Bahrain

THE BAHRAIN ARCHIPELAGO is located in the Persian Gulf. Now that oil reserves are diminishing, Bahrain has begun placing greater emphasis on petroleum processing and refining, which account for 60 percent of government revenues and 30 percent of the Gross Domestic Product. Bahrain has become an international banking center with well-developed communication and transport facilities, and a number of multinational firms are now headquartered in the country. As a member of the volatile Middle Eastern community of nations, Bahrain is careful to maintain balance in foreign affairs. In 2001, Amir Isa Al Khalifa launched a program designed to liberalize the politics and economy of Bahrain. The following year, he proclaimed himself king.

With a healthy per capita income of $19,200, Bahrain is considered an upper-income nation. Some 79 percent of the Bahraini labor force are involved in industry, commerce, and services, and only one percent is engaged in agriculture. Approximately 15 percent of the people are unemployed. Bahrain's constitution contains a guarantee that the government must provide social security and other protections against ignorance, poverty, and fear to all citizens. Monthly stipends are paid to widows and orphans, and some 10,000 families receive government assistance. No poverty rate for Bahrain is available.

Bahrain's population of 688,345 enjoys a life expectancy of 74.23 years, with women generally outliving men by more than five years. Life expectancy has been steadily rising over the last several years. In 1999, the projected life span was 66 years for males and 70 years for females. The median age in Bahrain is 29.19 years. Almost 28 percent of the population are under the age of 14, and 3.4 percent have reached the age of 65. The Bahraini population has universal access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation, and healthcare is widely accessible. There are 169 physicians for every 100,000 people, and only five percent of the population lack regular access to essential drugs.

In 2005, the Bahraini infant mortality rate was estimated at 17.27 deaths per 1,000 live births. Female infants have a distinct advantage over male infants at 12.28 deaths per 1,000 live births as compared to 20.17 for males. In 2003, overall infant mortality was recorded at 12 deaths per 1,000 live births, and the mortality rate of all children under the age of 5 was reported at 15 per 1,000. Nine percent of Bahraini children under the age of 5 are malnourished, and nine percent of infants are underweight at birth. Ten percent of under-5s suffer from moderate to severe stunting, and five percent experience moderate to severe wasting. Childhood immunizations range from 99 to 100 percent.

Fertility rates have been substantially reduced in Bahrain over the last several decades. In the 1970s, the fertility rate was reported at 5.9 children per woman. By 2005, that number had dropped to 2.63. Adolescent fertility is 15 per 1,000 births. Over 60 percent of all [Page 63]women use some sort of contraceptives. Bahraini women receive medical care free of charge, and professional staff are present at 98 percent of all births. Using modeled estimates for 2000, the maternal mortality rate is predictably low at 28 deaths per 100,000 live births.

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