State of Bahrain
Government: Constitutional monarchy
Geography: Bahrain is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The islands for the most part are level expanses of sand and rock. A causeway connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia.
Area: 257 sq mi (665 sq km)
Population (2003 est.): 667,238 (growth rate: 1.5%); birth rate: 19.0/1000; infant mortality rate: 18.6/1000; density per sq mi: 2,599
Capital and largest city (2003 est.): Al-Manámah, 527,000 (metro area), 149,900 (city proper)
Monetary unit: Bahrain dinar
Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
Ethnicity/race: Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab 10%, Iranian 8%
Religion: Islam (Shi'ite 70%, Sunni 30%)
Agriculture: fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish.
Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism.
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls.