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| Introduction | Bahrain |
| Background: | 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. |
| People | Bahrain |
| Population: | 677,886 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 28.4% (male 97,179; female 95,043) 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 271,015; female 192,342) 65 years and over: 3.3% (male 11,426; female 10,881) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 29 years male: 31.9 years female: 25.3 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 1.56% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 18.54 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.41 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 17.91 deaths/1,000 live births female: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 73.98 years male: 71.52 years female: 76.51 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 2.67 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | 0.3% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | less than 1,000 |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini |
| Ethnic groups: | Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8% |
| Religions: | Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% |
| Languages: | Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 89.1% male: 91.9% female: 85% (2003 est.) |
| Government | Bahrain |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain conventional short form: Bahrain local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn |
| Government type: | constitutional hereditary monarchy |
| Capital: | Manama |
| 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: | 15 August 1971 (from UK) |
| National holiday: | National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from British protection |
| Constitution: | adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary) |
| Legal system: | based on Islamic law and English common law |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969) head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch |
| Legislative branch: | bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly elected to serve four-year terms) elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next election to be held NA 2006) note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14 February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25 December 2002 election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10 |
| Judicial branch: | High Civil Appeals Court |
| Political parties and leaders: | political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active |
| International organization participation: | ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador KHALIFA bin ALI bin Rashid Al Khalifa chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192 telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111 |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 1724-2700 FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular) |
| Flag description: | 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 |
| Communications | Bahrain |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 185,800 (2003) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 443,100 (2003) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: modern system domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones international: country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) |
| Radios: | 338,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 4 (1997) |
| Televisions: | 275,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .bh |
| Internet hosts: | 1,334 (2003) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | 1 (2000) |
| Internet users: | 195,700 (2003) |
| Transportation | Bahrain |
| Highways: | total: 3,261 km paved: 2,531 km unpaved: 730 km (2000) |
| Pipelines: | gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004) |
| Ports and harbors: | Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah |
| Merchant marine: | total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT registered in other countries: 2 (2003 est.) foreign-owned: Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 1 by type: bulk 3, container 2, petroleum tanker 1 |
| Airports: | 4 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Heliports: | 1 (2003 est.) |
| Military | Bahrain |
| Military branches: | Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 221,661 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 121,484 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 6,396 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $618.1 million (2003) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 7.5% (2003) |
| Transnational Issues | Bahrain |
| Disputes - international: | none |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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