Statistical information Bahrain 1989

Bahrain in the World
top of pageBackground: 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. Possessing minimal oil reserves Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir is pushing economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: none
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claimsContinental shelf: not specific
Territorial sea: 3 nm
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
ElevationNatural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish
Land use: 2% arable land; 2% permanent crops; 6% meadows and pastures; 0% forest and woodland; 90% other; includes NEGL% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: proximity to primary Middle Eastern crude oil sources and strategic location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's crude oil must transit to reach open ocean
top of pagePopulation: 496,759 (July 1989), growth rate 3.3% (1989)
Nationality: noun - Bahraini(s; adjective - Bahraini
Ethnic groups: 63% Bahraini, 13% Asian, 10% other Arab, 8% Iranian, 6% other
Languages: Arabic (official; English also widely spoken; Farsi, Urdu
Religions: Muslim (70% Shia, 30% Sunni)
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 25 births/1000 population (1989)
Death rate: 4 deaths/1000 population (1989)
Net migration rate: 12 migrants/1000 population (1989)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subsurface water sources being rapidly depleted (requires development of desalination facilities; dust storms; desertification
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 22 deaths/1000 live births (1989)
Life expectancy at birth: 70 years male, 75 years female (1989)
Total fertility rate: 3.5 children born/woman (1989)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 40%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: State of Bahrain
Government type: traditional monarchy
Capital: Manama
Administrative divisions: 11 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah; 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 Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
Dependent areasIndependence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 16 December
Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: none
Executive branch: Chief of State - Amir Isa bin Sulman Al KHALIFA (since 2 November 1961; Heir Apparent Hamad bin Isa Al KHALIFA (son of Amir) (born 28 January 1950; Head of Government - Prime Minister Khalifa bin Sulman Al KHALIFA, (since 19 January 1970)
Legislative branch: Army (Defense Force), Navy, Air Force
Judicial branchPolitical parties and leadersInternational organization participation: Arab League, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB - Islamic Development Bank, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Ghazi Mohamed ALGOSAIBI; Chancery at 3,502 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 342-0741 or 342-0742; there is a Bahraini Consulate General in New York; US - Ambassador Dr. Sam H. ZAKHEM; Embassy at Shaikh Isa Road, Manama (mailing address is P. O. 26,431, Manama, or FPO New York 9,526; telephone Õ973å 714,151 through 714,153
Flag description
: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: The oil price decline in recent years has had an adverse impact on the economy. Petroleum production and processing account for about 85% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 20% of GDP. In 1986 soft oil-market conditions led to a 5% drop in GDP, in sharp contrast to the 5% average annual growth rate during the early 1980s. The slowdown in economic activity, however, has helped to check the inflation of the 1970s. The government's past economic diversification efforts has moderated the severity of the downturn, but failed to offset oil and gas revenue losses.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for less than 2% of GDP (including fishing; heavily subsidized sector produces fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, and fish; not self-sufficient in food production; fish catch 9,000 metric tons in 1987
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing
Industrial production growth rate: - 3.1% (1987)
Labor force:
140,000; 42% of labor force is Bahraini; 85%
industry and commerce, 5% agriculture, 5%
services, 3% government (1982)
Unemployment rateYouth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $1,136 million; expenditures $1,210 million, including capital expenditures of $294 million (1987)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $2.4 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: petroleum 80%, aluminum 7%, other 13%
Partners: US, UAE, Japan, Singapore, Saudi Arabia
Imports: $2.5 billion (f.o.b., 1988 est.)
Commodities: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
Partners: UK, Saudi Arabia, US, Japan
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $1.5 billion (December 1988)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 1,552,000 kW capacity; 5,438 million kWh produced, 10,950 kWh per capita (1988)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $149 million, 11.4% of central government budget (1988)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil, 56 km; refined products, 16 km; natural gas, 32 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 28,621 GRT/44,137 DWT; includes 1 cargo, 1 bulk
Ports and terminalsBahrain - Transnational issues 1989
top of pageDisputes international: territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs