The 1992 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

Executive branch:

       amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime minister, Cabinet

       Legislative branch:

       unicameral National Assembly was dissolved 26 August 1975 and legislative

       powers were assumed by the Cabinet

       Judicial branch:

       High Civil Appeals Court

       Leaders:

       Chief of State:

       Amir `ISA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 2 November 1961); Heir Apparent HAMAD

       bin `Isa Al Khalifa (son of Amir; born 28 January 1950)

       Head of Government:

       Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since 19 January 1970)

       Political parties and leaders:

       political parties prohibited; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic

       fundamentalist groups are active

       Suffrage:

       none

       Elections:

       none

       Member of:

       ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF,

       IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC,

       OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

       Diplomatic representation:

       Ambassador `Abd al-Rahman Faris Al KHALIFA; Chancery at 3502 International

       Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone [phone] or 342-0742; there

       is a Bahraini Consulate General in New York

       US:

       Ambassador Dr. Charles W. HOSTLER; Embassy at Road No. 3119 (next to Alahli

       Sports Club), Zinj; (mailing address is P. O. 26431, Manama, or FPO AE

       09834-6210); telephone [973] 273-300; FAX [phone]

       Flag:

       red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side

      :Bahrain Economy

      Overview:

       Petroleum production and processing account for about 80% of export

       receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 31% of GDP. Economic conditions

       have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil since 1985, for example,

       the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. The liberation of Kuwait in early 1991 has

       improved short- to medium-term prospects and has raised investors'

       confidence. Bahrain with its highly developed communication and transport

       facilities is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the

       Gulf. A large share of exports is petroleum products made from imported

       crude.

       GDP:

       exchange rate conversion - $4.0 billion, per capita $7,500 (1990); real

       growth rate 6.7% (1988)

       Inflation rate (consumer prices):

       1.5% (1989)

       Unemployment rate:

       8-10% (1989)

       Budget:

       revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.32 billion, including capital

       expenditures of $NA (1989)

       Exports:

       $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1990 est.)

       commodities:

       petroleum and petroleum products 80%, aluminum 7%, other 13%

       partners:

       UAE 18%, Japan 12%, India 11%, US 6%

       Imports:

       $3.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989)

       commodities:

       nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%

       partners:

       Saudi Arabia 41%, US 23%, Japan 8%, UK 8%

       External debt:

       $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

       Industrial production:

       growth rate 3.8% (1988); accounts for 44% of GDP

       Electricity:

       3,600,000 kW capacity; 10,500 million kWh produced, 21,000 kWh per capita

       (1991)

       Industries:

       petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship

       repairing

       Agriculture:

       including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP; not self-sufficient in

       food production; heavily subsidized sector produces fruit, vegetables,

       poultry, dairy products, shrimp, and fish; fish catch 9,000 metric tons in

       1987

       Economic aid:

       US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-79), $24 million; Western (non-US)

       countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $45 million; OPEC

       bilateral aid (1979-89), $9.8 billion

       Currency:

       Bahraini dinar (plural - dinars); 1 Bahraini dinar (BD) = 1,000 fils

       Exchange rates:

       Bahraini dinars (BD) per US$1 - 0.3760 (fixed rate)

       Fiscal year:

       calendar year

      :Bahrain Communications

      Highways:

       200 km bituminous surfaced, including 25 km bridge-causeway to Saudi Arabia

       opened in November 1986; NA km natural surface tracks

       Pipelines:

       crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km

       Ports:

       Mina' Salman, Manama, Sitrah

       Merchant marine:

       9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 186,367 GRT/249,441 DWT; includes 5

       cargo, 2 container, 1 liquefied gas, 1 bulk

       Civil air:

       27 major transport aircraft

       Airports:

       3 total, 3 usable; 2 with permanent-surface runways; 2 with runways over

       3,659 m; 1 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

       Telecommunications:

       excellent international telecommunications; good domestic services; 98,000

       telephones; broadcast stations - 2 AM, 3 FM, 2 TV; satellite earth stations

       - 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT, 1 Indian Ocean INTELSAT, 1 ARABSAT;

       tropospheric scatter to Qatar, UAE, and microwave to Saudi Arabia; submarine

       cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia

      :Bahrain Defense Forces

      Branches:

       Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense, Police Force

       Manpower availability:

       males 15-49, 190,937; 105,857 fit for military service

       Defense expenditures:

       exchange rate conversion - $194 million, 6% of GDP (1990)

      :Baker Island Geography

      Total area: