Political pressure groups and leaders:
Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994–97, demanding
the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to
unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic
fundamentalist groups are active
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador KHALIFA bin ALI bin Rashid Al Khalifa chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 consulate(s) general: New York FAX: [1] (202) 362–2192 telephone: [1] (202) 342–1111
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834–5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama telephone: [973] 1724–2700 FAX: [973] 1725–6242 (consular)
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
Economy Bahrain
Economy - overview:
In well-to-do Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account
for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and
30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport
facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with
business in the Gulf. Bahrain is dependent on Saudi Arabia for oil
granted as aid. A large share of exports consist of petroleum
products made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on
several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among
the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources
are major long-term economic problems.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $11.29 billion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.9% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $16,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.7% industry: 42.1% services: 57.2% (2003 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
11.9% of GDP (2003)
Population below poverty line:
NA
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
−0.2% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
350,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15–64 age group is non-national
(2003 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government
20% (1997 est.)
Unemployment rate:
15% (1998 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.981 billion
expenditures: $3.019 billion, including capital expenditures of $700
million (2003 est.)
Public debt:
57.5% of GDP (2003)
Agriculture - products:
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Industries:
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore
banking, ship repairing; tourism
Industrial production growth rate:
2% (2000 est.)
Electricity - production:
6.257 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
5.819 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
43,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
125 million bbl (1 January 2003)
Natural gas - production:
8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
8.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
46 billion cu m (1 January 2003)
Current account balance:
$53 million (2003)
Exports:
$6.492 billion (2003 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners:
US 3.5%, India 3.3%, South Korea 2.2% (2003)
Imports:
$5.126 billion (2003 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 30.7%, US 11.4%, Japan 7.8%, UK 5.7%, Germany 5.4%
(2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$1.785 billion (2003)
Debt - external:
$4.682 billion (2003)
Economic aid - recipient:
$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of
Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)
Currency:
Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Currency code:
BHD
Exchange rates:
Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2003),