Bahrain, which is officially known as the Kingdom of Bahrain, is a small country in the Middle East. Located east of Saudi Arabia, it lies on an archipelago in the Persian Gulf. After gaining independence from the United Kingdom on the 15th of August 1971, Bahrain now uses a parliamentary and constitutional monarchy. Currently King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa oversee the country of 1,343,000 people. The country stretches over 780 km2 of land.


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General Information
Official Name: 
Kingdom of Bahrain, مملكة البحرين (Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn)
Capitol: 
Manama
Population: 
1,198,000
Languages: 
Arabic
Geographic Region: 
Asia
Western Asia
Geographic Size (km sq): 
780
Year of UN Membership: 
1971
Year of Present State Formation: 
1971
Current UN Representative: 
Jamal Fares Alrowaiei
Online Profiles
CIA World Factbook Country Profile: Bahrain
BBC Country Profile: Bahrain
U.S. Department of State Country Profile: Bahrain
U.S. Library of Congress Country Profile: Bahrain
Law Library of Congress Country Profile: Bahrain
Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade County Profile: Bahrain
Australia Department of Foreign Affairs Countries, Economies and Regions: Bahrain
National Geographic Country Profile: Bahrain
Lonely Planet Country Profile: Bahrain
Key Statistics & Indicators
Gross Domestic Product (GDP, Nominal): 
$33.494 Billion
Per Capita Income (PPP Adjusted): 
$36,039 (CID)
GDP Growth: 
4.40 (%)
Human Development Index (HDI): 
0.82
Unemployment: 
7.40%
Economic Grouping: 
Developing Country
Small Island Developing State
History
BBC Timeline of Bahrain, 1913-Present
Constitutional History of Bahrain
Legal History of Bahrain
International Relations
UN Voting Blocs & Caucuses: 
Group of 77 (G-77)
Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)
Islamic Group
Arab Group
Asian Group
Major International & Regional Organizations: 
ABEDA: Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
AFESD: Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development
AMF: Arab Monetary Fund
CAEU: Council of Arab Economic Unity
CICA: Conference of Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia
GCC: Gulf Cooperation Council
ICC: International Chamber of Commerce
ICRM: International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
IDB: Islamic Development Bank
IFRCS: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IHO: International Hydrographic Organization
IMSO: International Mobile Satellite Organization
Interpol: International Criminal Police Organization
IOC: International Olympic Committee
IOM: International Organization for Migration
IPU: Inter-Parliamentary Union
ISO: International Organization for Standardization
ITSO: International Telecommunications Satellite Organization
ITUC: International Trade Union Confederation
LAS/AL: League of Arab States, aka Arab League
OAPEC: Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
OIC: Organization of Islamic Cooperation
PCA: Permanent Court of Arbitration
WCO: World Customs Organization
WFTU: World Federation of Trade Unions
UN Specialized Agencies & Organizations: 
CTBTO: Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
IAEA: International Atomic Energy Agency
IBRD: International Bank for Reconstruction and Development
ICAO: International Civil Aviation Organization
ICSID: International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes
IFC: International Finance Corporation
ILO: International Labor Organization
IMF: International Monetary Fund
IMO: International Maritime Organization
ITU: International Telecommunications Union
MIGA: Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency
OPCW: Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
UNWTO: United Nations World Tourism Organization
UPU: Universal Postal Union
WBG: World Bank Group
WHO: World Health Organization
WIPO: World Intellectual Property Organization
WMO: World Meteorological Organization
WTO: World Trade Organization
Bilateral Relations
Security Council: 
U.S. Department of State Fact Sheets: US-Bahrain Bilateral Relations
U.K. Gov.UK Worldwide Activities: UK-Bahrain Bilateral Relations
French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development: France-Bahrain Bilateral Relations
P.R. of China Ministry of Foreign Affairs: China-Bahrain Bilateral Relations
Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs: News, Statements, Speeches and Documents
Asia (E/S/SE): 
Japan-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Korea-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Republic of Korea Ministry of Foreign Affairs
India-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Government of India Ministry of External Affairs Briefs
Vietnam-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Viet Nam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Africa & Middle East: 
Turkey-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Armenia-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia
Egypt-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Arab Republic of Egypt Ministry of Foreign Affairs
South Africa-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: South Africa International Relations & Cooperation
European Union: 
EU-Bahrain Relations: E.U. External Action, European Union Around the Globe
Germany-Bahrain Relations: Federal Foreign Office of Germany
Netherlands-Bahrain Relations: Government of the Netherlands International Relations
Finland-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Greece-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Hellenic Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Western (Non-EU): 
Canada-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Government of Canada International Gateway, Offices & Embassies
Australia-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Country Briefs
New Zealand-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Switzerland-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Swiss Confederation Federal Department of Foreign Affairs
Monaco-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Principauté de Monaco, Monaco Worldwide
Latin America & Caribbean : 
Cuba-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Cuba MinRex, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Brazil-Bahrain Bilateral Relations: Brasil Ministério das Relações Exteriores (in Portuguese)
United Nations Data
UNData: Bahrain
UNAIDS: Bahrain HIV Report
UN Cartographic Office: Bahrain Map
UNCTAD: Bahrain Fact Sheet
UNDSD: National Reports
UN Office of the High Representative for small island developing states (UN-OHRLLS) country profiles: Bahrain
News Sources
BBC News Country Media Profile: Bahrain
The Guardian World News Stories: Bahrain
New York Times Countries & Regions News: Bahrain
The Economist Topics Index: Bahrain
World News Report: Bahrain
Topix Real Time News and Updates: Bahrain
ABYZ Newspapers and Media Guide: Bahrain
Government Sources
Kingdom of Bahrain Official Website
Kingdom of Bahrain Ministry of Foreign Affairs
UN Mission
Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations
866 2nd Avenue #14
New York, NY 10017
(212) 223-6200
(212) 319-0687, 223-6206
bahrain1@un.int
Nearest Transit Stop: 
Grand Central Terminal

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