Bahrain

al-Mamlakat al-Bahrayn

Political Status: Independent emirate proclaimed August 15, 1971; constitution adopted December 6, 1973; constitutional monarchy established on February 14, 2002, under constitutional amendment decreed by the emir in purported accordance with National Action Charter endorsed by national referendum on February 14–15, 2001.

Area: 258 sq. mi. (668 sq. km).

Population: 1,569,439 (2019E—World Bank); 1,474,016 (2019E—U.S. Census).

[Page 120]Major Urban Center (2019E—World Population Review): MANAMA (157,000)

Official Language: Arabic.

Monetary Unit: Bahraini Dinar (official rate September 30, 2020: .38 dinar = $1 U.S.).

Sovereign: King Sheikh Hamad bin Isa al-KHALIFA, descendant of a ruling dynasty that dates from 1782; succeeded to the throne as emir on March 6, 1999, upon the death of his father, Sheikh Isa bin Salman al-KHALIFA; proclaimed himself king under constitutional amendment adopted on February ...