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Background:
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In 1783, the 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. 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. King HAMAD
bin Isa al-Khalifa, after coming to power in 1999, pushed economic and
political reforms to improve relations with the Shi'a community. Shi'a
political societies participated in 2006 parliamentary and municipal
elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shi'a political society, won the
largest number of seats in the elected chamber of the legislature.
However, Shi'a discontent has resurfaced in recent years with street
demonstrations and occasional low-level violence. |
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Location:
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Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf,
east of Saudi Arabia |
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Geographic
coordinates:
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26 00 N, 50 33 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total: 665 sq km
land: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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3.5 times the size of Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries:
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0 km |
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Coastline:
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161 km |
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Maritime claims:
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to
boundaries to be determined |
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Climate:
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arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid
summers |
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Terrain:
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mostly low desert plain rising gently to low
central escarpment |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Persian Gulf 0
m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122
m |
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Natural resources:
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oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas,
fish, pearls |
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.82%
permanent crops: 5.63%
other: 91.55% (2005) |
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Irrigated land:
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40 sq km (2003) |
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Total renewable water
resources:
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0.1 cu km (1997) |
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural):
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total: 0.3 cu km/yr
(40%/3%/57%)
per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000) |
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Natural hazards:
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periodic droughts; dust storms |
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Environment - current
issues:
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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) |
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Environment -
international agreements:
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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 |
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Geography - note:
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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 |
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Population:
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718,306
note: includes 235,108
non-nationals (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 26.4% (male
95,709/female 93,747)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male
288,957/female 212,706)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male
14,224/female 12,963) (2008 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 29.9 years
male: 33 years
female: 26.4 years (2008 est.) |
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Population growth
rate:
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1.337% (2008 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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17.26 births/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
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Death rate:
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4.29 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02
male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.36 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1
male(s)/female
total population: 1.25
male(s)/female (2008 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 15.64 deaths/1,000
live births
male: 18.27 deaths/1,000 live
births
female: 12.93 deaths/1,000 live
births (2008 est.) |
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Life expectancy at
birth:
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total population: 74.92 years
male: 72.41 years
female: 77.5 years (2008 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.53 children born/woman (2008 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini |
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Ethnic groups:
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Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
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Religions:
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Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%,
other 9.8% (2001 census) |
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Languages:
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Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over
can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.6%
female: 83.6% (2001 census) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form:
Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al
Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun |
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Government type:
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constitutional monarchy |
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Capital:
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name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 14 N,
50 34 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours
ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
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Administrative
divisions:
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5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq,
Shamaliyah, Wasat
note: each governorate
administered by an appointed governor |
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Independence:
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15 August 1971 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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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 |
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Constitution:
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adopted 14 February 2002 |
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Legal system:
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based on Islamic law and English common law; has
not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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20 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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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 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI
bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa,
Jawad al-ARAIDH
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the
monarch
elections: the monarchy is
hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral legislature consists of the
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 November-December 2006 (next election to be
held in 2010)
election results: Council of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - al
Wifaq (Shi'a) 17, al Asala (Sunni Salafi) 5, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim
Brotherhood) 7, independents 11; note - seats by party as of February
2007 - al Wifaq 17, al Asala 8, al Minbar 7, al Mustaqbal (Moderate
Sunni pro-government) 4, unassociated independents (all Sunni) 3,
independent affiliated with al Wifaq (Sunni oppositionist) 1 |
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Judicial branch:
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High Civil Appeals Court |
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Political parties and
leaders:
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political parties prohibited but political
societies were legalized per a July 2005 law |
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Political pressure
groups and leaders:
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Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in
1994-97 and have recently engaged in protests with occasional low-level
violence; protests related to a host of issues, including the 2002
constitution, elections, unemployment, and release of detainees; Sunni
Islamist legislators support a greater role for Shari'a in daily life;
several small leftist and other groups are active |
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International
organization participation:
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ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS,
MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic
representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
Nasir bin Muhammad al-BALUSHI
chancery: 3502 International Drive
NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
consulate(s) general: New York |
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Diplomatic
representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador
J. Adam ERELI
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 |
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Flag description:
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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 |
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Economy - overview:
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With its highly developed communication and
transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms
with business in the Gulf. Petroleum production and refining account
for over 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, over 70% of government
revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries), underpinning
Bahrain's strong economic growth in recent years. Aluminum is Bahrain's
second major export after oil. Other major segments of Bahrain's
economy are the financial and construction sectors. Bahrain is focused
on Islamic banking and is competing on an international scale with
Malaysia as a worldwide banking center. Bahrain is actively pursuing
the diversification and privatization of its economy to reduce the
country's dependence on oil. As part of this effort, in August 2006
Bahrain and the US implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first
FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Continued strong growth hinges on
Bahrain's ability to acquire new natural gas supplies as feedstock to
support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries.
Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and
underground water resources are long-term economic problems. |
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GDP (purchasing power
parity):
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$24.5 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP (official
exchange rate):
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$19.66 billion (2007 est.) |
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GDP - real growth
rate:
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6.6% (2007 est.) |
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GDP - per capita
(PPP):
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$32,100 (2007 est.) |
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GDP - composition by
sector:
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agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 43.6%
services: 56% (2007 est.) |
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Labor force:
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363,000
note: 44% of the population in the
15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.) |
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Labor force - by
occupation:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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15% (2005 est.) |
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Population below
poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or
consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate
(consumer prices):
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3.4% (2007 est.) |
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Investment (gross
fixed):
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17.7% of GDP (2007 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $6.168 billion
expenditures: $5.205 billion (2007
est.) |
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Public debt:
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29.4% of GDP (2007 est.) |
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Agriculture -
products:
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fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products;
shrimp, fish |
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Industries:
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petroleum processing and refining, aluminum
smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore
banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism |
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Industrial production
growth rate:
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5.2% (2007 est.) |
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Electricity -
production:
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8.187 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity -
production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity -
consumption:
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7.614 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production:
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184,000 bbl/day (2007 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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31,000 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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235,500 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports:
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216,300 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves:
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118.6 million bbl (2007 est.) |
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Natural gas -
production:
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10.27 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas -
consumption:
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10.27 billion cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports:
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0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports:
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0 cu m (2005) |
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Natural gas - proved
reserves:
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88.26 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
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Current account
balance:
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$3.913 billion (2007 est.) |
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Exports:
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$13.44 billion (2007 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum,
textiles |
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Exports - partners:
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Saudi Arabia 3.2%, US 3%, Japan 2.3% (2006) |
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Imports:
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$9.858 billion (2007 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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crude oil, machinery, chemicals |
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Imports - partners:
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Saudi Arabia 37.6%, Japan 6.8%, US 6.2%, UK
6.2%, Germany 5.1%, UAE 4.2% (2006) |
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Economic aid -
recipient:
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$103.9 million (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign
exchange and gold:
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$4.101 billion (31 December 2007 est.) |
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Debt - external:
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$7.895 billion (31 December 2007 est.) |
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Stock of direct
foreign investment - at home:
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$14.61 billion (2007 est.) |
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Stock of direct
foreign investment - abroad:
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$7.489 billion (2007 est.) |
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Market value of
publicly traded shares:
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$21.12 billion (2006) |
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Currency (code):
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Bahraini dinar (BHD) |
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Currency code:
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BHD |
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Exchange rates:
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Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2007),
0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |
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Telephones - main
lines in use:
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193,300 (2006) |
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Telephones - mobile
cellular:
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898,900 (2006) |
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Telephone system:
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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) |
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Radio broadcast
stations:
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AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) |
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Radios:
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338,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast
stations:
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4 (1997) |
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Televisions:
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275,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code:
|
.bh |
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Internet hosts:
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2,413 (2007) |
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Internet Service
Providers (ISPs):
|
1 (2000) |
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Internet users:
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157,300 (2006) |
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Airports:
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3 (2007) |
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Airports - with paved
runways:
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total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
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Heliports:
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1 (2007) |
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Pipelines:
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gas 20 km; oil 52 km (2007) |
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Roadways:
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total: 3,498 km
paved: 2,768 km
unpaved: 730 km (2003) |
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Merchant marine:
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total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or
over) 220,264 GRT/314,289 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 1,
container 2, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Kuwait 3) (2007)
|
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Ports and terminals:
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Mina' Salman, Sitrah |
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Military branches:
|
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force
(includes Air Defense), Naval Force, Air Force, National Guard |
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Military service age
and obligation:
|
17 years of age for voluntary military service;
15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription
(2008) |
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Manpower available
for military service:
|
males age 16-49: 210,938
females age 16-49: 170,471 (2008
est.) |
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Manpower fit for
military service:
|
males age 16-49: 171,536
females age 16-49: 142,714 (2008
est.) |
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Manpower reaching
militarily significant age annually:
|
males age 16-49: 6,543
females age 16-49: 6,429 (2008
est.) |
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Military expenditures
- percent of GDP:
|
4.5% (2006) |
| Transnational Issues |
Bahrain |
|
Disputes -
international:
|
none |
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This page was
last updated on 10 June, 2008
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