{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "

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.

The Sunni royal family has long struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. In early 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government confronted similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces to Bahrain. Failed political talks prompted opposition political societies to boycott 2014 legislative and municipal council elections. In 2018, a law preventing members of political societies dissolved by the courts from participating in elections effectively sidelined the majority of opposition figures from taking part in national elections. As a result, most members of parliament are independents. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces. On 15 September 2020, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed peace agreements (the Abraham Accords) with Israel – brokered by the US – in Washington DC. Bahrain and the UAE thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "26 00 N, 50 33 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Middle East" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "760 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "760 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "0 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "3.5 times the size of Washington, DC" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "0 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "161 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "continental shelf": { "text": "extending to boundaries to be determined" } }, "Climate": { "text": "arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers" }, "Terrain": { "text": "mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Persian Gulf 0 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "11.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 5.3% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "0.7% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "88% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "40 sq km (2012)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "periodic droughts; dust storms" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "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" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "1,526,929 (July 2021 est.)

note: immigrants make up approximately 45% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)", "note": "note: immigrants make up approximately 45% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Bahraini(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Bahraini" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Bahraini 46%, Asian 45.5%, other Arab 4.7%, African 1.6%, European 1%, other 1.2% (includes Gulf Co-operative country nationals, North and South Americans, and Oceanians) (2010 est.)" }, "Languages": { "Languages": { "text": "Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu" }, "printed major-language sample": { "text": "
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information." } }, "Religions": { "text": "Muslim 73.7%, Christian 9.3%, Jewish 0.1%, other 16.9% (2017 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "18.45% (male 141,039/female 136,687)" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "15.16% (male 129,310/female 98,817)" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "56.14% (male 550,135/female 294,778)" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "6.89% (male 64,761/female 38,870)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "3.36% (male 25,799/female 24,807) (2020 est.)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "26.5" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "23.1" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "3.4" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "29.8 (2020 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "32.9 years" }, "male": { "text": "34.4 years" }, "female": { "text": "30.3 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.9% (2021 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "12.5 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "2.81 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "89.6% of total population (2021)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "664,000 MANAMA (capital) (2021)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "15-24 years": { "text": "1.31 male(s)/female" }, "25-54 years": { "text": "1.87 male(s)/female" }, "55-64 years": { "text": "1.67 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "1.04 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1.53 male(s)/female (2020 est.)" } }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "14 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "10.54 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "12.31 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "8.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "79.67 years" }, "male": { "text": "77.39 years" }, "female": { "text": "82.02 years (2021 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.68 children born/woman (2021 est.)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "Current Health Expenditure": { "text": "4.1% (2018)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "0.93 physicians/1,000 population (2015)" }, "Hospital bed density": { "text": "1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "<.1% (2017 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS": { "text": "<500 (2017 est.)" }, "HIV/AIDS - deaths": { "text": "<100 (2017 est.)" }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "29.8% (2016)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "2.3% of GDP (2017)" }, "Literacy": { "definition": { "text": "age 15 and over can read and write" }, "total population": { "text": "97.5%" }, "male": { "text": "99.9%" }, "female": { "text": "94.9% (2018)" } }, "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": { "total": { "text": "16 years" }, "male": { "text": "16 years" }, "female": { "text": "17 years (2019)" } }, "Unemployment, youth ages 15-24": { "total": { "text": "5.3%" }, "male": { "text": "2.6%" }, "female": { "text": "12.2% (2012 est.)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "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); lowered water table leaves aquifers vulnerable to saline contamination; desalinization provides some 90% of the country's freshwater" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "none of the selected agreements" } }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "69.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "31.69 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "15.47 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "275.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "14.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "144.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "116 million cubic meters (2017 est.)" }, "Climate": { "text": "arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "11.3% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 5.3% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "0.7% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "88% (2018 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "forest revenues": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Revenue from coal": { "coal revenues": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "89.6% of total population (2021)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "951,943 tons (2016 est.)" }, "municipal solid waste recycled annually": { "text": "76,155 tons (2012 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "8% (2012 est.)" } } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "Kingdom of Bahrain" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Bahrain" }, "local long form": { "text": "Mamlakat al Bahrayn" }, "local short form": { "text": "Al Bahrayn" }, "former": { "text": "Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain" }, "etymology": { "text": "the name means \"the two seas\" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies surrounding the archipelago" } }, "Government type": { "text": "constitutional monarchy" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Manama" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "26 14 N, 50 34 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "note": "etymology: name derives from the Arabic \"al-manama\" meaning \"place of rest\" or \"place of dreams\"" }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)

note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor", "note": "note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor" }, "Independence": { "text": "15 August 1971 (from the UK)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "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" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "adopted 14 February 2002" }, "amendments": { "text": "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; amended 2012, 2017" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "no" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "the father must be a citizen of Bahrain" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "no" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "20 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime minister SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020); first deputy prime minister (vacant); Deputy Prime Ministers MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa (since September 2005), Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH, ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 11 December 2006), KHALID bin Abdallah Al-Khalifa (since November 2010); note - KHALIFA ibn Salman Al Khalifa, who served as prime minister since Bahrain's independence in 1971, died on 11 November 2020" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by the monarch" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "bicameral National Assembly consists of:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (40 seats; members appointed by the king)
Council of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwab (40 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year renewable terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "
Consultative Council - last appointments on 12 December 2018 (next NA)
Council of Representatives - first round for 9 members held on 24 November 2018; second round for remaining 31 members held on 1 December 2018 (next to be held in 2022)" }, "election results": { "text": "
Consultative Council - composition - men 31, women 9, percent of women 22.5%

Council of Representatives (for 2018 election)  - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Islamic Al-Asalah (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar al-Taqadumi (Communist) 2, National Unity Gathering (Sunni progovernment) 1, National Islamic Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 1, independent 33; composition - men 34, women 6, percent of women 15%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 19%" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest courts": { "text": "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": { "text": "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 tenure" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courts" }, "note": "note: 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." }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "

note: political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 law

" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashid AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)" }, "chancery": { "text": "3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (202) 342-1111" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (202) 362-2192" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maggie NARDI (since August 2019)" }, "telephone": { "text": "[973] 1724-2700" }, "embassy": { "text": "Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama" }, "mailing address": { "text": "PSC 451, Box 660, FPO AE 09834-5100
international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama" }, "FAX": { "text": "[973] 1727-2594" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "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

note: until 2002, the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag", "note": "note: until 2002, the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "a red field surmounted by a white serrated band with five white points; national colors: red, white" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Bahrainona\" (Our Bahrain)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "unknown" }, "note": "note: adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "

Oil and natural gas play a dominant role in Bahrain’s economy. Despite the Government’s past efforts to diversify the economy, oil still comprises 85% of Bahraini budget revenues. In the last few years lower world energy prices have generated sizable budget deficits - about 10% of GDP in 2017 alone. Bahrain has few options for covering these deficits, with low foreign assets and fewer oil resources compared to its GCC neighbors. The three major US credit agencies downgraded Bahrain’s sovereign debt rating to \"junk\" status in 2016, citing persistently low oil prices and the government’s high debt levels. Nevertheless, Bahrain was able to raise about $4 billion by issuing foreign currency denominated debt in 2017.

Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil and gas –finance, and construction. Bahrain continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. In April 2018 Bahrain announced it had found a significant oil field off the country’s west coast, but is still assessing how much of the oil can be extracted profitably.

In addition to addressing its current fiscal woes, Bahraini authorities face the long-term challenge of boosting Bahrain’s regional competitiveness — especially regarding industry, finance, and tourism — and reconciling revenue constraints with popular pressure to maintain generous state subsidies and a large public sector. Since 2015, the government lifted subsidies on meat, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline and has begun to phase in higher prices for electricity and water. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. It plans to introduce a Value Added Tax (VAT) by the end of 2018.

" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "2.49% (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2018": { "text": "13.89% (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2017": { "text": "3.85% (2017 est.)" } }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "1.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016": { "text": "2.8% (2016 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "B+ (2020)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "B2 (2018)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "B+ (2017)" } }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$73.87 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018": { "text": "$72.55 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017": { "text": "$71.282 billion (2017 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2010 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$38.472 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$45,011 (2019 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2018": { "text": "$46,227 (2018 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2017": { "text": "$47,710 (2017 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2010 dollars" }, "Gross national saving": { "Gross national saving 2018": { "text": "29.9% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2017": { "text": "28.9% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Gross national saving 2016": { "text": "21.2% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "0.3% (2017 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "39.3% (2017 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "60.4% (2017 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "household consumption": { "text": "45.8% (2017 est.)" }, "government consumption": { "text": "15.5% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "26.1% (2017 est.)" }, "investment in inventories": { "text": "0.4% (2017 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "80.2% (2017 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-67.9% (2017 est.)" } }, "Ease of Doing Business Index scores": { "Overall score": { "text": "76 (2020)" }, "Starting a Business score": { "text": "89.6 (2020)" }, "Trading score": { "text": "78.7 (2020)" }, "Enforcement score": { "text": "63.8 (2020)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "mutton, dates, milk, poultry, tomatoes, fruit, sheep offals, sheep skins, eggs, pumpkins" }, "Industries": { "text": "petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "0.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "831,600 (2017 est.)

note: excludes unemployed; 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national", "note": "note: excludes unemployed; 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "agriculture": { "text": "1%" }, "industry": { "text": "32%" }, "services": { "text": "67% (2004 est.)" } }, "Unemployment rate": { "Unemployment rate 2017": { "text": "3.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2016": { "text": "3.7% (2016 est.)" }, "note": "note: official estimate; actual rate is higher" }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "NA" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "NA" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "5.854 billion (2017 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "9.407 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "-10.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "88.5% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "81.4% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2017": { "text": "-$1.6 billion (2017 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2016": { "text": "-$1.493 billion (2016 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2018": { "text": "$27.635 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports 2017": { "text": "$26.762 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "United Arab Emirates 31%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Japan 8%, United States 8% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, aluminum and plating, crude petroleum, iron ore, gold (2019)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2018": { "text": "$23.399 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Imports 2017": { "text": "$22.132 billion (2017 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "United Arab Emirates 27%, China 11%, Saudi Arabia 7%, United States 5%, Brazil 5%, Japan 5%, India 5% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "cars, iron ore, jewelry, gold, gas turbines (2019)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": { "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017": { "text": "$2.349 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016": { "text": "$3.094 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Debt - external": { "Debt - external 31 December 2017": { "text": "$52.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.)" }, "Debt - external 31 December 2016": { "text": "$42.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.)" } }, "Exchange rates": { "currency": { "text": "Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "0.37705 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "0.37705 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "0.377 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2014": { "text": "0.376 (2014 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2013": { "text": "0.376 (2013 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity - production": { "text": "26.81 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - consumption": { "text": "26.11 billion kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - exports": { "text": "213 million kWh (2015 est.)" }, "Electricity - imports": { "text": "276 million kWh (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - installed generating capacity": { "text": "3.928 million kW (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from fossil fuels": { "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)" }, "Electricity - from nuclear fuels": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from hydroelectric plants": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Electricity - from other renewable sources": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)" }, "Crude oil - production": { "text": "40,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "Crude oil - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - imports": { "text": "226,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Crude oil - proved reserves": { "text": "124.6 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "274,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - consumption": { "text": "61,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "245,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - imports": { "text": "14,530 bbl/day (2015 est.)" }, "Natural gas - production": { "text": "15.89 billion cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - consumption": { "text": "15.89 billion cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - exports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - imports": { "text": "0 cu m (2017 est.)" }, "Natural gas - proved reserves": { "text": "92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)" } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "272,614" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "18.5 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "1,900,361" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "128.95 (2019 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "

Bahrain is one of the most technically advanced and connected countries in the world; NGN for increased mobile and Wi-Fi traffic; mobile infrastructure and fiber-optic Internet allows greater Internet penetration and competitive prices; government provides free Internet in schools and public areas, and national broadband with sole control over network; regulator controlled by monarchy; Internet freedom restricted through blocks; well served by satellite and submarine cable access; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2021)

(2020)" }, "domestic": { "text": "17 per 100 fixed-line, 116 per 100 mobile-cellular; modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly expanding mobile-cellular telephones (2019)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 973; landing points for the FALCON, Tata TGN-Gulf, GBICS/MENA, and FOG submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2019)" }, "note": "note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments" }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "state-run Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks and several radio stations; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; 1 private FM station directs broadcasts to Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".bh" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "1,423,039" }, "percent of population": { "text": "98.64% (July 2018 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "140,992" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "9.57 (2019 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "National air transport system": { "number of registered air carriers": { "text": "6 (2020)" }, "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": { "text": "42" }, "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "5,877,003 (2018)" }, "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": { "text": "420.98 million mt-km (2018)" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "A9C" }, "Airports": { "total": { "text": "4 (2013)" } }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "total": { "text": "4 (2017)" }, "over 3,047 m": { "text": "3 (2017)" }, "914 to 1,523 m": { "text": "1 (2017)" } }, "Heliports": { "text": "1 (2013)" }, "Pipelines": { "text": "20 km gas, 54 km oil (2013)" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "4,122 km (2010)" }, "paved": { "text": "3,392 km (2010)" }, "unpaved": { "text": "730 km (2010)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "234" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 11, oil tanker 4, other 219 (2020)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Mina' Salman, Sitrah" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (includes the Royal Guard), Royal Bahraini Navy, Royal Bahraini Air Force; Ministry of Interior: National Guard, Special Security Forces Command (SSFC), Coast Guard
(2021)

note: the Royal Guard is officially under the command of the Army, but exercises considerable autonomy", "note": "note: the Royal Guard is officially under the command of the Army, but exercises considerable autonomy" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "3.7% of GDP (2019)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "4.1% of GDP (2018)" }, "Military Expenditures 2017": { "text": "4.3% of GDP (2017)" }, "Military Expenditures 2016": { "text": "4.7% of GDP (2016)" }, "Military Expenditures 2015": { "text": "4.6% of GDP (2015)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "information varies; approximately 10,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,000 Navy; 1,500 Air Force); est. 3,000 National Guard (2020)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the inventory of the Bahrain Defense force is comprised mostly of equipment acquired from the US along with a smaller quantity of material from European suppliers; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of arms to Bahrain (2020)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2019)" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "al-Ashtar Brigades; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force

note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T", "note": "note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

none

" } } }