Bahrain

Bahrain

In a region currently experiencing an oil boom of unprecedented proportions, Bahrain is the fastest growing economy in the Arab world. Bahrain also has the freest economy in the Middle East and is twenty-fifth freest overall in the world.

 

In Bahrain, petroleum production and processing account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Persian Gulf. A large share of exports consists of petroleum products made from imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects.

In 2004, Bahrain signed the US-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, which will reduce certain barriers to trade between the two nations.

 

Total GDP: $26.82 billion (2008 est.)

 

GDP Growth Rate: 6.3% (2008 est.)

 

GDP Per Capita: $37,300 (2008 est.)

 

Population: 727,785 (July 2009 est.)

 

Population Growth Rate: 1.285% (2009 est.)

 

Fertility Rate: 2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)

 

Age Structure:

0-14 years: 25.9% (male 95,224/female 93,241)

15-64 years: 70.2% (male 292,941/female 217,729)

65 years and over: 3.9% (male 15,106/female 13,544)

(2009 est.)

 

Source: CIA World Factbook