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NAVIGATION
State of Bahrain
Dawlat al Bahrayn
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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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. Possessing minimal oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining, and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir, installed 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 the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In local elections held in May 2002, Bahraini women were allowed to vote and run for office for the first time. |
GEOGRAPHY
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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
water: 0 sq km land: 665 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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contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 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: 4.35%
permanent crops: 4.35% other: 91.3% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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50 sq km (1998 est.) |
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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, 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, which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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656,397
note: includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 29.2% (male 97,022; female 94,605)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 261,919; female 182,727) 65 years and over: 3.1% (male 10,230; female 9,894) (2002 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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1.67% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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19.53 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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3.95 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.43 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.29 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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19.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 73.47 years
female: 75.96 years (2002 est.) male: 71.05 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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2.75 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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0.15% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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NA |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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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 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8% |
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Religions:
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Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% |
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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: 88.5% male: 91.6% female: 84.2% (2002 est.) |