And Now.... BAHRAIN
Data Page
Bahrain's economy has widened its base enormously in recent decades. In 1973, oil drilling (a primary-sector industry) accounted for more than 63 percent of Bahrain's gross domestic product. Today, however, the country's secondary sector (product development) and tertiary sector (services) provide more than 95 percent of its GDP. Bahrain is now the principal financial center for much of the Arab world. Among its neighbors, it is a leader in communications and information technology, too.
Here's a profile of Bahrain and its economy in the new millennium:
| Area | Almost the size of New York City |
| Population | 656,000 |
| Ethnic Groups | Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, Iranian 8%, Other 10% |
| Major Religion | Islam |
| Major Languages | Arabic, English |
| Industries | Petroleum refining, Aluminum smelting, Banking and other financial services, Ship repair, Tourism, Telecommunications |
| Gross Domestic Product * (2001) | $8.4 billion |
| Exports (2001) | $5.5 billion |
| Imports (2001) | $4.5 billion |
| Trading Partners | Saudi Arabia, USA, India, Japan, UK, France, UAE |
Source: CIA World Factbook 2002. * Bahrain's gross domestic product (GDP) is reported in terms of its purchasing-power parity (ppp). That's the dollar value of the universal "basket" of goods and services that Bahrain's GDP earnings could buy (within Bahrain, at Bahraini prices).
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© Learning Enrichment, Inc. Content last updated: September 2002. Page last reviewed: September 2002.