Official Name: Dawlat al-Bahrayn (State of Bahrain).

Area: Middle East
Size: 665 km²
Coastline: 161 km

Independence: from the UK 15 August, 1971
Form of Govt.: Monarchy
Head of Govt.: Prime Minister.

Capital: Manama
Largest City: Manama

Demographics (2005): 698,585, 987 /km²
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6

GDP per Capita (2005): $20,500

Languages: Arabic is the official language of Bahrain.

Geography: The island group includes six primary islands which are Bahrain, Muharraq, Sitrah, Umm al Nassan, Jidda and Nabi Salih. Bahrain has a desert topography except for a narrow strip of land along the northern coast. In the interior the land rises gradually towards a central range of hills. Most of the other islands are flat and sandy. A number of fresh water springs or artesian wells are located along the northern coast of the Bahrain. In general, the soil is poor and saline, supporting little or no vegetation

Climate: Bahrain has an arid desert climate characterized by very hot summers with high humidity while winters are relatively cooler. Average annual precipitation is only 76 mm (3 inches). Various winds influence the temperatures and include the Bara from the north, which is a cool wind that sometimes reduces the temperature in June, the Shamal from the northeast which is a moist wind that dominates all year round and the Quss from the south or southwest, which is a hot dry sand laden wind. Average temperature ranges on Bahrain are from 14 to 20 degrees in January to 29 to 38 degrees in August.