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Compare Bahrain (2002) - Latvia (2003)

Compare Bahrain (2002) z Latvia (2003)

 Bahrain (2002)Latvia (2003)
 BahrainLatvia
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
26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons
Age structure 0-14 years: 29.2% (male 97,022; female 94,605)


15-64 years: 67.7% (male 261,919; female 182,727)


65 years and over: 3.1% (male 10,230; female 9,894) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 15.1% (male 180,976; female 172,988)


15-64 years: 68.9% (male 774,133; female 844,856)


65 years and over: 16% (male 122,850; female 252,981) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish
Airports 4 (2001) 38 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 3


over 3,047 m: 2 (2002)
total: 22


2,438 to 3,047 m: 7


1,524 to 2,437 m: 2


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 12 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
total: 16


2,438 to 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 4


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 10 (2002)
Area total: 665 sq km


land: 665 sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 64,589 sq km


land: 63,589 sq km


water: 1,000 sq km
Area - comparative 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC slightly larger than West Virginia
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. Possessing minimal 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 local elections held in May 2002, Bahraini women were allowed to vote and run for office for the first time. After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia continues to revamp its economy for eventual integration into various Western European political and economic institutions and was invited to join NATO and the EU in 2002.
Birth rate 19.53 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 8.55 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $1.8 billion


expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2002 est.)
revenues: $2.4 billion


expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2002 est.)
Capital Manama Riga
Climate arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers maritime; wet, moderate winters
Coastline 161 km 531 km
Constitution adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary) the 1991 Constitutional Law, which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms
Country name conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain


conventional short form: Bahrain


local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn


local short form: Al Bahrayn


former: Dilmun
conventional long form: Republic of Latvia


conventional short form: Latvia


local long form: Latvijas Republika


local short form: Latvija


former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
Currency Bahraini dinar (BHD) Latvian lat (LVL)
Death rate 3.95 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 14.7 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $2.8 billion (2000) $3.4 billion (2000 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN


embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 321, Zinj District, Manama


mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama


telephone: [973] 273-300


FAX: [973] 272-594
chief of mission: Ambassador Brian E. CARLSON


embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510


mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723


telephone: [371] 703-6200


FAX: [371] 781-0047
Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Khalifa bin Ali bin Rashid AL KHALIFA


chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 342-0741


FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192


consulate(s) general: New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Aivis RONIS


chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011


telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214


FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785
Disputes - international none the Russian Duma refuses to ratify boundary delimitation treaty with Latvia; the Latvian Parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights
Economic aid - recipient $48.4 million (1995) (1995) $96.2 million (1995)
Economy - overview In 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 revenue granted as aid. A large share of exports consists 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. Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the SKELE government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. Preparing for EU membership continues as a top foreign policy goal. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit.
Electricity - consumption 5,361.45 million kWh (2000) 6.046 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 703 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 2.69 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 5.765 billion kWh (2000) 4.365 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 29.1%


hydro: 70.9%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m


highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m


highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m
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 Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household and hazardous waste management, and reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010
Environment - international agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands


signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol
Ethnic groups Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8% Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2%
Exchange rates Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.3760 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar) lati per US dollar - 0.62 (2002), 0.63 (2001), 0.61 (2000), 0.59 (1999), 0.59 (1998)
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
chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)


head of government: Prime Minister Einars REPSE (since 7 November 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament


elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president


election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast
Exports $5.5 billion (2001) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs
Exports - partners India 8.4%, US 3.9%, Saudi Arabia 3.4%, Japan 2.8%, South Korea 2.1% (2000) UK 21.6%, Sweden 13.1%, Germany 12.5%, US 6.4%, Lithuania 5.9%, Russia 4.6%, Estonia 4.2%, Denmark 4% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the hoist side three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon
GDP purchasing power parity - $8.4 billion (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $20.99 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 35%


services: 64% (2001 est.)
agriculture: 4.5%


industry: 26%


services: 69.5% (2001)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $13,000 (2001 est.) purchasing power parity - $8,900 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate 4% (2001 est.) 6.1% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 26 00 N, 50 33 E 57 00 N, 25 00 E
Geography - note close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, which much of Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east
Heliports 1 (2002) -
Highways total: 3,164 km


paved: 2,433 km


unpaved: 731 km


note: a paved causeway links Bahrain and Saudi Arabia
total: 73,202 km


paved: 28,256 km


unpaved: 44,946 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


highest 10%: NA%
lowest 10%: 2.9%


highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)
Illicit drugs - transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; money laundering remains a concern despite changes to banking legislation
Imports $4.5 billion (2001) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities crude oil, machinery, chemicals machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles
Imports - partners Saudi Arabia 28.7%, US 12.5%, UK 6.6%, France 6%, Japan 4% (2000) Germany 17.9%, Russia 15.1%, Finland 6.6%, Lithuania 6.4%, Sweden 5.5%, Italy 4.8%, Estonia 4.8% (2002)
Independence 15 August 1971 (from UK) 21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
Industrial production growth rate 2% (2000 est.) 5.7% (2002 est.)
Industries petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials
Infant mortality rate 19.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 16.74 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 1.5% (2001 est.) 2% (2002 est.)
International organization participation ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, CCC, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 1 (2000) 41 (2001)
Irrigated land 50 sq km (1998 est.) 200 sq km


note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)
Judicial branch High Civil Appeals Court Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)
Labor force 295,000


note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (July 1998 est.) (1998 est.)
1.1 million (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.) agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km total: 1,150 km


border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km
Land use arable land: 4.35%


permanent crops: 4.35%


other: 91.3% (1998 est.)
arable land: 29.01%


permanent crops: 0.48%


other: 70.51% (1998 est.)
Languages Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu Latvian (official), Lithuanian, Russian, other
Legal system based on Islamic law and English common law based on civil law system
Legislative branch bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members elected by restricted vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next election to be held NA 2006)


election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10


note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14 February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25 December 2002
unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - New Era 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, People's Party 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - New Era 26, PCTVL 24, People's Party 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7
Life expectancy at birth total population: 73.47 years


male: 71.05 years


female: 75.96 years (2002 est.)
total population: 69.31 years


male: 63.46 years


female: 75.45 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 88.5%


male: 91.6%


female: 84.2% (2002 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 99.8%


male: 99.8%


female: 99.8% (2003 est.)
Location Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania
Map references Middle East Europe
Maritime claims contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined


territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation


exclusive economic zone: 200 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 270,784 GRT/384,561 DWT


ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 4, container 2, includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Kuwait 1 (2002 est.)
total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 52,607 GRT/35,650 DWT


ships by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 1, short-sea passenger 1


note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Greece 3 (2002 est.)
Military branches Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) comprising Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force, Amiri Guards, National Guard Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Border Guard, National Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure $526.2 million (FY01) $87 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP 6.7% (FY01) 1.2% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 222,572 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 592,562 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 121,955 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 465,788 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 15 years of age (2002 est.) 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 5,926 (2002 est.) males: 19,477 (2003 est.)
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 British protection Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 21 August 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union
Nationality noun: Bahraini(s)


adjective: Bahraini
noun: Latvian(s)


adjective: Latvian
Natural hazards periodic droughts; dust storms NA
Natural resources oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land
Net migration rate 1.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) -1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines crude oil 56 km; petroleum products 16 km; natural gas 32 km gas 1,097 km; oil 412 km; refined products 421 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders political parties prohibited but politically oriented nongovernment organizations are allowed Alliance of the Greens and Farmers Union or ZZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS (Farmer's Union); Indulis EMSIS (Green Party)]; CENTER Political Alliance [Juris CELMINS]; First Party of Latvia [Eriks JEKABSONS]; For Fatherland and Freedom or LNNK [Maris GRINBLATS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Janis JURKANS], a coalition of the People's Harmony Party or TSP, the Latvian Socialist Party or LSP, and the Equal Rights Movement; Freedom Party [Ziedonis CEVERS]; Land of Mara [Irena SAPROVSKA]; Latvian Rebirth Party [Andris RUBINS]; Latvian Social-Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvia's Way Union or LC [Janis NAGLIS]; Light of Latgale or LG [Rihards EIGIMS]; New Era Party [Einars REPSE]; Our Land Party [Ilmars ANCANS]; Party of Latvians [Aivars GARDA]; People's Party [Andris SKELE]; Progressive Center Party [Inta STAMGUTE]; Russian Party [Mihails GAVRILOVS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]; Social Democratic Welfare Party or SLP [Juris ZURAVLOVS]; United Republican Party of Latvia or LARP [Eriks Andrejs SAULUNS, Janis PUKIS, Sarmite JEGERE]
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 NA
Population 656,397


note: includes 228,424 non-nationals (July 2002 est.)
2,348,784 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 1.67% (2002 est.) -0.73% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah Liepaja, Riga, Ventspils
Radio broadcast stations AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios 338,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km total: 2,347 km


broad gauge: 2,314 km 1.520-m gauge (270 km electrified)


narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2002)
Religions Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox
Sex ratio at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.43 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female


total population: 1.29 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female


total population: 0.85 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens
Telephone system general assessment: modern system


domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones


international: tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)
general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use


domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications


international: international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)
Telephones - main lines in use 152,000 (1997) 734,693 (2000)
Telephones - mobile cellular 58,543 (1997) 401,263 (2000)
Television broadcast stations 4 (1997) 44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Terrain mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment low plain
Total fertility rate 2.75 children born/woman (2002 est.) 1.2 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 15% (1998 est.) 7.6% (2001 est.)
Waterways none 300 km (perennially navigable)
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