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Compare Paracel Islands (2006) - Bahrain (2005)

Compare Paracel Islands (2006) z Bahrain (2005)

 Paracel Islands (2006)Bahrain (2005)
 Paracel IslandsBahrain
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
Age structure - 0-14 years: 27.8% (male 96,807/female 94,863)


15-64 years: 68.7% (male 275,792/female 197,424)


65 years and over: 3.4% (male 12,078/female 11,381) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products - fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Airports 1 (2006) 4 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
total: 3


over 3,047 m: 2


1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways - total: 1


1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area total: NA sq km


land: NA sq km


water: 0 sq km
total: 665 sq km


land: 665 sq km


water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative NA 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Background The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. 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 - 18.1 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget - revenues: $3.825 billion


expenditures: $3.262 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2004 est.)
Capital - Manama
Climate tropical arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Coastline 518 km 161 km
Constitution - new constitution 14 February 2002
Country name conventional long form: none


conventional short form: Paracel Islands
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain


conventional short form: Bahrain


local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn


local short form: Al Bahrayn


former: Dilmun
Death rate - 4.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external - $6.215 billion (2004 est.)
Diplomatic representation from the US - chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE


embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama


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


telephone: [973] 1724-2700


FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular)
Diplomatic representation in the US - chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir al-BALUSHI


chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008


telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111


FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192


consulate(s) general: New York
Disputes - international occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam none
Economic aid - recipient - $150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)
Economy - overview China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism. In well-to-do 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. A large share of exports consist 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. In September 2004 Bahrain signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States - the first such agreement undertaken by a Gulf state. Both countries must ratify the FTA before it is enforced.
Electricity - consumption - 6.379 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports - 0 kWh (2002)
Electricity - production - 6.86 billion kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes lowest point: South China Sea 0 m


highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 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 - Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)
Exchange rates - Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001), 0.376 (2000)
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
Exports - NA
Exports - commodities - petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles
Exports - partners - Saudi Arabia 3%, US 2.9%, UAE 2.2% (2004)
Fiscal year - calendar year
Flag description - red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam
GDP - composition by sector - agriculture: 0.7%


industry: 41%


services: 58.4% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita - purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate - 5.6% (2004 est.)
Geographic coordinates 16 30 N, 112 00 E 26 00 N, 50 33 E
Geography - note composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Heliports - 1 (2004 est.)
Highways - total: 3,459 km


paved: 2,653 km


unpaved: 806 km (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share - lowest 10%: NA


highest 10%: NA
Imports - NA
Imports - commodities - crude oil, machinery, chemicals
Imports - partners - Saudi Arabia 32.4%, Japan 7.3%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.6%, UK 5.4%, France 4.8% (2004)
Independence - 15 August 1971 (from UK)
Industrial production growth rate - 2% (2000 est.)
Industries - petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism
Infant mortality rate - total: 17.27 deaths/1,000 live births


male: 20.17 deaths/1,000 live births


female: 14.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) - 2.1% (2004 est.)
International organization participation - ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), 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
Irrigated land 0 sq km 50 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch - High Civil Appeals Court
Labor force - 370,000


note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation - agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.)
Land boundaries 0 km 0 km
Land use arable land: 0%


permanent crops: 0%


other: 100% (2005)
arable land: 2.82%


permanent crops: 5.63%


other: 91.55% (2001)
Languages - Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
Legal system - based on Islamic law and English common law
Legislative branch - 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: 74.23 years


male: 71.76 years


female: 76.78 years (2005 est.)
Literacy - definition: age 15 and over can read and write


total population: 89.1%


male: 91.9%


female: 85% (2003 est.)
Location Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Map references Southeast Asia Middle East
Maritime claims NA territorial sea: 12 nm


contiguous zone: 24 nm


continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined
Merchant marine - total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT


by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 1


foreign-owned: 2 (Kuwait 2) (2005)
Military - note occupied by China -
Military branches - Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard
Military expenditures - dollar figure - $628.9 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP - 6.3% (2004)
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
Nationality - noun: Bahraini(s)


adjective: Bahraini
Natural hazards typhoons periodic droughts; dust storms
Natural resources none oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Net migration rate - 1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Pipelines - gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)
Political parties and leaders - political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed
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
Population no indigenous inhabitants


note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons
688,345


note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line - NA
Population growth rate - 1.51% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors - Mina' Salman, Sitrah
Radio broadcast stations - AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)
Religions - Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Sex ratio - at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female


under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female


15-64 years: 1.4 male(s)/female


65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female


total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal
Telephone system - general assessment: modern system


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


international: country code - 973; 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 - 185,800 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular - 443,100 (2003)
Television broadcast stations - 4 (1997)
Terrain mostly low and flat mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Total fertility rate - 2.63 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate - 15% (1998 est.)
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