Bahrain ( Mamlakat al Bahrayn) is a country in Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia. Bahrain geographic coordinates 26 00 N, 50 33 E; area 665 sq km; area comparative 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC; land boundaries 0 km; coastline 161 km; maritime claims ex; climate arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers; terrain mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment; elevation extremes Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m; natural resources oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls; land use 91.55% (2001); irrigated land 50 sq km (1998 est.); natural hazards periodic droughts; dust storms; 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; environment international agreements none of the selected agreements; 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;

introduction

Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly. government type constitutional hereditary monarchy; capital Manama; administrative divisions 12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah all municipalities administered from Manama; independence 15 August 1971 (from UK); national holiday National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from Bri; constitution adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised constitution calls for a parti; legal system based on Islamic law and English common law; suffrage 18 years of age; universal;

people

Bahrain population 688,345 includes 235,108 non-nationals (July; age structure 3.4% (male 12,078/female 11,381) (2005 est.); median age 25.54 years (2005 est.); population growth rate 1.51% (2005 est.); birth rate 18.1 births/1,000 population (2005 est.); death rate 4.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.); net migration rate 1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.); sex ratio 1.27 male(s)/female (2005 est.); infant mortality rate 20.17 deaths/1,000 live births; life expectancy at birth 76.78 years (2005 est.); total fertility rate 2.63 children born/woman (2005 est.); hiv adult rate 0.2% (2001 est.); hiv people with aids less than 600 (2003 est.); hiv deaths less than 200 (2003 est.); nationality Bahraini; ethnic groups Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%; religions Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%; languages Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu; literacy 85% (2003 est.);

Regions

Cities