Читать книгу The 2010 CIA World Factbook - United States. Central Intelligence Agency - Страница 168

Flag description:

red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

note: until 2002 the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag

National anthem:

name: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)

lyrics/music: unknown

note: adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom

Economy ::Bahrain

Economy - overview:

Bahrain is one of the most diversified economies in the Persian Gulf. Highly developed communication and transport facilities make Bahrain home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. Bahrain's economy, however, continues to depend heavily on oil. Petroleum production and refining account for more than 60% of Bahrain's export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 11% of GDP (exclusive of allied industries). Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil - finance, and construction. Bahrain competes with Malaysia as a worldwide center for Islamic banking and continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. Unemployment, especially among the young, is a long-term economic problem Bahrain struggles to address. In 2009, to help lower unemployment among Bahraini nationals, Bahrain reduced sponsorship for expatriate workers, increasing the costs of employing foreign labor. The global financial crisis caused funding for many non-oil projects to dry up and resulted in slower economic growth for Bahrain. Other challenges facing Bahrain include the slow growth of government debt as a result of a large subsidy program, the financing of large government projects, and debt restructuring, such as the bailout of state-owned Gulf Air.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$29.82 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $28.7 billion (2009 est.)

$27.83 billion (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate):

$21.73 billion (2010 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.9% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 84 3.1% (2009 est.)

6.3% (2008 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$40,400 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 19 $39,400 (2009 est.)

$38,700 (2008 est.)

note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.5%

industry: 56.6%

services: 42.9% (2010 est.)

Labor force:

611,000 country comparison to the world: 154 note: 44% of the population in the 15–64 age group is non-national (2010 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1%

industry: 79%

services: 20% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15% (2005 est.) country comparison to the world: 148

Population below poverty line: