Statistical information Bahrain 1995
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, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Geographic coordinatesMap reference:
Middle EastAreaTotal area total: 620 km²
Land: 620 km²
Comparative: slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries: 0 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claimsContiguous zone: 24 nm
Continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
Territorial sea: 12 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 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 hazardsGeographyNote: 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
top of pagePopulation: 575,925 (July 1995 est.)
Growth rate: 2.58% (1995 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 structure0-14 years: 31% (female 87,398; male 89,976)
15-64 years: 67% (female 152,363; male 231,586)
65 years and over: 2% (female 7,051; male 7,551) (July 1995 est.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.58% (1995 est.)
Birth rate: 24.12 births/1000 population (1995 est.)
Death rate: 3.31 deaths/1000 population (1995 est.)
Net migration rate: 4.95 migrant(s)/1000 population (1995 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent 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; no natural fresh water resources so that groundwater and sea water are the only sources for all water needs
Current issues natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms
Current issues international agreements: party to - Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 18 deaths/1000 live births (1995 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 73.94 years
Male: 71.46 years
Female: 76.49 years (1995 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.12 children born/woman (1995 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 (1991)
Total population: 84%
Male: 89%
Female: 77%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: State of Bahrain
Conventional 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 (1961)
Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973
Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: none
Executive branchChief of state: Amir ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (son of the Amir, born 28 January 1950)
Head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)
Cabinet: 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, GATT, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO
Diplomatic representationIn the us chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad ABD AL-GHAFFAR al-Abdallah
In the us chancery: 3,502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741, 342-0742
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador David M. RANSOM
From the us embassy: Building No. 979, Road 3,119 (next to Ahli Sports Club), Zinj District, Manama
From the us mailing address: FPO AE 9,834-5,100; P.O. Box 26,431, Manama (International Mail)
From the us telephone: [973] 273,300; afterhours [973] 275-126
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: Tiny in area, Bahrain is well-to-do in economic resources and per capita income. Petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example, during and following the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Prospects for 1995 are good, with private enterprise the main driving force, e.g., in banking and construction. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of both oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 2.2% (1994 est.)
Real gdp per capita pppGross 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
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing
Industrial production growth rate: 13% (1992; accounts for 38% of GDP, including petroleum
Labor force: 140,000
By occupation industry and commerce: 85%
By occupation agriculture: 5%
By occupation services: 5%
By occupation government: 3% (1982)
Note: 42% of labor force is Bahraini
Unemployment rate: 15% (1991 est.)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $1.2 billion (1989)
Expenditures: $1.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1992)
Public debtTaxes and other revenuesRevenueFiscal year: calendar year
Current account balanceInflation 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: $3.69 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodoties: petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%
Partners: Japan 11%, UAE 5%, South Korea 4%, India 4%, Saudi Arabia 3% (1992)
Imports: $3.83 billion (f.o.b., 1993 est.)
Commodoties: nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%
Partners: Saudi Arabia 47%, UK 7%, Japan 7%, US 6%, Germany 5% (1992)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $2.6 billion (1993)
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 pageElectricity accessElectricity production: 3.3 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 5,453 kWh (1993)
Electricity consumptionElectricity exportsElectricity importsElectricity installed generating capacityElectricity transmission distribution lossesElectricity generation sourcesPetroleumRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones fixed linesTelephones mobile cellularTelephone system: 98,000 telephones; 170 telephones/1000 persons; modern system; good domestic services; excellent international connections
Local: NA
Intercity: NA
International: 2 INTELSAT (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 ARABSAT earth station; tropospheric scatter to Qatar, UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia
Broadcast mediaInternet country codeInternet usersBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $247 million, 5.5% of GDP (1994)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 4
With paved runways over 3047 m: 2
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2438 m: 1
Airports with paved runwaysOver 3047 m: 2
Under 914 m: 1
Airports with unpaved runways15-24 to 2438 m: 1
HeliportsPipelines: crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km
RailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marineTotal: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 79,949 GRT/120,900 DWT
Ships by type: bulk 1, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1
Ports and terminalsBahrain - Transnational issues 1995
top of pageDisputes international: territorial dispute with Qatar over the Hawar Islands; maritime boundary with Qatar
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs