Chief
of State: King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa (since
6 March 1999)
Head of Government: Prime Minister
KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa (since 1971)
Government Type: constitutional
hereditary monarchy |
Population:
698,585
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi,
Urdu
Religion: Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni)
81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Life Expectancy: 74.45 |
Currency:
Bahraini dinar (BHD)
GDP(per capita): $23,000 (2005
est.)
Overview: Petroleum production
and refining account for about 60% of Bahrain's export
receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP.
With its highly developed communication and transport
facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational
firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports
consists of petroleum products made from refining imported
crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial
projects. Unemployment, especially among the young,
and the depletion of oil and underground water resources
are major long-term economic problems. In 2005 Bahrain
and the US ratified a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the
first FTA between the US and a Gulf state.
Exports: petroleum and petroleum
products, aluminum, textiles
Import: crude oil, machinery,
chemicals |
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Location:
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of
Saudi Arabia
Area: total: 665 sq km
land: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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. Sheikh HAMAD bin Isa
Al Khalifa, who came to power 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 Sheikh HAMAD's political
liberalization program. In February 2002, Sheikh HAMAD
pronounced Bahrain a constitutional monarchy and changed
his status from amir to king. In October 2002, Bahrainis
elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted
bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
Independence Day: 15 August
1971 (from UK)
Capital City: 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, Juzur Hawar,
Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Sitrah
note: all municipalities administered from Manama |
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