iddle Eastern crude oil sources;
strategic location in Persian Gulf through which much of Western
world's crude oil must transit to reach open ocean

_*_People
_#_Population: 536,974 (July 1991), growth rate 3.2% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 27 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 3 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 7 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 17 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 71 years male, 76 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 4.0 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Bahraini(s); adjective--Bahraini

_#_Ethnic divisions: Bahraini 63%, Asian 13%, other Arab 10%,
Iranian 8%, other 6%

_#_Religion: Muslim (Shia 70%, Sunni 30%)

_#_Language: Arabic (official); English also widely spoken; Farsi,
Urdu

_#_Literacy: 77% (male 82%, female 69%) age 15 and over can
read and write (1990 est.)

_#_Labor force: 140,000; 42% of labor force is Bahraini; industry
and commerce 85%, agriculture 5%, services 5%, government 3% (1982)

_#_Organized labor: General Committee for Bahrain Workers exists in
only eight major designated companies

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: State of Bahrain

_#_Type: traditional monarchy

_#_Capital: Manama

_#_Administrative divisions: 12 municipalities (baladiyat,
singular--baladiyah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah,
Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta,
Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq,
Ar Rifa wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs,
Madinat Hamad, Madinat Isa, Mintaqat Juzur Hawar,
Sitrah

_#_Independence: 15 August 1971 (from UK)

_#_Constitution: 26 May 1973, effective 6 December 1973

_#_Legal system: based on Islamic law and English common law

_#_National holiday: National Day, 16 December

_#_Executive branch: amir, crown prince and heir apparent, prime
minister, Cabinet

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly was dissolved
26 August 1975 and legislative powers were assumed by the Cabinet

_#_Judicial branch: High Civil Appeals Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--Amir Isa bin Salman Al KHALIFA (since
2 November 1961); Heir Apparent Hamad bin Isa Al KHALIFA (son of Amir;
born 28 January 1950);

Head of Government--Prime Minister Khalifa bin Salman Al KHALIFA,
(since 19 January 1970)

_#_Political parties and pressure groups: political parties
prohibited; several small, cla