Statistical information Bahrain 1993

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 pageLocation: Middle East, in the central Persian Gulf, between Saudi Arabia and Qatar
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Africa, Middle East, Standard Time Zones of the WorldAreaTotal: 620 km²
Land: 620 km²
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 161 km
Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: not specified
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Maritime claimsClimate: 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 useArable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 2%
Meadows and pastures: 6%
Forest and woodland: 0%
Other: 90%
Irrigated land: 10 km² (1989 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 568,471 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 3.01% (1993 est.)
NationalityNoun: Bahraini(s)
Adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%, other 6%
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 3.01% (1993 est.)
Birth rate: 26.89 births/1000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate: 3.87 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate: 7.04 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: subsurface water sources being rapidly depleted (requires
Current issues note: close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 20.1 deaths/1000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 73.12 years
Male: 70.72 years
Female: 75.63 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.99 children born/woman (1993 est.)
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: age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
Total population: 77%
Male: 82%
Female: 69%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional short form: Bahrain
Local long form: Dawlat al Bahrayn
Local short form: Al Bahrayn
Government type: traditional monarchy
Capital: Manama
Administrative divisions:
12 districts (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, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
Dependent areasIndependence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
National holiday: Independence 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: amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime minister, Cabinet
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet; appointed Advisory Council established 16 December 1992
Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB,
ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM,
OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador 'Abd al-Rahman Faris Al KHALIFA
In the us chancery: 3,502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us consulate general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Charles W. HOSTLER
From the us embassy: Road No. 3,119 (next to Alahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama
From the us mailing address: P. O. 26,431, Manama, or FPO AE 9,834-6,210
From the us telephone: 973 273-300
From the us fax: (973) 272-594
Flag description
: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 31% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. Bahrain with its highly developed communication and transport facilities is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 3% (1992 est.)
Real gdp per capita: $7,800 (1992 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP; not self-sufficient in food production; heavily subsidized sector produces fruit, vegetables, poultry, dairy products, shrimp, fish; fish catch 9,000 metric tons in 1987
IndustriesIndustrial production growth rate: growth rate 3.8% (1988; accounts for 44% of GDP
Labor force: 140,000
By occupation industry and commerce: 85%
By occupation agriculture: 5%
By occupation services: 5%
By occupation government:3% (1982)
42%oflaborforceisBahraini
Unemployment rate: 8%-10% (1989)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.32 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)
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: $3.5 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%
Partners: Japan 13%, UAE 12%, India 10%, Pakistan 8%
Imports: $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1991)
Commodoties: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
Partners: Saudi Arabia 41%, US 14%, UK 7%, Japan 5%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)
top of pageElectricityProduction: 1,600,000 kW capacity; 4,700 million kWh produced, 8,500 kWh per capita (1992 est.)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $245 million, 6% of GDP (1990)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 3
Usable: 3
With permanentsurface runways: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 2
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 1
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marine:
9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 186,331 GRT/249,490
DWT; includes 5 cargo, 2 container, 1 liquefied gas, 1 bulk
Ports and terminalsBahrain - Transnational issues 1993
top of pageDisputes international:
territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar
Islands; maritime boundary with Qatar
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs