Bahrain

Bahrain 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. 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 October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.

Bahrain Information

• Population: 677,886 note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini
• Location:: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
• Religions:: Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
• Ethnic Groups:: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
• Land Boundaries:: 0 km
• Area: total: 665 sq km water: 0 sq km land: 665 sq km
• Coast Line: 161 km
• Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
• Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
• Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined contiguous zone: 24 nm
• Land Use: arable land: 2.82% permanent crops: 5.63% other: 91.55% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: 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
• Natural Resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
• Highways: total: 3,261 km paved: 2,531 km unpaved: 730 km (2000)
• Railways:
• Ports & Harbours: Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
• Airports: 4 (2003 est.)