CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Bahrain


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!| Background:
 * Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 0 sq km land: 665 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined contiguous zone: 24 nm !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements !| Geography - note:
 * Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
 * 26 00 N, 50 33 E
 * Middle East
 * total: 665 sq km
 * 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
 * 0 km
 * 161 km
 * territorial sea: 12 nm
 * arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
 * mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
 * lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
 * oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
 * arable land: 2.82%
 * 50 sq km (1998 est.)
 * periodic droughts; dust storms
 * 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
 * party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
 * 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
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!| Population: note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2004 est.) !| Age structure: 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 271,015; female 192,342) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 11,426; female 10,881) (2004 est.) !| Median age: male: 31.9 years female: 25.3 years (2004 est.) !| Population growth rate: !| Birth rate: !| Death rate: !| Net migration rate: !| Sex ratio: under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.41 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2004 est.) !| Infant mortality rate: female: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births !| Life expectancy at birth: male: 71.52 years female: 76.51 years (2004 est.) !| Total fertility rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: Bahraini !| Ethnic groups: !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: total population: 89.1% male: 91.9% female: 85% (2003 est.)
 * 677,886
 * 0-14 years: 28.4% (male 97,179; female 95,043)
 * total: 29 years
 * 1.56% (2004 est.)
 * 18.54 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
 * total: 17.91 deaths/1,000 live births
 * total population: 73.98 years
 * 2.67 children born/woman (2004 est.)
 * 0.3% (2001 est.)
 * less than 600 (2003 est.)
 * less than 200 (2003 est.)
 * noun: Bahraini(s)
 * Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
 * Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
 * Arabic, English, Persian, Urdu
 * definition: age 15 and over can read and write
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Bahrain local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: note: all municipalities administered from Manama !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch !| Legislative branch: elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next election to be held NA 2006) note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14 February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25 December 2002 election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10 !| Judicial branch: !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111 !| Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 1724-2700 FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular) !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
 * constitutional hereditary monarchy
 * Manama
 * 12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
 * 15 August 1971 (from UK)
 * National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from British protection
 * adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)
 * based on Islamic law and English common law
 * 18 years of age; universal
 * 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)
 * bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly elected to serve four-year terms)
 * High Civil Appeals Court
 * political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed
 * Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active
 * ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
 * chief of mission: Ambassador KHALIFA bin ALI bin Rashid Al Khalifa
 * chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE
 * 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
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!| Economy - overview: !| GDP: !| GDP - real growth rate: !| GDP - per capita: !| GDP - composition by sector: industry: 42.1% services: 57.2% (2003 est.) !| Investment (gross fixed): !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: NA !| Inflation rate (consumer prices): !| Labor force: note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2003 est.) !| Labor force - by occupation: !| Unemployment rate: !| Budget: expenditures: $3.019 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2003 est.) !| Public debt: !| Agriculture - products: !| Industries: !| Industrial production growth rate: !| Electricity - production: !| Electricity - consumption: !| Electricity - exports: !| Electricity - imports: !| Oil - production: !| Oil - consumption: !| Oil - exports: !| Oil - imports: !| Oil - proved reserves: !| Natural gas - production: !| Natural gas - consumption: !| Natural gas - exports: !| Natural gas - imports: !| Natural gas - proved reserves: !| Current account balance: !| Exports: !| Exports - commodities: !| Exports - partners: !| Imports: !| Imports - commodities: !| Imports - partners: !| Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: !| Debt - external: !| Economic aid - recipient: !| Currency: !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: !| Fiscal year:
 * In well-to-do Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil granted as aid. A large share of exports consist of petroleum products made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
 * purchasing power parity - $11.29 billion (2003 est.)
 * 4.9% (2003 est.)
 * purchasing power parity - $16,900 (2003 est.)
 * agriculture: 0.7%
 * 11.9% of GDP (2003)
 * NA
 * lowest 10%: NA
 * -0.2% (2003 est.)
 * 350,000
 * agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.)
 * 15% (1998 est.)
 * revenues: $2.981 billion
 * 57.5% of GDP (2003)
 * fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
 * petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
 * 2% (2000 est.)
 * 6.257 billion kWh (2001)
 * 5.819 billion kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 0 kWh (2001)
 * 43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * 31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * NA (2001)
 * NA (2001)
 * 125 million bbl (1 January 2003)
 * 8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
 * 0 cu m (2001 est.)
 * 0 cu m (2001 est.)
 * 46 billion cu m (1 January 2003)
 * $53 million (2003)
 * $6.492 billion (2003 est.)
 * petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
 * US 3.5%, India 3.3%, South Korea 2.2% (2003)
 * $5.126 billion (2003 est.)
 * crude oil, machinery, chemicals
 * Saudi Arabia 30.7%, US 11.4%, Japan 7.8%, UK 5.7%, Germany 5.4% (2003)
 * $1.785 billion (2003)
 * $4.682 billion (2003)
 * $150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)
 * Bahraini dinar (BHD)
 * BHD
 * Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001), 0.376 (2000), 0.376 (1999)
 * calendar year
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones international: country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997) !| Radio broadcast stations: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * 185,800 (2003)
 * 443,100 (2003)
 * general assessment: modern system
 * AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
 * 338,000 (1997)
 * 4 (1997)
 * 275,000 (1997)
 * .bh
 * 1,334 (2003)
 * 1 (2000)
 * 195,700 (2003)
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!| Highways: paved: 2,531 km unpaved: 730 km (2000) !| Pipelines: !| Ports and harbors: !| Merchant marine: registered in other countries: 2 (2004 est.) foreign-owned: Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 1 by type: bulk 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1 !| Airports: !| Airports - with paved runways: over 3,047 m: 2 1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.) !| Airports - with unpaved runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) !| Heliports:
 * total: 3,261 km
 * gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)
 * Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
 * total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT
 * 4 (2003 est.)
 * total: 3
 * total: 1
 * 1 (2003 est.)
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!| Military branches: !| Military manpower - military age and obligation: !| Military manpower - availability: !| Military manpower - fit for military service: !| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: !| Military expenditures - dollar figure: !| Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
 * Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard
 * 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
 * males age 15-49: 221,661 (2004 est.)
 * males age 15-49: 121,484 (2004 est.)
 * males: 6,396 (2004 est.)
 * $618.1 million (2003)
 * 7.5% (2003)
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