People in Bahrain
Bahrain is one of the most densely populated countries in the Middle East; about 89% of the population lives in the two principal cities of Manama and Muharraq. Approximately 48% of the indigenous population is originally from the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. Bahrain currently has a sizeable foreign labor force (about 50% of the total population). The government’s policies on naturalization remain controversial. In June 2002, the King issued a decree allowing citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to take up dual Bahraini nationality.
two girls& one boy in traditional old clothes
The indigenous population is 98% Muslim. The small indigenous Christian and Jewish communities make up the remaining 2% of the population. The Jews have a cemetery and a synagogue in Bahrain, as well as the Christians they have their own churches. Roughly half of foreign resident community are non-Muslim, and include Christians, Hindus, Baha’is, Buddhists and Sikhs. about 50% of the population are foreigners, where Indians, Iranians, Pakistanis, as well as Europeans and Americans all make up considerable groups. This makes Bahrain a highly cosmopolitan society. Bahrainis themselves are very friendly people, renowned for their warmth and hospitality.
Two Bahraini Arabs with Indian man
Bahrain has invested its oil revenues in developing an advanced educational system. The first public schools for girls and boys were opened in the 1910s. The government continues to pay for all schooling costs. Although school attendance is not compulsory, primary and secondary attendance rates are high, and literacy rates are currently among the highest in the region. Higher education is available for secondary school graduates at the Bahrain University, Arabian Gulf University, The Royal Medicine, The Arabic University and specialized institutes including the College of Health Sciences -- operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health -- which trains physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics. The government has identified providing educational services to the (GCC) Gulf Cooperation Council countries, as a potential economic growth area, and is actively working to establish Bahrain as a regional center for higher education.
The people of Bahrain enjoys good living standards, even if there are considerable differences between social groups. Housing and transportation is subsidized by the state. The level of telephones are 1 to every 4 inhabitant, radios 2 to every 5 inhabitant, TV-sets 1 to every 3 inhabitant.
Population : 677,886
note: includes 335,108 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
Age Structure : 0-14 years:
28.4% (male 97,179; female 95,043)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 271,015; female 192,342)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 11,426; female 10,881) (2004 est.)
Median Age :
total: 29 years
male: 31.9 years
female: 25.3 years (2004 est.)
Population
growth rate : 1.56% (2004 est.)
Birth rate : 18.54 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Death rate : 4.03 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Net migration : 1.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
Sex ratio :
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.41 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2004 est.)
Infant mortality
rate :
total: 17.91 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
Life expectancy at
birth :
total population: 73.98 years
male: 71.52 years
female: 76.51 years (2004 est.)
Total fertility
rate : 2.31 children born/woman (2004 est.)
HIV/AIDS Adult
prevalence rate : 0.3% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - People
living with
HIV/AIDS : less than 500
Nationality :
noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini
Ethic groups : Bahraini (Arab) 53%, Asian 24%, Europeans&Americans 10%, Iranian 7%, other Arab 5%, other 1%
Religion : Muslim 85%, Christian 10%, Hindu 4%, other 1%
Language : Arabic (Official), English (Official), Farsi, Urdu
Arabic is the national language. English, however, is widely understood, spoken and commonly used in business.
Literacy :
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.1%
male: 94.9%
female: 91% (2003 est.)
Young Bahraini men and women
