports$14.25 billion (2008 est.)
    $10.93 billion (2007 est.)

    Imports - commodities(%)crude oil, machinery, chemicals
    Imports - partners(%)Saudi Arabia 26.7%, Japan 8.9%, US 7.8%, China 6.2%, Germany 4.8%, South Korea 4.7%, UK 4.5% (2008)

    Reserves of foreign exchange and gold$3.803 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $4.101 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Debt - external$10.33 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $7.858 billion (31 December 2007 est.)

    Stock of direct foreign investment - at home$15.01 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $13.31 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad$9.34 billion (31 December 2008 est.)
    $7.72 billion (31 December 2007 est.)
    Exchange ratesBahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar - 0.376 (2008 est.), 0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004)

    Currency (code)Bahraini dinar (BHD)

    Telephones - main lines in use220,000 (2008)
    Telephones - mobile cellular1.4 million (2008)
    Telephone systemgeneral 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)
    Internet country code.bh
    Internet users402,900 (2008)
    Airports3 (2009)
    Pipelines(km)gas 20 km; oil 32 km (2008)
    Roadways(km)total: 3,498 km
    paved: 2,768 km
    unpaved: 730 km (2003)

    Ports and terminalsMina' Salman, Sitrah
    Military branchesBahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard
    Military service age and obligation(years of age)17 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2008)
    Manpower available for military servicemales age 16-49: 210,938
    females age 16-49: 170,471 (2008 est.)
    Manpower fit for military servicemales age 16-49: 171,004
    females age 16-49: 144,555 (2009 est.)
    Manpower reaching militarily significant age annuallymale: 6,612
    female: 6,499 (2009 est.)
    Military expenditures(% of GDP)4.5% of GDP (2006)
    Disputes - internationalnone

    Trafficking in personscurrent 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)
    Electricity - production(kWh)10.25 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - production by source(%)fossil fuel: 100%
    hydro: 0%
    nuclear: 0%
    other: 0% (2001)
    Electricity - consumption(kWh)10.1 billion kWh (2007 est.)
    Electricity - exports(kWh)0 kWh (2008 est.)
    Electricity - imports(kWh)0 kWh (2008 est.)
    Oil - production(bbl/day)48,520 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - consumption(bbl/day)38,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
    Oil - exports(bbl/day)238,300 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - imports(bbl/day)228,400 bbl/day (2007 est.)
    Oil - proved reserves(bbl)124.6 million bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
    Natural gas - production(cu m)12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - consumption(cu m)12.64 billion cu m (2008 est.)
    Natural gas - exports(cu m)0 cu m (2008)
    Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m)92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%)0.2% (2001 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDSfewer than 600 (2007 est.)
    HIV/AIDS - deathsfewer than 200 (2003 est.)
    Literacy(%)definition: age 15 and over can read and write
    total population: 86.5%
    male: 88.6%
    female: 83.6% (2001 census)

    School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years)total: 15 years
    male: 14 years
    female: 16 years (2006)
    Education expenditures(% of GDP)3.9% of GDP (1991)








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