Bahrain

Location

• Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
• close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

Population

Notable Population Centers

City	Population	Note
Ar Rifā‘	195,606
Manama	147,074	Capital
Al Muharraq	97,458
Dār Kulayb	65,466
Madīnat Ḩamad	52,718
Madīnat ‘Īsá	38,090
Sitrah	37,657
Jidd Ḩafş	31,735

Size

• 257 square miles
• 665 square kilometers
• 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

History

In 1783, the Sunni AL-KHALIFA family took power in Bahrain. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. A steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy, in the process developing petroleum processing and refining, aluminum production, and hospitality and retail sectors. It has also endeavored to become a leading regional banking center, especially with respect to Islamic finance. Bahrain's small size, central location among Gulf countries, economic dependence on Saudi Arabia, and proximity to Iran require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Its foreign policy activities usually fall in line with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In 2022, the United States designated Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally. The Sunni royal family has long struggled to manage relations with its Shia-majority population. In 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government responded to similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces. In 2020, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed the US-brokered Abraham Accords with Israel. In 2023, Bahrain and the United States signed the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement to enhance cooperation across a wide range of areas, from defense and security to emerging technology, trade, and investment.

Climate

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdumajor-language sample(s): كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Muslim 74.2%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Baha'i) 25.8% (2020 est.)

Government

constitutional monarchy

• Constitution: history: previous 1973; latest adopted 14 February 2002, entry into force 14 February 2002amendment process: proposed by the king or by at least 15 members of either chamber of the National Assembly followed by submission to an Assembly committee for review and, if approved, submitted to the government for restatement as drafts; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both chambers and validation by the king; constitutional articles on the state religion (Islam), state language (Arabic), and the monarchy and "inherited rule" cannot be amended
• Political Parties and Leaders: n/a
• Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal
• Legal System: mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law
• Executive Branch: chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)head of government: Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020)cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarchelection/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
• Judicial Branch: highest court(s): Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)judge selection and term of office: Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenuresubordinate courts: Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courtsnote: the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts (involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim; the Courts are supervised by the Supreme Judicial Council.
• Legislative Branch: legislature name: National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)legislative structure: bicameral

Demographic Profile

n/a

Economy

• high-income, growing Middle Eastern island economy; oil and aluminum exporter with diversification led by services, construction and manufacturing; regional finance and tourism hub; high public debt linked to oil revenue dependence and limited tax base; vulnerable to water reservoir depletion
• Budget: revenues: $5.538 billion (2020 est.)expenditures: $9.982 billion (2020 est.)note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
• Credit Rating: n/a
• Natural Resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
• Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
• Agricultural Products: lamb/mutton, dates, milk, tomatoes, chicken, eggs, sheep offal, sheepskins, eggplants, chillies/peppers (2023)note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
• Land Use: agricultural land: 10.3% (2022 est.)arable land: 2.7% (2022 est.)permanent crops: 2.5% (2022 est.)permanent pasture: 5.1% (2022 est.)forest: 0.9% (2022 est.)other: 88.8% (2022 est.)
• Labor Force by Occupation: n/a
• Imports
• Imported Commodities: iron ore, aluminum oxide, ships, cars, gold (2023)note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars
• Import Partners: China 13%, Saudi Arabia 12%, UAE 11%, Brazil 8%, Australia 7% (2023)note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
• Exports
• Exported Commodities: refined petroleum, aluminum, iron ore, aluminum wire, jewelry (2023)note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars
• Export Partners: UAE 16%, Saudi Arabia 15%, South Africa 8%, USA 6%, India 4% (2023)note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports