Economy Overview
Petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of Bahrain's 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 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. In 2005 Bahrain and the US ratified a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state.
Agriculture Products
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish
Industries
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing, tourism
Industrial Production Growth Rate
2% (2000 est.)
Electricity production
7.345 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity Consumption
6.83 billion kWh (2003)
Electricity Exports
0 kWh (2003)
Electricity Imports
0 kWh (2003)
Unemployment Rate
15% (2005 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line
NA%
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: NA%
Highest 10%: NA%
Budget
Revenues: $4.662 billion
Expenditures: $3.447 billion; including capital expenditures of $700 million (2005 est.)
Public Debt
33.5% of GDP (2005 est.)
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
$2.432 billion (2005 est.)
Debt External
$6.814 billion (2005 est.)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
Exchange Rates
Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2005), 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001)
