GeoFroggy

View Large Map

Background

In 1783, the Sunni Al-Khalifa family took power in Bahrain. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. A steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy, in the process developing petroleum processing and refining, aluminum production, and hospitality and retail sectors. It has also endeavored to become a leading regional banking center, especially with respect to Islamic finance. Bahrain's small size, central location among Gulf countries, economic dependence on Saudi Arabia, and proximity to Iran require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Its foreign policy activities usually fall in line with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.; The Sunni royal family has long struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. In early 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government confronted similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces to Bahrain. Political talks throughout 2014 between the government and opposition and loyalist political groups failed to reach an agreement, prompting opposition political societies to boycott legislative and municipal council elections in late 2014. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces.;

Location

Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Area Comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Maritime Claims

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Climate

Arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Natural Hazards

Periodic droughts; dust storms

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); lowered water table leaves aquifers vulnerable to saline contamination; desalinization provides some 90% of the country's freshwater

Environment International Agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

Signed, but not ratified: None of the selected agreements

Geography Note

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

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

Middle East

Irrigated Land

40 sq km

Area 2018

Total

760 sq km
Land

760 sq km
Water

0 sq km

Coastline

161 km;

Geographical Coordinates

26 00 N, 50 33 E

Land use 2018

Agricultural Land
11.3%
Arable Land
2.1%
Forest
0.7%
Other
88%

Terrain

Mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Land Boundaries

0 km;

Natural Resources

Oil
Associated and nonassociated natural gas

Fish
Pearls

Bahrain