Page last updated on December 17, 2013
In 1783, the Sunni Al-Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has become an international banking center. 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. The Sunni-led government has struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. In early 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government confronted similar protests at home with police and military action. The aftermath led to modest reforms, though continued dissatisfaction by Bahraini oppositionists with the extent of the reforms, has led to a broader dialogue between government officials, political societies, and legislators.
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
total: 760 sq km
country comparison to the world: 188
land: 760 sq km
water: 0 sq km
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
arable land: 1.79%
permanent crops: 3.95%
other: 94.26% (2011)
total: 0.36 cu km/yr (50%/6%/45%)
per capita: 386 cu m/yr (2003)
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Bahraini 46%, non-Bahraini 54% (2010 census)
Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
1,281,332 July 2013 est.
country comparison to the world: 157
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals
0-14 years: 20% (male 130,097/female 126,067)
15-24 years: 15.9% (male 113,973/female 89,602)
25-54 years: 56.2% (male 472,537/female 247,873)
55-64 years: 5.2% (male 43,884/female 23,352)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 16,262/female 17,685) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 30.3 %
youth dependency ratio: 27.3 %
elderly dependency ratio: 2.9 %
potential support ratio: 34.3 (2013)
total: 31.4 years
male: 32.8 years
female: 28.6 years (2013 est.)
2.57% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26
14.16 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 141
2.65 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 223
14.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 9
urban population: 88.7% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 2.21% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
MANAMA (capital) 262,000 (2011)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1.26 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 1.92 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 1.89 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.54 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
20 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 139
total: 9.93 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 144
male: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 78.43 years
country comparison to the world: 52
male: 76.28 years
female: 80.63 years (2013 est.)
1.83 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
3.8% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 168
1.49 physicians/1,000 population (2010)
1.8 beds/1,000 population (2009)
0.2% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 103
fewer than 600 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 148
fewer than 200 (2003 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
32.9% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 20
2.9% of GDP (2008)
country comparison to the world: 142
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.6%
male: 96.1%
female: 91.6% (2010 est.)
total: 14 years
male: 14 years
female: 15 years (2006)
total number: 5,530
percentage: 5 % (2000 est.)
total: 28.3%
country comparison to the world: 31
male: 25.7%
female: 32.6% (2004)
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun, State of Bahrain
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asamah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern), Wasat (Central)
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor
15 August 1971 (from the UK)
National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection
adopted 14 February 2002; amended 2012 (2012)
mixed legal system of Islamic law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
20 years of age; universal; note - Bahraini Cabinet in May 2011 endorsed a draft law lowering eligibility to 18 years
chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 1971); First Deputy Prime Minister SALMAN bin Hamad Al Khalifa (since 11 March 2013); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa, Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH, KHALID bin Abdallah Al Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Shura Council or Consultative Council (40 members appointed by the King) and the Council of Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members directly elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of Representatives - last held in two rounds on 23 and 30 October 2010 (next election to be held in 2014); byelections to fill 18 vacated seats held in two rounds on 24 September and 1 October 2011
election results: Council of Representatives (2010) - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Wifaq (Shia) 18, Asalah (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 2, independents 17; Council of Representatives byelection for 18 seats vacated by Wifaq (2011) - seats by society - independent Sunni 8, independent Shia 8, other 2; note - Bahrain has societies rather than parties
highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of a chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of a president and 6 members)
judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation and Constitutional Court judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure
subordinate courts: High Court of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; higher and lower shariah courts, and the High Shariah Court of Appeal
note: political parties are prohibited but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law
progovernment:
oppositon:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Shaikh ABDULLA Mohamed Rashed Al Khalifa (since 3 December 2013)
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
consulate(s) general: New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI (since 26 October 2011)
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 1724-2700
FAX: [973] 1727-0547
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
note: until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
name: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
lyrics/music: unknown
note: adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom
Bahrain has taken great strides in diversifying its economy and its highly developed communication and transport facilities make Bahrain home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Bahrain's economy, however, continues to depend heavily on oil. Petroleum production and refining account for more than 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP. Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil - finance, and construction. Bahrain competes with Malaysia as a worldwide center for Islamic banking and continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. In 2011 and 2012, Bahrain experienced economic setbacks as a result of domestic unrest, however, several factors indicate that the economy is beginning to recover, such as the return of the formula one race and tourist cruise ships to Bahrain. Economic policies aimed at restoring confidence in Bahrain's economy, such as the suspension of an expatriate labor tax and frequent bailouts of Gulf Air, will make Bahrain's foremost long-term economic challenges - youth unemployment and the growth of government debt - more difficult to address.
$33.03 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$26.75 billion (2012 est.)
4.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
$28,700 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 52
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
27.6% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
household consumption: 38.3%
government consumption: 14.6%
investment in fixed capital: 19.5%
investment in inventories: 0.8%
exports of goods and services: 75.3%
imports of goods and services: -48.5%
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 48.1%
services: 51.6% (2012 est.)
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
-1.7% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
655,300
country comparison to the world: 153
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2012 est.)
agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.)
15% (2005 est.)
country comparison to the world: 143
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
revenues: $8.07 billion
expenditures: $8.673 billion (2012 est.)
30.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 94
-2.3% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 92
54.2% of GDP (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
2.8% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86
6.05% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
$6.944 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
$24.38 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 81
$22.19 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
$17.15 billion (31 December 2011)
country comparison to the world: 63
$2.221 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
$20.39 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Saudi Arabia 3.3%, India 2.2%, UAE 2.2%, South Korea 2% (2012)
$13.24 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 89
crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Saudi Arabia 27.4%, US 9.6%, China 9.5%, Japan 6.4%, India 4.9%, France 4.7% (2012)
$5.211 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 91
$27.54 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 73
$16.83 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 78
$9.699 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 54
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -
13.16 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
12.97 billion kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 83
0 kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 160
214 million kWh (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85
3.169 million kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
100% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 4
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154
0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 153
49,160 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64
152,600 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 33
256,000 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29
124.6 million bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 68
270,800 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 48
51,450 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
226,000 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
12.62 billion cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 37
12.77 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 60
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 155
92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 56
29.7 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 75
290,000 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 118
2.125 million (2012)
country comparison to the world: 144
general assessment: modern system
domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones
international: country code - 973; landing point for the Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2007)
state-run Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks and several radio stations; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; 1 private FM station directs broadcasts to Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2007)
47,727 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 97
419,500 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 122
4 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 184
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)
gas 20 km; oil 54 km (2013)
total: 4,122 km
country comparison to the world: 156
paved: 3,392 km
unpaved: 730 km (2010)
total: 8
country comparison to the world: 119
by type: bulk carrier 2, container 4, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 5 (Kuwait 5)
registered in other countries: 5 (Honduras 5) (2010)
major seaport(s): Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (RBA), Royal Bahraini Navy (RBN), Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF), Royal Bahraini Air Defense Force (RBADF) (2013)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2012)
males age 16-49: 508,863
females age 16-49: 290,801 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 423,757
females age 16-49: 245,302 (2010 est.)
male: 8,988
female: 8,117 (2010 est.)
4.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 20
