| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Middle East |
| Geographical Location |
26° 00' North Latitude
50° 33' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
665 sq km |
| Climate |
Arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers |
| Natural Resources |
Oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Kingdom of Bahrain |
| Capital City |
Manama |
| Government Type |
Constitutional hereditary monarchy |
| Administrative Divisions |
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
note: all municipalities administered from Manama |
| Independence Day |
15 August 1971 (from UK) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
688,345 (July 2005 est.)
Note: includes 235,108 non-nationals |
| Nationality |
Bahraini |
| Ethnic Groups |
Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8% |
| Religion |
Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% |
| Languages |
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu |
| Population Growth Rate |
1.51% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Bahraini dinar (BHD) |
| Industries |
Petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism |
| Labor Force |
370,000 (2004 est.)
Note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish |
| Export Commodities |
Petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles |
| Export Partners |
US 3.1%, South Korea 2.3%, Japan 2% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Crude oil, machinery, chemicals |
| Import Partners |
Saudi Arabia 33.1%, Japan 7.6%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.7%, UK 5.6%, France 4.9% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
- |
| Highways |
3,459 km |
| Pipelines |
Gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004) |
| Airports |
4 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Mina' Salman, Sitrah |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+973 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.bh |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
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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