{ "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. 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 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)" }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Arabian Aquifer System" }, "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": "1,553,886 (2023 est.)", "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" }, "major-language sample(s)": { "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": "18.14% (male 142,866/female 139,083)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "77.83% (male 759,539/female 449,848)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "4.03% (2023 est.) (male 32,162/female 30,388)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "31.3" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "26.8" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "4.6" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "21.8 (2021 est.)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "32.9 years" }, "male": { "text": "34.4 years" }, "female": { "text": "30.3 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.85% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "12.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "2.83 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 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": "89.9% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.03 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "1.69 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "1.06 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "1.51 male(s)/female (2023 est.)" } }, "Maternal mortality ratio": { "text": "16 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)" }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "9.98 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "11.65 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "8.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "80.13 years" }, "male": { "text": "77.87 years" }, "female": { "text": "82.45 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "1.66 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "0.82 (2023 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "NA" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "4.2% of GDP (2020)" }, "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: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: NA" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: NA" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "29.8% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "14.9% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "25.3% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "4.5% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "NA" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "43.8% (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "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)" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "9.9%" }, "male": { "text": "6.1%" }, "female": { "text": "20.5% (2021 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.)" } }, "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.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "89.9% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Revenue from coal": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 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.)" } }, "Major aquifers": { "text": "Arabian Aquifer System" }, "Total water withdrawal": { "municipal": { "text": "280 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "industrial": { "text": "10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" }, "agricultural": { "text": "140 million cubic meters (2020 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "120 million cubic meters (2020 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)" }, "etymology": { "text": "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": "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); Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (born 21 October 1969)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure KHALID bin Abdallah Al Khalifa (since 13 June 2022)" }, "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 30 November 2022 (next appointments in 2026)
Council of Representatives - first round for 6 members held on 12 November 2022; second round for remaining 34 members held on 19 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026)" }, "election results": { "text": "
2022: Consultative Council - all members appointed; composition - men 30, women 10, percent of women 25%
2018: Consultative Council - all members appointed; composition - men 31, women 9, percent of women 22.5%

2022: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - NA; composition - men 34, women 6, percent of women 15%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 20%
2018: Council of Representatives - 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 court(s)": { "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" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org

mofa.gov.bh" }, "consulate(s) general": { "text": "New York" } }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador Steven C. BONDY (since 9 February 2022)" }, "embassy": { "text": "Building 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, P.O. Box 26431, Manama" }, "mailing address": { "text": "6210 Manama Place, Washington DC  20521-6210" }, "telephone": { "text": "[973] 17-242700" }, "FAX": { "text": "[973] 17-272594" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
ManamaConsular@state.gov

https://bh.usembassy.gov/" } }, "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": "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" }, "National heritage": { "total World Heritage Sites": { "text": "3 (all cultural)" }, "selected World Heritage Site locales": { "text": "Dilmun Burial Mounds; Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun; Bahrain Pearling Path" } } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "heavily dependent oil/gas economy, has suffered due to lower prices and COVID-19 demand reductions; diversification struggles driven by unemployment and low-skilled labor force; deployed fiscal balancing efforts; emerging tourism industry hit hard by COVID-19 disruptions" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$72.267 billion (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": { "text": "$70.694 billion (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$74.364 billion (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "2.23% (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2020": { "text": "-4.94% (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "2.17% (2019 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$49,400 (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$47,800 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$49,800 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$38.472 billion (2019 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": { "text": "-0.61% (2021 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020": { "text": "-2.32% (2020 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019": { "text": "1.01% (2019 est.)" } }, "Credit ratings": { "Fitch rating": { "text": "B+ (2020)" }, "Moody's rating": { "text": "B2 (2018)" }, "Standard & Poors rating": { "text": "B+ (2017)" }, "note": "note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained." }, "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.)" } }, "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": "0.4% (2021 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "819,100 (2021 est.)", "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 2021": { "text": "1.87% (2021 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2020": { "text": "1.78% (2020 est.)" }, "Unemployment rate 2019": { "text": "1.2% (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: official estimate; actual rate is higher" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "9.9%" }, "male": { "text": "6.1%" }, "female": { "text": "20.5% (2021 est.)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "NA" }, "Average household expenditures": { "on food": { "text": "13.2% of household expenditures (2018 est.)" }, "on alcohol and tobacco": { "text": "0.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "NA" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "NA" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$9.168 billion (2019 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$12.63 billion (2019 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.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2018": { "text": "-$2.435 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2017": { "text": "-$1.6 billion (2017 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2016": { "text": "-$1.493 billion (2016 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2018": { "text": "$30.097 billion (2018 est.)" }, "Exports 2017": { "text": "$26.732 billion (2017 est.)" }, "note": "note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports." }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "United Arab Emirates 31%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Japan 8%, United States 8% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, aluminum, iron ore and reductions, aluminum wiring, crude petroleum (2021)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2018": { "text": "$27.187 billion (2018 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2017": { "text": "$23.876 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 2021": { "text": "$4.993 billion (31 December 2021 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020": { "text": "$2.523 billion (31 December 2020 est.)" }, "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019": { "text": "$3.903 billion (31 December 2019 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 2021": { "text": "0.376 (2021 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2020": { "text": "0.376 (2020 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2019": { "text": "0.376 (2019 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2018": { "text": "0.376 (2018 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "0.376 (2017 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "100% (2020)" } }, "Electricity": { "installed generating capacity": { "text": "6.982 million kW (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "31,038,250,000 kWh (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "447 million kWh (2019 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "652 million kWh (2019 est.)" }, "transmission/distribution losses": { "text": "611 million kWh (2019 est.)" } }, "Electricity generation sources": { "fossil fuels": { "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "nuclear": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "solar": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "wind": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "hydroelectricity": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "tide and wave": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "geothermal": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" }, "biomass and waste": { "text": "0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 metric tons (2019 est.)" } }, "Petroleum": { "total petroleum production": { "text": "185,300 bbl/day (2021 est.)" }, "refined petroleum consumption": { "text": "73,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil and lease condensate imports": { "text": "228,800 bbl/day (2018 est.)" }, "crude oil estimated reserves": { "text": "186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "274,500 bbl/day (2015 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": "18,271,840,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "18,251,140,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "81.382 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "43.112 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from petroleum and other liquids": { "text": "7.308 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "35.804 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "547.976 million Btu/person (2019 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "266,741 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "18 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "1,923,443 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "131 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "Bahrain continues to develop its telecoms sector in a bid to develop its long-term Economic Vision 2030 strategy; this is a multi-faceted strategy aimed at developing a digital transformation across numerous sectors, including e-government, e-health, e-commerce, and e-banking; 5G services have become widely available since they were launched in 2020; Bahrain’s telecom sector by the Fourth National Telecommunications Plan (initiated in 2016) which focuses on fiber optic infrastructure deployment and establishing affordable prices for high-speed access (2022)" }, "domestic": { "text": "approximately 18 per 100 fixed-line and 131 per 100 mobile-cellular; modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly expanding mobile-cellular telephones (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 973; Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has made part of the C-band spectrum available for 5G private networks, in line with the goals outlined in its Workplan for the 2022-23 period (2023)" } }, "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": "1.5 million (2021 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "100% (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "148,928 (2020 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "9 (2020 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 (2018) mt-km" } }, "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "A9C" }, "Airports": { "text": "4 (2021)" }, "Airports - with paved runways": { "total": { "text": "4" }, "note": "note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)" }, "Heliports": { "text": "1 (2021)" }, "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": "190" }, "by type": { "text": "general cargo 11, oil tanker 3, other 176 (2022)" } }, "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
(2022)", "note": "note: the Royal Guard is officially under the command of the Army, but exercises considerable autonomy; the National Guard's primary mission is to guard critical infrastructure such as the airport and oil fields; while the Guard is under the Ministry of Interior, it reports directly to the king" }, "Military expenditures": { "Military Expenditures 2022": { "text": "3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2021": { "text": "3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2020": { "text": "4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2019": { "text": "4% of GDP (2019 est.)" }, "Military Expenditures 2018": { "text": "4% of GDP (2018 est.)" } }, "Military and security service personnel strengths": { "text": "information varies; approximately 10,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,000 Navy; 1,500 Air Force); approximately 3,000 National Guard (2022)" }, "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": { "text": "the inventory of the Bahrain Defense force consists of a mix of equipment acquired from a wide variety of suppliers; in recent years, the US has been the leading supplier of arms to Bahrain (2022)" }, "Military service age and obligation": { "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for non-commissioned officers, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2022)", "note": "note: the BDF hires foreign nationals, Sunni Muslims primarily from Arabic countries and Pakistan, to serve under contract; as of 2020, foreigners were estimated to comprise as much as 80% of the military; the policy has become a controversial issue with the primarily Shia population; during the 2011, the BDF reportedly deployed mostly foreign personnel against protesters" }, "Military - note": { "text": "Bahrain hosts the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which includes the US 5th Fleet, several subordinate naval task forces, and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; in 2018, the UK opened a naval support base in Bahrain

in addition to the US and UK, Bahrain maintains close security ties to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE); both Saudi Arabia and the UAE sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; in 2015, Bahrain joined the Saudi Arabia-led military action to try to restore the Government of Yemen that was ousted by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, supplying a few hundred troops and combat aircraft

Bahrain has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation (2023)" } }, "Terrorism": { "Terrorist group(s)": { "text": "al-Ashtar Brigades; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force", "note": "note 1: 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 2: in addition to the al-Ashtar Brigades and the IRGC/Qods Force, Saraya al-Mukhtar (aka The Mukhtar Brigade) is an Iran-backed terrorist organization based in Bahrain, reportedly receiving financial and logistic support from the IRGC; Saraya al-Mukhtar's self-described goal is to depose the Bahraini Government with the intention of paving the way for Iran to exert greater influence in Bahrain; the group was designated by the US as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in Dec 2020" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

none identified

" } } }