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NAVIGATION
State of Bahrain
Dawlat al Bahrayn
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain local short form: Al Bahrayn former: Dilmun local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn |
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Government type:
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constitutional hereditary monarchy |
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Capital:
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Manama |
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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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 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from British protection |
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Constitution:
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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) |
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Legal system:
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based on Islamic law and English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 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 NA 1971) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members elected by restricted vote 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 - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10 |
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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 politically oriented nongovernment organizations are allowed |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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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 |
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International organization participation:
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ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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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) 342-0741 |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 321, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 273-300 FAX: [973] 272-594 |
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Flag description:
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red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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In Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of 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. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil revenue granted as aid. 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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $8.4 billion (2001 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4% (2001 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $13,000 (2001 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 1%
industry: 35% services: 64% (2001 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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1.5% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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295,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.) (1998 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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15% (1998 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $1.8 billion
expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2002 est.) |
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Industries:
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petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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2% (2000 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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5.765 billion kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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5,361.45 million kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2000) |
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Agriculture - products:
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fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish |
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Exports:
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$5.5 billion (2001) |
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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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India 8.4%, US 3.9%, Saudi Arabia 3.4%, Japan 2.8%, South Korea 2.1% (2000) |
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Imports:
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$4.5 billion (2001) |
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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 28.7%, US 12.5%, UK 6.6%, France 6%, Japan 4% (2000) |
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Debt - external:
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$2.8 billion (2000) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$48.4 million (1995) (1995) |
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Currency:
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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 - 0.3760 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar) |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |