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Compare Netherlands Antilles (2002) - Bahrain (2003)

Compare Netherlands Antilles (2002) z Bahrain (2003)

 Netherlands Antilles (2002)Bahrain (2003)
 Netherlands AntillesBahrain
Administrative divisions none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)


note: each island has its own government
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
Age structure 0-14 years: 25% (male 27,351; female 26,135)


15-64 years: 67.1% (male 68,431; female 75,312)


65 years and over: 7.9% (male 7,049; female 9,980) (2002 est.)
0-14 years: 28.8% (male 97,294; female 94,930)


15-64 years: 68% (male 266,351; female 187,473)


65 years and over: 3.2% (male 10,807; female 10,383) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Airports 5 (2001) 4 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways total: 5


over 3,047 m: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1


914 to 1,523 m: 1


under 914 m: 1 (2002)
total: 3


over 3,047 m: 2


1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Area total: 960 sq km


land: 960 sq km


water: 0 sq km


note: includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten (Dutch part of the island of Saint Martin)
total: 665 sq km


land: 665 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative more than five times the size of Washington, DC 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Background Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is shared with France; its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe, and its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles. 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 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 October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.
Birth rate 16.16 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) 19.02 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget revenues: $710.8 million


expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)
revenues: $1.8 billion


expenditures: $2.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2002 est.)
Capital Willemstad Manama
Climate tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Coastline 364 km 161 km
Constitution 29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended 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)
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles


local long form: none


local short form: Nederlandse Antillen


former: Curacao and Dependencies
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain


conventional short form: Bahrain


local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn


local short form: Al Bahrayn


former: Dilmun
Currency Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG) Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Death rate 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) 3.99 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external $1.35 billion (1996) (1996) $3.7 billion (2002)
Dependency status part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs -
Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Consul General Deborah A. BOLTON


consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao


mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao


telephone: [599] (9) 4613066


FAX: [599] (9) 4616489
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
Diplomatic representation in the US none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands) 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
Disputes - international none none
Economic aid - recipient IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its support with $40 million $150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)
Economy - overview Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined in each of the past five years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. 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 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.
Electricity - consumption 1.093 billion kWh (2000) 5.819 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports 0 kWh (2000) 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - production 1.175 billion kWh (2000) 6.257 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2000)
fossil fuel: 100%


hydro: 0%


nuclear: 0%


other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m


highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m


highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m
Environment - current issues NA 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
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
Ethnic groups mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Exchange rates Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.790 (fixed rate since 1989) Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.38 (2002), 0.38 (2001), 0.38 (2000), 0.38 (1999), 0.38 (1998)
Executive branch chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002)


head of government: Prime Minister Etienne YS (since 3 June 2002)


cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten


elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held by NA 2006)


note: government coalition - PDB, DP-St. M, FOL, PLKP, PNP
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
Exports $276 million f.o.b. (2000) NA (2001)
Exports - commodities petroleum products petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners US 35.9%, Guatemala 9.4%, Venezuela 8.7%, France 5.4%, Singapore 2.8% (2000) US 4.5%, India 3.2%, Saudi Arabia 2.1% (2002)
Fiscal year calendar year calendar year
Flag description white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten red with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam
GDP purchasing power parity - $2.4 billion (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $9.91 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector agriculture: 1%


industry: 15%


services: 84% (1996 est.)
agriculture: 1%


industry: 35%


services: 64% (2001 est.)
GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2000 est.) purchasing power parity - $15,100 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate -3.5% (2000 est.) 2.9% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates 12 15 N, 68 45 W 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Geography - note the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao) 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
Heliports - 1 (2002)
Highways total: 600 km


paved: 300 km


unpaved: 300 km (1992)
total: 3,261 km


paved: 2,531 km


unpaved: 730 km (2000)
Household income or consumption by percentage share lowest 10%: NA%


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


highest 10%: NA%
Illicit drugs transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center -
Imports $1.5 billion f.o.b. (2000) NA (2001)
Imports - commodities crude petroleum, food, manufactures crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners US 25.8%, Mexico 20.7%, Gabon 6.6%, Italy 5.8%, Netherlands 5.5% (2000) Saudi Arabia 30.1%, US 11.7%, Japan 7.1%, Germany 6.5%, UK 5.6% (2002)
Independence none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) 15 August 1971 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate NA% 2% (2000 est.)
Industries tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao) petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Infant mortality rate 11.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) total: 18.59 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 15.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 5.8% (2000 est.) 0.5% (2002 est.)
International organization participation Caricom (observer), CCC, ECLAC (associate), Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WMO, WToO (associate) ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Internet Service Providers (ISPs) 6 1 (2000)
Irrigated land NA sq km 50 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch) High Civil Appeals Court
Labor force 89,000 295,000


note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (1998 est.)
Labor force - by occupation agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (1994 est.) industry, commerce, and service 79%, government 20%, agriculture 1% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries total: 10.2 km


border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint Martin) 10.2 km
0 km
Land use arable land: 10%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 90% (1998 est.)
arable land: 4.35%


permanent crops: 4.35%


other: 91.3% (1998 est.)
Languages Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect) predominates, English widely spoken, Spanish Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Legal system based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence based on Islamic law and English common law
Legislative branch unicameral States or Staten (22 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)


elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)


election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FOL 5, PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP-St.M 2, UPB 2, DP 1, MAN 1, PDB 1, WIPM 1


note: the government of Prime Minister Miguel POURIER is a coalition of several parties; current seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, FOL 2, MAN 2, UPB 2, DP-St. M 2, PDB 1, SEA 1, WIPM 1, other 4
bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly elected 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 by party - 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
Life expectancy at birth total population: 75.15 years


male: 72.96 years


female: 77.46 years (2002 est.)
total population: 73.72 years


male: 71.28 years


female: 76.24 years (2003 est.)
Literacy definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 98%


male: 98%


female: 99% (1981 est.)
definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 89.1%


male: 91.9%


female: 85% (2003 est.)
Location Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - one includes Curacao and Bonaire north of Venezuela; the other is east of the Virgin Islands Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Map references Central America and the Caribbean Middle East
Maritime claims exclusive fishing zone: 12 NM


territorial sea: 12 NM
contiguous zone: 24 NM


continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined


territorial sea: 12 NM
Merchant marine total: 123 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 1,056,362 GRT/1,341,735 DWT


ships by type: bulk 2, cargo 39, chemical tanker 2, combination ore/oil 4, container 24, liquefied gas 5, multi-functional large-load carrier 15, passenger 1, refrigerated cargo 24, roll on/roll off 7


note: includes foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: Belgium 3, Denmark 2, Germany 43, Monaco 8, Netherlands 52, New Zealand 1, Norway 3, Peru 1, Spain 1, Sweden 3, United Kingdom 5 (2002 est.)
total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 234,599 GRT/336,528 DWT


ships by type: bulk 3, cargo 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 1, includes a foreign-owned ship registered here as a flag of convenience: Kuwait 1 (2002 est.)
Military - note defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands -
Military branches no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy, Marine Corps, Royal Netherlands Air Force, National Guard, Police Force Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF) comprising Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Police Force, Amiri Guards, National Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $526.2 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 6.7% (FY01)
Military manpower - availability males age 15-49: 54,752 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 222,242 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service males age 15-49: 30,642 (2002 est.) males age 15-49: 121,739 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age 20 years of age (2002 est.) 15 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually males: 1,610 (2002 est.) males: 6,126 (2003 est.)
National holiday Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April 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
Nationality noun: Dutch Antillean(s)


adjective: Dutch Antillean
noun: Bahraini(s)


adjective: Bahraini
Natural hazards Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October periodic droughts; dust storms
Natural resources phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only) oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Net migration rate -0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) 1.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Pipelines - gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2003)
Political parties and leaders Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Miguel POURIER]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA]; National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramon BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard Hodi]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT]


note: political parties are indigenous to each island
political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed
Political pressure groups and leaders NA 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
Population 214,258 (July 2002 est.) 667,238


note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line NA% NA%
Population growth rate 0.93% (2002 est.) 1.61% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors Kralendijk, Philipsburg, Willemstad Manama, Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Radio broadcast stations AM 9, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998) AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios 217,000 (1997) -
Railways 0 km (2002) 0 km
Religions Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Seventh-Day Adventist Shi'a Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30%
Sex ratio at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female


total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2002 est.)
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.42 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female


total population: 1.28 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system general assessment: generally adequate facilities


domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links


international: submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
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)
Telephones - main lines in use 76,000 (1995) 152,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular 13,977 (1996) 58,543 (1997)
Television broadcast stations 3 (there is also a cable service which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (1997) 4 (1997)
Terrain generally hilly, volcanic interiors mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Total fertility rate 2.06 children born/woman (2002 est.) 2.71 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate 15% (1998 est.) 15% (1998 est.)
Waterways none none
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