Kingdom of Bahrain
Country Overview
Head of State: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa
Independence: August 15, 1971 (from United Kingdom)
Population: 677,886
Location/Size: Persian Gulf, 257 square miles
Major Cities: Manama (capital)
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Ethnic Groups: Bahraini Arab (63%), Asian (19%), other Arab (10%), Iranian (8%)
Religion: Shi'a Muslim (70%), Sunni Muslim (30%)
Economic Overview
Currency: Bahraini Dinar
Fixed Exchange Rate: 1 Bahraini Dinar = $2.66 US (Fixed)
Nominal Gross Domestic Product (2002E): $8.4 billion (2003E): $9.0 billion (2004F): $9.5 billion
Real GDP Growth Rate (2002E): 4.5% (2003E): 4.1% (2004E): 3.8%
Inflation Rate (consumer prices) (2002E): 0.7% (2003E): 2.4% (2004F): 2.2%
Current Account Balance (2002E): -$151.2 million (2003E): $3.1 million (2004F): -$145.2 million
Major Export Products: petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Main Destinations of Exports (2000): India (8.4%), US (3.9%), Saudi Arabia (3.4%), Japan (2.8%), South Korea (2.1%)
Major Import Products: crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Main Origins of Imports (2000): Saudi Arabia (28.7%), US (12.5%), UK (6.6%), France (6%), Japan (4%)
External Debt (2002): $3.7 billion
Society
Population: 677,886
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
Education: Almost all children in six- to eleven-year- old age-group enrolled in primary school system; about two-thirds of all twelve- to fourteen-year-olds enrolled in intermediate schools.
Health: Free, comprehensive public health care system. Two private hospitals and one military hospital. Life expectancy for Bahraini children born in 1990 seventy years for males and seventy-five years for females.
Ethnic Groups: Most Bahrainis are Arabs, although fairly large number of Iranian origin. Foreign residents include other Arabs, Iranians, Indians, Pakistanis, and small groups of East Asians and Europeans.
Religion: Population 85 percent Muslim, including about 70 percent Shia and 30 percent Sunni. Non-Muslim foreigners include 7.3 percent Christians and 7.7 percent Hindus and others.
Economy
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): purchasing power parity - $11.29 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 4.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $16,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 42.1%
services: 57.2% (2003 est.)
Oil - production: 43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: 31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Agriculture: Contributed 1.2 percent of GDP in 1986.
Mining and Manufacturing: Hydrocarbons and related industries, mining, and manufacturing contributed 34.2 percent of GDP in 1986.
Electricity, Water, and Construction: Contributed 8.5 percent of GDP in 1986.
Trade, Transportation, and Communications: Wholesale and retail trade, restaurants and hotels, and transportation and communications contributed 15.5 percent of GDP in 1986.
Services: Financial, government, and other services contributed 40.6 percent of GDP in 1986.
Exports: $6.492 billion (2003 est.) Exports – commodities include: petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles. Exports – partners include: US 3.5%, India 3.3%, Saudi Arabia 1.9% (2003 est.)
Imports: $5.126 billion (2003 est.) Imports – commodities include: crude oil, machinery, chemicals. Imports – partners include: Saudi Arabia 30%, US 11.2%, Japan 7.6%, UK 5.5%, Germany 5.3% (2003 est.)
Currency and Exchange Rate: Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001), 0.376 (2000), 0.376 (1999)
Transportation And Telecommunications
Transportation:
Highways:
total: 3,261 km
paved: 2,531 km
unpaved: 730 km (2000)
Ports and harbors:
Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Airports:
4 (2003 est.)
Telecommunications: In 1993 excellent domestic and international service--telephones, submarine cables, three satellite ground stations, television station, two AM and three FM radio stations.
Government And Politics
Government: Ruler (Amir) is head of state and head of government. Shaykh Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifa became amir in 1961; his son and designated successor, Shaykh Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa, continued to serve as deputy prime minister in 1993. National Assembly elected in 1973, dissolved in 1975; no plans in 1993 to reestablish it.
Politics: No political parties. Senior members of Al Khalifa and other notable families dominate political and economic decision making.
Foreign Relations: Shaykh Isa ibn Salman continued in 1993 to maintain friendly relations with most countries, Iraq being the principal exception. Major diplomatic activities channeled through Gulf Cooperation Council. Member of United Nations, League of Arab States, Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and Organization of the Islamic Conference.
