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Background: |
In 1783, the al-Khalifa family
captured Bahrain from the Persians. 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. 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. King HAMAD bin
Isa al-Khalifa, after coming to power in 1999, pushed economic and
political reforms to improve relations with the Shi'a community and Shi'a
political societies participated in 2006 parliamentary and municipal
elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shi'a political society, won the largest
number of seats in the elected chamber of the legislature. However, Shi'a
discontent has resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and
occasional low-level violence. |
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Location: |
Middle East, archipelago in the
Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia |
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Geographic coordinates: |
26 00 N, 50 33 E |
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Map references: |
Middle East |
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Area: |
total: 665 sq km
land: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
3.5 times the size of
Washington, DC |
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Land boundaries: |
0 km |
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Coastline: |
161 km |
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Maritime claims: |
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending
to boundaries to be determined |
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Climate: |
arid; mild, pleasant winters;
very hot, humid summers |
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Terrain: |
mostly low desert plain rising
gently to low central escarpment |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Persian
Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m |
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Natural resources: |
oil, associated and
nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls |
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Land use: |
arable land: 2.82%
permanent crops: 5.63%
other: 91.55% (2005) |
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Irrigated land: |
40 sq km (2003) |
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Total renewable water resources: |
0.1 cu km (1997) |
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 0.3 cu km/yr
(40%/3%/57%)
per capita: 411 cu m/yr (2000) |
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Natural hazards: |
periodic droughts; dust storms
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Environment - current 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 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: |
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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: |
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
|
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Population: |
718,306
note:
includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure: |
0-14 years: 26.4% (male
95,709/female 93,747)
15-64 years: 69.8% (male 288,957/female
212,706)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 14,224/female 12,963)
(2008 est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 29.9 years
male: 33 years
female: 26.4 years (2008 est.) |
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Population growth rate: |
1.337% (2008 est.) |
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Birth rate: |
17.26 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
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Death rate: |
4.29 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
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Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.03
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64
years: 1.36 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1
male(s)/female
total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2008
est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total: 15.64
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 74.92
years
male: 72.41 years
female: 77.5 years (2008
est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
2.53 children born/woman (2008
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
0.2% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 600 (2003 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
less than 200 (2003 est.)
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Nationality: |
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini |
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Ethnic groups: |
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini
37.6% (2001 census) |
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Religions: |
Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%,
Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census) |
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Languages: |
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 88.6%
female: 83.6% (2001 census)
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Country name: |
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short
form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun |
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Government type: |
constitutional monarchy |
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Capital: |
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E
time
difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time) |
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Administrative divisions: |
5 governorates; Asamah,
Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat
note: each governorate
administered by an appointed governor |
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Independence: |
15 August 1971 (from UK) |
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National holiday: |
National Day, 16 December
(1971); note - 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16
December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection |
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Constitution: |
adopted 14 February 2002 |
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Legal system: |
based on Islamic law and
English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage: |
20 years of age; universal
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Executive branch: |
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 1971);
Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin
Mubarak al-Khalifa, Jawad al-ARAIDH
cabinet: Cabinet appointed
by the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime
minister appointed by the monarch |
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Legislative branch: |
bicameral legislature consists
of the Consultative Council (40 members appointed by the King) and the
Council of Representatives or Chamber of Deputies (40 seats; members
directly elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council
of Representatives - last held November-December 2006 (next election to be
held in 2010)
election results: Council of Representatives -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - al Wifaq (Shia) 17, al
Asala (Sunni Salafi) 5, al Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 7,
independents 11; note - seats by party as of February 2007 - al Wifaq 17,
al Asala 8, al Minbar 7, al Mustaqbal (Moderate Sunni pro-government) 4,
unassociated independents (all Sunni) 3, independent affiliated with al
Wifaq (Sunni oppositionist) 1 |
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Judicial branch: |
High Civil Appeals Court |
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Political parties and leaders: |
political parties prohibited
but political societies were legalized per a July 2005 law |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Shi'a activists fomented unrest
sporadically in 1994-97 and have recently engaged in protests with
occasional low-level violence; protests related to a host of issues,
including the 2002 constitution, elections, unemployment, and release of
detainees; Sunni Islamist legislators support a greater role for Shari'a
in daily life; several small leftist and other groups are active |
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International organization participation: |
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77,
GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU,
ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador Nasir bin Muhammad al-BALUSHI
chancery: 3502
International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1]
(202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
consulate(s)
general: New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador J. Adam ERELI
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119
(next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100;
international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 1724-2700
FAX: [973] 1727-0547
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Flag description: |
red, the traditional color for
flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white
points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of
Islam |
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Economy - overview: |
With its highly developed
communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous
multinational firms with business in the Gulf. Petroleum production and
refining account for over 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, over 70% of
government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries),
underpinning Bahrain's strong economic growth in recent years. Aluminum is
Bahrain's second major export after oil. Other major segments of Bahrain's
economy are the financial and construction sectors. Bahrain is focused on
Islamic banking and is competing on an international scale with Malaysia
as a worldwide banking center. Bahrain is actively pursuing the
diversification and privatization of its economy to reduce the country's
dependence on oil. As part of this effort, in August 2006 Bahrain and the
US implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the US
and a Gulf state. Continued strong growth hinges on Bahrain's ability to
acquire new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding
petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment, especially among the
young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are
long-term economic problems. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$24.61 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate): |
$16.89 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate: |
6.6% (2007 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$34,700 (2007 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 43.6%
services: 56% (2007 est.) |
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Labor force: |
363,000
note: 44% of
the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2007 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
15% (2005 est.) |
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Population below poverty line: |
NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
3.5% (2007 est.) |
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Investment (gross fixed): |
17.6% of GDP (2007 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $6.048 billion
expenditures: $5.082 billion (2007 est.) |
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Public debt: |
28.2% of GDP (2007 est.) |
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Agriculture - products: |
fruit, vegetables; poultry,
dairy products; shrimp, fish |
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Industries: |
petroleum processing and
refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and
offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
5.5% (2007 est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
8.187 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption: |
7.614 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - exports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - imports: |
0 kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production: |
184,000 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - consumption: |
31,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports: |
235,500 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports: |
216,300 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
124.6 million bbl (1 January
2006 est.) |
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Natural gas - production: |
10.27 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption: |
10.27 billion cu m (2005 est.)
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Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2005) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
88.26 billion cu m (1 January
2006 est.) |
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Current account balance: |
$2.009 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports: |
$13.16 billion (2007 est.)
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Exports - commodities: |
petroleum and petroleum
products, aluminum, textiles |
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Exports - partners: |
Saudi Arabia 3.2%, US 3%, Japan
2.3%
note: data exclude oil exports (2006) |
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Imports: |
$9.784 billion (2007 est.)
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Imports - commodities: |
crude oil, machinery, chemicals
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Imports - partners: |
Saudi Arabia 37.2%, Japan 6.8%,
US 6.2%, UK 6.1%, Germany 6%, UAE 4.2% (2006) |
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Economic aid - recipient: |
$103.9 million (2004) |
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Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: |
$3.474 billion (31 December
2007 est.) |
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Debt - external: |
$7.692 billion (31 December
2007 est.) |
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Stock of direct foreign investment - at home: |
$11.55 billion (2006 est.)
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Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad: |
$6.039 billion (2006 est.)
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Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$21.12 billion (2006) |
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Currency (code): |
Bahraini dinar (BHD) |
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Currency code: |
BHD |
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Exchange rates: |
Bahraini dinars per US dollar -
0.376 (2007), 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003)
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year |
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
193,300 (2006) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
898,900 (2006) |
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Telephone system: |
general assessment:
modern system
domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services;
digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile-cellular telephones
international: country code - 973; landing point for the
Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) submarine cable network that
provides links to Asia, Middle East, Europe, and US; tropospheric scatter
to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth
station - 1 (2007) |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
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Radios: |
338,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
4 (1997) |
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Televisions: |
275,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code: |
.bh |
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Internet hosts: |
2,413 (2007) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000) |
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Internet users: |
157,300 (2006) |
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Airports: |
3 (2007) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 3
over
3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
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Heliports: |
1 (2007) |
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Pipelines: |
gas 20 km; oil 52 km (2007)
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Roadways: |
total: 3,498 km
paved: 2,768 km
unpaved: 730 km (2003) |
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Merchant marine: |
total: 7 ships (1000 GRT
or over) 220,264 GRT/314,289 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo
1, container 2, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Kuwait 3)
(2007) |
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Ports and terminals: |
Mina' Salman, Sitrah
|
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Military branches: |
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF):
Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Naval Force, Air Force, National
Guard |
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Military service age and obligation: |
17 years of age for voluntary
military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no
conscription (2008) |
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Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49: 210,938
females age 16-49: 170,471 (2008 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 171,536
females age 16-49: 142,714 (2008 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually: |
males age 16-49: 6,543
females age 16-49: 6,429 (2008 est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
4.5% (2006) |
| Transnational Issues |
Bahrain |
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Disputes - international: |
none |
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Trafficking in persons: |
current situation:
Bahrain is a destination country for men and women from South and
Southeast Asia who migrate willingly to work as laborers or domestic
servants, but may be subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude when
faced with exorbitant recruitment and transportation fees, withholding of
their passports, restrictions on their movement, non-payment of wages, and
physical or sexual abuse; women from Eastern Europe, Central Asia,
Morocco, and Thailand are also trafficked to Bahrain for the purpose of
commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor
tier rating:
Tier 3 - Bahrain made no discernable progress in preventing trafficking in
2006; the government failed to enact a comprehensive anti-trafficking law
and did not report any prosecutions or convictions for trafficking
offenses, despite reports of a substantial problem of involutary servitude
and trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation |
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