Bahrain Society

Demography

Its population is 698,585 residents, composed mainly of Arabs, with nuclei of Hindus, Pakistanis and Iranians.

Culture

According to andyeducation, Bahrain is often described as an “open Middle East”, since it mixes an infrastructure of extreme modernity with a definitely Persian identity, only that unlike other nations in the area, its wealth is not only a reflection of the magnitude of its oil wealth, but is also linked to economic exchange with Saudi Arabia and the creation of a native middle-class population. This unique fact means that Bahrain tends to be more liberal than its neighbors.

Bahrain, which was the first state in the Gulf that authorized the construction of a Catholic church in its territory, in Christmas of 1939, 70 years ago now, in 2009 the king of Bahrain, Hamad bin Isa to the land donated for the construction of another Catholic church after last December 18 Benedict XVI received the credentials of the first ambassador of Bahrain to the Vatican, Naser Muhamed Youssef At the Belooshi.

There is also a synagogue built by Jews from Iraq where a large Jewish community existed until the creation of Israel. At the beginning of the 20th century A Jewish community of about 1,500 people moved to Bahrain along with other families from Baghdad. Most of them settled in Israel, once the Jewish authorities promoted the diaspora. The 40 Jews who remained in the Gulf Kingdom can practice their religion without restrictions and have their own synagogue and cemetery, although they cannot travel to Israel, as that country does not have relations with Bahrain. Another facet that illustrates Bahrain’s status in terms of openness has to do with the fact that it is the most prolific country in terms of book publishing within the Arab world, with 132 published titles.

Religion

The Islam is the majority religion (65/70% Shiite, 15% Sunni holds power), although there are also small communities of different religions (10% of Catholics and about 40 Jews). Bahrainis are noted for their tolerance, making it possible to see mosques alongside two churches.

Sports

Bahrain’s main sporting activities are related to soccer and car competitions.

Soccer

The Bahrain Premier League is the top national football competition. It has been played since 1957, when its first edition was held.

The clubs with the highest number of championships won are the Muharraq Club with thirty-one titles and the Bahrain Riffa Club with nine. They are followed by the Bahrain Club and the Al-Ahli Club respectively with five and four. The main sports and football venue is the Bahrain National Stadium, where the national team plays at home.

Stats

Demography

• Population: 751 320 (2007).
• Annual growth: 3.2% (1985-2000).
• Estimate for the year 2015: 852 161 000 (2004).
• Annual growth towards 2015: 1.6% (2004).
• Population density: 1058 residents per km² (2007).
• Urban population: 90.5% (2007).
• Urban growth: 1.9% (2005-2010).
• Estimate of the urban population in 2015: 91.4% (2004).

Health

• Life expectancy at birth: 75 years (2005-2010).
• Life expectancy at birth, males: 74 years (2005-2010).
• Life expectancy at birth, female: 77 years (2005-2010).
• Global fertility rate: 2.3 children per woman (2005-2010).
• Crude birth rate: 16 births per 1000 residents (2005-2010).
• Crude mortality rate: 3 deaths per 1000 residents (2005-2010).
• Women in a couple aged 15-49 years who use contraceptives: 62% (1996-2004).
• Maternal mortality: 28 per 100,000 live births (2000).
• Births attended by qualified personnel: 98% (1996-2004).
• Mortality in children under 1 year: 9 per 1000 live births (2004).
• Mortality in children under 5 years of age: 11 per 1000 live births (2004).
• Newborns with underweight, 2500 g: 8% (1998-2004).
• Child malnutrition: 9% in children under 5 years of age (1996-2004).
• Mothers who breastfeed up to 6 months: 34% (1996-2004).
• Doctors: 160 per 100,000 people (1990-2004).
• Nurses: 404 per 100,000 people (2004).

Education

• Adult literacy: 88% (2000-2004).
• Male adult literacy: 92% (2000-2004).
• Female adult literacy: 83% (2000-2004).
• Net enrollment in primary education: 97% (2004).
• Net male enrollment in primary education: 96% (2004).
• Net female enrollment in primary education: 97% (2004).
• Net enrollment in secondary education: 90% (2004).
• Net male enrollment in secondary education: 93% (2004).
• Net female enrollment in secondary education: 87% (2004).
• Gross enrollment in tertiary education: 34% (2004).
• Number of children per teacher, primary: 16 (2002).

Communications

• Radios: 78 per 1000 people (2000).
• Televisions: 428 per 1000 people (2002).
• Telephone lines: 267.6 per 1000 people (2004).

Economy

• GNI per capita: USD 14,370 Atlas Method (2004).
• GDP per capita: 20,758 PPP USD (2004).
• Annual GDP growth rate: 5.4% (2004).
• Annual inflation: 7.7% (2004).
• Consumer price index: 1.6 all items 1995 = 100 (2003).
• Total net of Official Development Assistance received: 38 million US $ (2003).
• Total net of Official Development Assistance received: 53 U $ S per capita (2003).
• Energy consumption: 10 252.7 oil equivalent / kg (2003).
• Energy imports: –116.0% of consumption (2003).
• Public spending on health: 3.2% of GDP (2002).
• Defense spending: 4.3% of GDP (2004).

Land use

• Arable land: 2.8% of total land (2003).
• Crops: 5.6% of total land (2003).
• Other land uses: 91.6% of total land
• Irrigated land: 66.7% of arable land (2003).
• Use of fertilizers: 500 kg per hectare (2002).

Job

• Economically active population: 44.2% of the total (2004).
• Economically active female population: 19% of the economically active population (2004).

Commerce

• Imports of goods and services: US $ 7,069 million (2004).
• Export of goods and services: 9179 million U $ S (2004).
• Cereal imports: 97,535 tonnes (2004).
• Per capita food production index: 99.0 1999-2001 = 100 (2005).
• Food imports: 8.1% of total imports (2005).
• Arms imports: US $ 10 million at 1990 values (2004).
• Arms exports: 0 million US $ at 1990 values (2004).

Status of women

• Women in professional and technical positions: 19% of positions (1992-2003).
• Women legislators, senior officials and managers: 10% of positions (1992-2003).
• Estimated income gap between women and men: 0.31 (1991-2003).
• Women in government positions at the ministerial level: 8.7% of positions (2005).
• Women in parliamentary benches: 0% of seats (2005).

Society

• People: the residents of Bahrain are of Arab origin. The oil industry has attracted large Iranian, Indian and Pakistani immigration
• Religion: Islamic 85% (of which the great part is Shiite and the rest is Sunni); Christians make up 8.5% of the population. Minority religions include Judaism, Hinduism, Bahai, and others. Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
• Main political parties: National Islamic Accord Association (INAA), Bahrain Liberation Front, Arab Socialist Baath Party, Arab Nationalist Movement
• Main social organizations: General Union of Bahrain Workers, Bahrain Society for Human Rights, Bahrain Women’s Union

The state

• Administrative division: 12 municipalities
• Capital: Manama (Al-Manamah) 139,000 residents (2003).
• Other cities (in 2000): Al-Muharraq (81,800 residents); Ar-Raffle ‘(82,000); Madinat ‘Isa (61 600).
• Government: Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al-Khalifah, Emir since March 1999 and King since February 2002; Khalifah ibn Salman Al Khalifah, prime minister since January 1970, assisted by an 11-member cabinet. The National Assembly (partially elected by popular vote), was dissolved in August 1975. The two-chamber National Assembly was re-established after parliamentary elections in October 2002.
• National holiday: August 15, Independence (1971); December 16, Fatherland Day
• Armed forces: 7150. Others: Coast Guard: 400; Police: 9000.