Country Facts
Geography
Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Arabian Gulf, surrounded by Gulf of Bahrain
Neighbors: Saudi Arabia about 24 km to W, Qatar about 28 km to SE
Area: total: 665 sq km, water: 0 sq km, land: 665 sq km
Coastline: 161 km
Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Major Cities: Manama (capital) 138,784; Muharraq Town 75,906 (1990 est.)
Major Airport: Bahrain International Airport
Major Tourist Attractions:
- Bahrain Gate
- King Fahd Causeway
- Al-Fateh Mosque
People
Population: 667,238 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Nationality: noun: Bahraini(s); adjective: Bahraini
Ethnic Groups: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Religions: Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Government
Type: constitutional hereditary monarchy
National Holidays: 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
Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)
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
Heads of Government: chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971)
Structure: executive, legislative (bicameral Parliament), judicial branches
International Organization Perticipation: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Date Joined United Nations: 21 Sept.1971
Economy
Currency: Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Labor Force: 295,000 note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (1998 est.)
Labor Force by Occupation: industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
Major Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Major Agricultural Products: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Natural Resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Exports: $5.8 billion (2002)
Exports-Commodities: petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports-Partners: US 4.5%, India 3.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.1% (2002)
Imports: $4.2 billion (2002)
Imports-Commodities: crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports-Partners: Saudi Arabia 30.1%, US 11.7%, Japan 7.1%, Germany 6.5%, UK 5.6% (2002)