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Executive
branch:
chief of state: King HAMAD bin
Isa al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince
SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa
(since NA 1971)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime
minister appointed by the monarch
Capital:
Manama
Population:
688,345
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2007 est.)
Languages:
Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Location:
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi
Arabia
Climate:
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Land boundaries:
0 km
Background:
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 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.
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
note: all municipalities administered from Manama
International organization participation:
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICFTU, 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
GDP
(purchasing power parity):
$14.08
billion (2007 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $20,500 (2007 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 0.6%
industry: 42.5%
services: 56.9% (2007 est.)
Agriculture
- products:
fruit,
vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fishfruit,
vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Industries:
petroleum
processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization,
fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
By
the
Courtesy of World
Fact Book - Bahrain and
Wikipedia
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