Bahrain is an island country consisting of a small archipelago situated between the Qatar peninsula and the north eastern coast of Saudi Arabia, to which it is connected by the 25-kilometre (16 mi) King Fahd Causeway. Bahrain is the third-smallest nation in Asia after the Maldives and Singapore and the smallest nation in the Arab world.
In the late 1800s, following a series of treaties with the British, Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. It reaffirmes its full sovereignty in 1971 and was declared a Kingdom in 2002. The island Kingdom is ruled by the Al Khalifa dynasty as a constitutional monarchy. The Kingdom is governed by a civil legal system.
During the years of reduced hydrocarbon exports, Bahrain has worked to diversify its economy and has emerged as a major financial hub for the region. It has also developed a major tourism sector and is a key producer of aluminium for the region. In mid-2018, Bahrain announced the discovery of the Al Khaleej oil field which contains some 80 billion barrels of shale oil.
Bahrain is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the Gulf Cooperation Council and the World Trade Organization.
Land Size
Capital
Human Development
Index (rank)
Global Competitiveness
Index 4.0
Ease of Doin
Business
Energy Trilemma
Index
Oil Reserves
Natural Gas
Reserves
Total Population
Projection for 2050
3.6% Annual population growth
Under 14
15-24
Over 65
Median Age
Life Expectancy
0%
50%
100%
Islam
Christian
Hindu
Buddhist
Other
15+ Literacy rate
65+ Literacy ratee
Total
Female
Male
GDP (Constant 2015 US $, World bank)
GDP per capita, PPP (const. 2017 int. $, IMF)
GDP per capita, PPP (const. 2017 int. $)
Real GDP Growth
Total Labour Force
Total Unemployment
(SIPRI, 2020)
(BHD 2.5 bn)
(BHD 3.6 bn)
(BHD 1.1 bn)
oil revenue % of the total revenue
Goods
Services
Saudi
UAE
USA
Oman
EU27
Goods
Services
EU27
Australia
Saudi
UAE
Japan
Total trade (EUR)
EU’s trading partner (rank)
EXP: Netherlands
IMP: Germany
Total trade (2021)
UK’s Trading Partner (rank)
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa , King of Bahrain since 2002 (1999-2002 Emir), 2nd ruler since 1971
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa , Crown prince of Prime Minister
Executive -King, Prime Minister, Council of Ministers
Legislatives -bicameral National Assembly
Upper Chamber Appointed by King
Upper Chamber Appointed by King
First Election
Next Election
august 15, 1971, independence from United Kingdom
December 16 (national day), independence 1971 and ascension of Emir Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa to the throne (1961)
february 14 2002, constitution adopted following a national referendum
Author: Al-Khalifa
Routledge (1993), Edition: 1, 636 pages
Author: Philip Dew
Euromoney Books Bahrain Monetary Agency (2003), 190 pages
Author: Andrew Wheatcroft
Kegan Paul International (1988), Edition: 1, 141 pages
Author: Andrew Wheatcroft
Kegan Paul International (1988), Edition: 1, 141 pages