Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia.
Industries:  petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism.
Geography:  close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean
Area:  total: 665 sq km
           land: 665 sq km
           water: 0 sq km
Budget:  revenues: $6.168 billion
              expenditures: $5.205 billion (2007 est.)
Languages:  Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu
National Holiday:  National Day, 16 December (1971)
Currency (Code):  Bahraini dinar (BHD)
Capital:  Manama
Population:  718,306, note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2008 est.)
Labor Force:  363,000 (2007 est.)
Exports:  $13.44 billion (2007 est.)
Imports:  $9.858 billion (2007 est.)
Internet Country Code:  .bh
Airports:  3 (2007 est.) /   Paved Runways:  3 
Aircraft Departures:  19,900