ndestine leftist and Shia fundamentalist
groups are active

_#_Suffrage: none

_#_Elections: none

_#_Communists: negligible

_#_Member of: ABEDA, AFESD, AL, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD,
ICAO, IDB, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (correspondent),
ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO,
WMO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Ghazi Muhammad AL-QUSAYBI;
Chancery at 3502 International Drive NW, Washington DC 20008; telephone
(202) 342-0741 or 342-0742; there is a Bahraini Consulate General in
New York;

US--Ambassador Dr. Charles W. HOSTLER; Embassy at Building
No. 979, Road No. 3119, Block/Area 331, Manama ZINJ (mailing address is
P. O. 26431, Manama, or FPO New York 09526-6210); telephone [973]
273-300 or 275-126

_#_Flag: red with a white serrated band (eight white points) on the
hoist side

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: Petroleum production and processing account for
about 85% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 20% of GDP.
Economic conditions have fluctuated with the changing fortunes of oil
since 1985, including the Gulf crisis of 1990-91. The liberation of
Kuwait in early 1991 has improved short- to medium-term prospects and
has raised investors' confidence. Bahrain with its highly developed
communication and transport facilities is home to numerous
multinational firms with business in the Gulf.

_#_GDP: $3.9 billion, per capita $7,500; real growth rate 2.5%
(1990 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 1.5% (1989)

_#_Unemployment: 8-10% (1989)

_#_Budget: revenues $1.2 billion; expenditures $1.32 billion,
including capital expenditures of $NA (1989)

_#_Exports: $2.7 billion (f.o.b., 1989 est.);

commodities--petroleum 80%, aluminum 7%, other 13%;

partners--UAE, Japan, US, India

_#_Imports: $3.0 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--nonoil 59%, crude oil 41%;

partners--Saudi Arabia, Japan, US, UK

_#_External debt: $1.1 billion (December 1989 est.)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate 3.8% (1988); accounts for
44% of GDP

_#_Electricity: 1,652,000 kW capacity; 6,000 million kWh produced,
12,080 kWh per capita (1989)

_#_Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting,
offshore banking, ship repairing

_#_Agriculture: including fishing, accounts for less than 2% of GDP;
not self-sufficient in food production; heavily subsidized sector
produces fruit, veg