Bahrain
Bahrain (/bɑːˈreɪn/ ⓘ bah-RAYN, /bæxˈreɪn/; Arabic: البحرين, romanized: al-Baḥrayn, locally [æl bɑħˈreːn] ⓘ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, is an island country in West Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an additional 33 artificial islands, centered on Bahrain Island which makes up around 83 per cent of the country's landmass. Bahrain is situated between Qatar and the northeastern coast of Saudi Arabia, to which it is connected by the King Fahd Causeway. The current population of Bahrain is 1,501,635 as of May 14, 2023, based on elaborations of the latest United Nations data, of whom 712,362 are Bahraini nationals. Bahrain spans some 760 square kilometres (290 sq mi), and is the third-smallest nation in Asia after the Maldives and Singapore. The capital and largest city is Manama.
Kingdom of Bahrain | |
|---|---|
| Anthem: بحريننا Baḥraynunā Our Bahrain | |
Location of Bahrain (in green) | |
| Capital and largest city | Manama 26°13′N 50°35′E |
| Official languages | Arabic |
| Ethnic groups (2020) | |
| Religion (2021) |
|
| Demonym(s) | Bahraini |
| Government | Unitary Islamic parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy |
• King | Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
| Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa | |
| Legislature | National Assembly |
| Consultative Council | |
| Council of Representatives | |
| Establishment | |
| 1783 | |
• Declared Independence | 14 August 1971 |
• Independence from United Kingdom | 15 August 1971 |
| 21 September 1971 | |
| 14 February 2002 | |
| Area | |
• Total | 786.5 km2 (303.7 sq mi) (173rd) |
• Water (%) | negligible |
| Population | |
• 2021 estimate | 1,463,265 (149th) |
• 2020 census | 1,501,635 |
• Density | 1,864/km2 (4,827.7/sq mi) (6th) |
| GDP (PPP) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $95.973 billion (101st) |
• Per capita | $60,715 (23rd) |
| GDP (nominal) | 2023 estimate |
• Total | $44.994 billion (97th) |
• Per capita | $28,464 (39th) |
| HDI (2021) | 0.875 very high · 35th |
| Currency | Bahraini dinar (BHD) |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (AST) |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | +973 |
| ISO 3166 code | BH |
| Internet TLD | .bh |
Website bahrain | |
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Bahrain is the site of the ancient Dilmun civilization. It has been famed since antiquity for its pearl fisheries, which were considered the best in the world into the 19th century. Bahrain was one of the earliest areas to be influenced by Islam, during the lifetime of Muhammad in 628 AD. Following a period of Arab rule, Bahrain was ruled by the Portuguese Empire from 1521 until 1602, when they were expelled by Shah Abbas the Great of the Safavid Iran. In 1783, the Bani Utbah clan captured Bahrain from Nasr Al-Madhkur and it has since been ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family, with Ahmed al Fateh as Bahrain's first hakim.
In the late 1800s, following successive treaties with the British, Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom. In 1971, it declared independence. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared an Islamic constitutional monarchy in 2002.
Bahrain developed the first post-oil economy in the Persian Gulf, the result of decades of investing in the banking and tourism sectors; many of the world's largest financial institutions have a presence in the country's capital. It is recognised by the World Bank as a high-income economy. Bahrain is a member of the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, Arab League, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Bahrain is a Dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.