General
Profile
Location: Middle East, archipelago in
the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia Area: total: 665
sq km land: 665 sq km water: 0 sq km Climate: arid;
mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers Terrain:
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central
escarpment Capital: Manama Administrative divisions: 12
municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); 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, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah note: all
municipalities administered from Manama Population:
688,345 (2005 est.) Ethnic groups: Bahraini 62.4%,
non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census) Nationality: noun:
Bahraini(s) adjective: Bahraini Languages: Arabic,
English, Farsi, Urdu Religions: Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni)
81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census) Literacy:
89.1% |