The Human Truth Foundation

Bahrain (Kingdom of Bahrain)

https://www.humantruth.info/bahrain.html

By Vexen Crabtree 2013

#bahrain

Bahrain
Kingdom of Bahrain
StatusIndependent State
Social and Moral Index83rd best
CapitalManama
Land Area 760km21
LocationAsia, The Middle East
GroupingsSmall Islands
Population1.6m2
Life Expectancy78.76yrs (2017)3
GNI$39 497 (2017)4
ISO3166-1 CodesBH, BHR, 485
Internet Domain.bh6
CurrencyDinar (BHD)7
Telephone+9738

1. Overview

#islam #UK

In 1783, the Sunni Al-Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. In addition, the Sunni-led government has struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. During the mid-to-late 1990s, Shia activists mounted a low-intensity uprising to demand that the Sunni-led government stop systemic economic, social, and political discrimination against Shia Bahrainis. King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa, after succeeding his late father in 1999, pushed economic and political reforms in part to improve relations with the Shia community. After boycotting the country's first round of national elections under the newly promulgated constitution in 2002, Shia political societies participated in the 2006 and 2010 legislative and municipal elections. Wifaq, the most prominent Shia political party, won the largest bloc of seats in the elected lower house of the legislature both times. Beginning in February 2011, Bahrain's opposition sought to ride out a rising tide of popular Arab protests to petition for the redress of popular grievances. In mid-March 2011, the Bahraini Government took action to halt the momentum of the growing protest movement by declaring a state of emergency that put an end to the mass public gatherings and increasingly disruptive civil disobedience. Manama also welcomed a contingent of Gulf Cooperation Council forces under the Peninsula Shield umbrella intended to protect critical infrastructure as Bahraini security forces deployed to the protest areas. The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry (BICI), formed in June 2011 to investigate abuses during the unrest and state of emergency, released its final report in November 2011. The King fully endorsed the report, and since then Manama has begun to implement a number of the BICI's recommendations, including improving policing procedures, reinstating dismissed workers, rebuilding some religious sites, and establishing a compensation fund for those affected by the unrest and crackdown. The opposition continues to express concern about the recommendations that have not been implemented. The summer 2011 National Dialogue between the government and political societies did not ultimately address core opposition grievances, and protests continued. Street protests have grown increasingly violent. A new round of National Dialogue was launched in February 2013 with participation by the government, both opposition and more pro-government political societies, and legislators.

CIA's The World Factbook (2013)9

Book CoverThis tiny island state is the smallest of all Arab countries, and is one of the most easygoing of the Gulf states. Like an oyster, Bahrain´s rough exterior takes some prising open, but it is worth the effort. From the excellent National Museum in Manama to the extraordinary burial mounds at Sar, there are many fine sites to visit.... Bahrain maintains its gaze not on the island´s minimal land mass, but on the shallow waters that lap its shores. The sweet-water springs that bubble offshore helped bring about 4000 years of settlement [and] encouraged lustrous pearls - the trade that helped to build the island´s early fortunes.Much of Manama´s modern wealth, illustrated in high-profile building projects, rises proudly from land `reclaimed´ from the sea. With the projected effects of climate change, however, the sea may yet have the last laugh.

"The World" by Lonely Planet (2014)10

2. Bahrain National and Social Development

#economics #human_development #wealth

UN HDI (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
Value11
1Switzerland0.962
2Norway0.961
3Iceland0.959
...
32Czechia0.889
33Greece0.887
34Poland0.876
35=Bahrain0.875
35=Lithuania0.875
35=Saudi Arabia0.875
38Portugal0.866
39Latvia0.863
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.72
q=191.
Gross National Income Per-Capita (2021)11
Pos.Higher is better
PPP $11
1Liechtenstein$146 830
2Singapore$90 919
3Qatar$87 134
...
31Japan$42 274
32Israel$41 524
33Slovenia$39 746
34Bahrain$39 497
35Malta$38 884
36Czechia$38 745
37Spain$38 354
38Cyprus$38 188
Asia Avg$22 215
World Avg$20 136
q=193.
Social & Moral
Development Index
12
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank12
1Norway29.8
2Denmark30.0
3Finland33.7
...
80Panama81.4
81Mongolia81.7
82Armenia82.1
83Bahrain82.8
84Colombia83.0
85Grenada83.1
86S. Africa83.1
87San Marino83.5
Asia Avg88.2
World Avg87.9
q=196.

The United Nations produces an annual Human Development Report which includes the Human Development Index. The factors taken into account include life expectancy, education and schooling and Gross National Income (GNI) amongst many others..

The Social and Moral Development Index concentrates on moral issues and human rights, violence, public health, equality, tolerance, freedom and effectiveness in climate change mitigation and environmentalism, and on some technological issues. A country scores higher for achieving well in those areas, and for sustaining that achievement in the long term. Those countries towards the top of this index can truly said to be setting good examples and leading humankind onwards into a bright, humane, and free future. See: Which are the Best Countries in the World? The Social and Moral Development Index.

3. Bahrain's Demographics and Migration

#birth_control #demographics #health #immigration #life_expectancy #longevity #migration #overpopulation #population

Population:

Bahrain's population is predicted to rise to 1.654 million by 2030. This country has a fertility rate of 2.46. The fertility rate is, in simple terms, the average amount of children that each woman has. The higher the figure, the quicker the population is growing, although, to calculate the rate you also need to take into account morbidity, i.e., the rate at which people die. If people live healthy and long lives and morbidity is low, then, 2.0 approximates to the replacement rate, which would keep the population stable. If all countries had such a fertility rate, population growth would end. The actual replacement rate in most developed countries is around 2.1.

Population2
Pos.2018
Population2
1China1.4b
2India1.4b
3USA327.1m
...
147Slovenia2.1m
148Latvia1.9m
149Guinea-Bissau1.9m
150Bahrain1.6m
151Trinidad & Tobago1.4m
152Estonia1.3m
153Equatorial Guinea1.3m
154Timor-Leste (E. Timor)1.3m
World Avg39.0m
q=195.
Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
34Maldives79.9
35Qatar79.3
36Chile78.9
37Bahrain78.8
38Thailand78.7
39UAE78.7
40Kuwait78.7
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
67Libya2.44
68Cambodia2.45
69Bulgaria1.54
70Bahrain2.46
71Thailand1.54
72Greece1.54
73Georgia1.53
74Switzerland1.53
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Old-Age Dependency Ratio
Lower is better
14
Pos.2016
Per 10014
1Uganda04.3
2Mali04.5
3=Chad04.7
...
56Belize08.3
57Gabon08.5
58Pakistan08.6
59Bahrain08.7
60Syria09.0
61=Djibouti09.1
61=Tajikistan09.1
63Equatorial Guinea09.4
World Avg18.3
q=185.

Migration:

Immigrants15
Pos.2017
%15
1UAE88.4%
2Kuwait75.5%
3Qatar65.2%
4Liechtenstein65.1%
5Monaco54.9%
6Andorra53.3%
7Bahrain48.4%
8Singapore46.0%
9Luxembourg45.3%
10Oman44.7%
11Hong Kong39.1%
12Saudi Arabia37.0%
World Avg9.4%
q=195.
Emigrants16
Pos.2010
%16
1Dominica104.8%
2Palestine68.4%
3Samoa67.3%
...
125Burundi4.2%
126Panama4.0%
127Norway3.8%
128Bahrain3.7%
129Gambia3.7%
130Chile3.7%
131Peru3.7%
132Czechia3.6%
World Avg11.5%
q=192.

4. Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance

#Bahrain #bahrain_gender #equality #gender #gender_equality #human_rights #misogyny #morals #politics #prejudice #tolerance #women

Human Rights, Equality & Tolerance (2020)17
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank17
1Sweden9.0
2Norway14.5
3Denmark14.5
...
137=Algeria111.0
137=Indonesia111.0
139Uzbekistan111.1
140Bahrain112.7
141Bangladesh113.0
142Egypt113.4
Asia Avg99.9
World Avg87.9
q=199.
Bahrain is amongst the worst places in the world at ensuring human rights and freedom, and it has severe cultural issues when it comes to tolerance and equality. Bahrain does better than average in terms of opposing gender inequality18. But unfortunately Bahrain gets most other things wrong. It does worse than average when it comes to commentary in Human Rights Watch reports19, supporting personal, civil & economic freedoms20, LGBT equality21, its nominal commitment to Human Rights22, speed of uptake of HR treaties23 and in freethought24. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 in terms of its success in fighting anti-semitic prejudice25 (one of the highest in Asia) and in supporting press freedom26. Things are getting worse, it seems, and in 2017 Bahrain shut down its only independent newspaper and human rights activists were silenced, imprisoned and harassed (including their relatives) and also prevented representation at the UN Human Rights Council and its associated processes27.

For tables, charts and commentary, see:

5. Bahrain's Health

#alcohol #birth_control #demographics #health #life_expectancy #longevity #mental_health #obesity #overpopulation #parenting #population #smoking #suicide #vaccines

Compared to Asia (2020)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Hong Kong18.3
2Maldives41.0
3Singapore42.6
...
18Qatar70.6
19Iran75.5
20UAE75.8
21Bahrain77.3
22Armenia78.4
23Cyprus78.6
24Myanmar (Burma)79.1
25India79.6
26Nepal80.3
Asia Avg80.1
q=50.
Health (2020)28
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank28
1Monaco13.0
2Hong Kong18.3
3Maldives41.0
...
36Iceland76.9
37=Netherlands77.0
37=Eritrea77.0
39Bahrain77.3
40Greece77.4
41Belgium77.9
42Armenia78.4
43Cyprus78.6
World Avg93.5
q=196.

The countries with the best overall approach to public health, in terms of both public policy and individual lifestyle choices, are Monaco, Hong Kong and The Maldives29. These countries are worth emulating. And, although often through no fault of the average citizen, the worst countries are The Marshall Islands, S. Sudan and Palau29.

The data sets used to calculate points for each country are its average life expectancy, its alcohol consumption rate, its fertility rate, its smoking rate, its suicide rate, its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance, the prevalence of overweight adults, its adolescent birth rate and its immunizations take-up. The regions with the best average results per country are Scandinavia, Asia and The Mediterranean29, whereas the worst are Micronesia, Australasia and Africa29.

For more, see:

Health:

Bahrain does relatively well in encouraging good health, compared to many other countries. Bahrain comes in the best 20 in its immunizations take-up30. It does better than average when it comes to its suicide rate31, its average life expectancy11, its alcohol consumption rate32, its adolescent birth rate18 and in its fertility rate13. But, there's bad news too. Bahrain does worse than average in its food aid and health contributions and WHO compliance33 and in its smoking rate34. The prevalence of overweight adults has increased by 14% during the last 40 years. Life expectancy in Bahrain improved by +7.4yrs in the 30 years from 1990, on par with the global average improvement of +7.9yrs.

Life Expectancy
Higher is better
11
Pos.2021
Years11
1Monaco85.9
2Hong Kong85.5
3Japan84.8
...
34Maldives79.9
35Qatar79.3
36Chile78.9
37Bahrain78.8
38Thailand78.7
39UAE78.7
40Kuwait78.7
41Antigua & Barbuda78.5
Asia Avg73.48
World Avg71.28
q=195.
Alcohol Consumption
Lower is better
32
Pos.2016
Per Capita32
1Bangladesh0.0
2Kuwait0.0
3Libya0.0
...
38Tuvalu1.7
39=Madagascar1.9
39=Tunisia1.9
39=Bahrain1.9
42Qatar2.0
43=Nepal2.0
43=Singapore2.0
43=Turkey2.0
Asia Avg3.9
World Avg6.2
q=189.
Fertility Rate
2.0 is best
13
Pos.201313
1N. Korea2.00
2Brunei1.99
3St Vincent & Grenadines2.01
...
67Libya2.44
68Cambodia2.45
69Bulgaria1.54
70Bahrain2.46
71Thailand1.54
72Greece1.54
73Georgia1.53
74Switzerland1.53
Asia Avg2.46
World Avg2.81
q=180.
Smoking Rates
Lower is better
34
Pos.201434
1Guinea 15
2Solomon Islands 26
3Kiribati 28
...
117Ireland 954
118Australia 956
119Mongolia 957
120Bahrain 969
121France 993
122Brunei1 023
123Algeria1 024
124Latvia1 041
Asia Avg1 035
World Avg 819
q=182.
Suicide Rate31
Pos.2013
Per 100k31
1Haiti0
2Grenada0
3Egypt0.1
...
20=Guatemala7.3
20=Barbados7.3
20=Belize7.3
23Bahrain7.5
24Albania8
25=Mexico8.5
25=Israel8.5
27Georgia8.8
Asia Avg19.50
World Avg20.93
q=91.
Food Aid, Health Contributions & WHO Compliance
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Sweden1
2Ireland2
3Denmark3
...
90Uganda90
91Chile91
92Tunisia92
93Bahrain93
94Philippines94
95Bosnia & Herzegovina95
96Namibia96
97Guyana97
Asia Avg64.4
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Overweight Adults
Lower is better
35
Pos.2016
%35
1Vietnam18.3
2India19.7
3Bangladesh20.0
...
168Iraq64.6
169Mexico64.9
170New Zealand65.6
171Bahrain65.8
172Malta66.4
173=Turkey66.8
173=Libya66.8
175UAE67.8
Asia Avg44.3
World Avg49.0
q=191.

Children's Health:

Adolescent Birth Rate
Lower is better
18
Pos.2015
Per 100018
1N. Korea0.5
2S. Korea1.6
3Switzerland2.9
...
41Lebanon12.4
42Estonia13.1
43Poland13.4
44Bahrain13.5
45Malaysia13.6
46Latvia13.6
47Australia14.1
48UK14.6
Asia Avg29.9
World Avg47.9
q=185.
Infant Immunizations 2011-2015
Higher is better
30
Pos.2015
Avg %30
1=Hungary99.0
1=China99.0
3Uzbekistan98.9
...
8S. Korea98.6
9Sri Lanka98.4
10St Lucia98.2
11Bahrain98.2
12Iran98.1
13Finland98.1
14Saudi Arabia98.0
15=Luxembourg98.0
Asia Avg90.5
World Avg88.3
q=194.

6. Bahrain's Responsibility Towards The Environment

#biodiversity #climate_change #deforestation #food #meat #over-exploitation #the_environment #veganism #vegetarianism

Compared to Asia (2023)36
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank36
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Sri Lanka49.0
...
43UAE114.4
44Kuwait115.4
45Uzbekistan118.5
46Afghanistan120.3
47Brunei121.5
48Iraq122.5
49Tajikistan125.0
50Bahrain128.0
51Palestine147.5
Asia Avg88.8
q=51.
Responsibility Towards The Environment (2023)36
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank36
1Japan33.2
2Philippines45.0
3Uruguay48.0
...
180Montenegro124.3
181Tajikistan125.0
182Liberia125.8
183Bahrain128.0
184Haiti131.0
185Libya132.8
186Gabon141.7
187Palestine147.5
World Avg85.7
q=188.
When it comes to its responsibility towards the environment, Bahrain ranks 6th-worst in the world. This rank is calculated from 6 data sets. Bahrain does the second-best for its forested percent change 2000-202037. But that's it. Bahrain has problems. It does worse than average when it comes to its environmental performance38, the rate of rational beliefs on the environment in the population39, annual meat consumption per person40 and in how quickly it ratified the 1993 Convention on Biological Diversity. And finally, it sits amongst the bottom 20 when it comes to energy to GDP efficiency41 (the lowest in Asia).

Forest Area Change 2000-2020
Higher is better
37
Pos.Total37
1Guernsey82.6%
2Bahrain75.2%
3Iceland64.7%
4Burundi44.2%
5Uruguay43.8%
6Montenegro32.1%
7Malta31.4%
8Cuba31.0%
9Kuwait28.9%
10Uzbekistan23.3%
11Algeria23.1%
12China23.0%
Asia Avg3.2%
World Avg-0.1%
q=234.

From 2000 to 2010, Bahrain increased its forest cover by 41%, although in absolute terms this was just from 370 to 520 hectares. By 2020, it added a further 35%, setting an important example for the rest of the world.

Environmental Performance
Higher is better
38
Pos.201838
1Switzerland87.4
2France84.0
3Denmark81.6
...
93Barbados55.8
94Georgia55.7
95Kiribati55.3
96Bahrain55.2
97Nicaragua55.0
98Bahamas55.0
99Kyrgyzstan54.9
100Nigeria54.8
Asia Avg54.5
World Avg56.4
q=180.
Energy to GDP Efficiency
Higher is better41
Pos.201441
1Hong Kong26.32
2Sri Lanka20.00
3Panama17.86
...
108=Bosnia & Herzegovina04.52
108=Russia04.52
110S. Africa04.48
111Bahrain04.10
112Ukraine03.28
113Togo02.88
114Ethiopia02.81
115Mozambique02.47
Asia Avg09.14
World Avg09.29
q=119.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Earlier is better
Pos.Total
Signed
1=China1993 Dec 29
1=Guinea1993 Dec 29
1=Cook Islands1993 Dec 29
...
157S. Sudan2014 May 18
158Mauritania1996 Nov 14
159Qatar1996 Nov 19
160Bahrain1996 Nov 28
161Turkmenistan1996 Dec 17
162Laos1996 Dec 19
163Haiti1996 Dec 24
164Croatia1997 Jan 05
Asia Avg1899 Dec 30
World Avg1899 Dec 30
q=197.
Rational Beliefs on the Environment
Higher is better39
Pos.2011
%39
1Argentina78.3%
2Greece77.6%
3Brazil77.1%
...
103Belgium26.9%
104Syria26.6%
105Qatar26.5%
106Bahrain26.3%
107S. Africa26.2%
108Lithuania25.6%
109Nigeria25.3%
110Armenia25.3%
Asia Avg37.9%
World Avg39.9%
q=145.
Meat Consumption
Lower is better
40
Pos.2021
kg40
1Congo, DR03.0
2Burundi03.5
3Bangladesh04.3
...
149Hungary82.1
150UK82.3
151Czechia82.4
152Bahrain82.8
153Qatar83.0
154=Iceland83.6
154=Lithuania83.6
156UAE84.3
Asia Avg46.7
World Avg52.5
q=185.

7. Bahrain's Modernity and Learning

#education #modernity #politics #research #science #technology #the_internet

Compared to Asia (2020)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Taiwan10.0
2Japan21.9
3=S. Korea24.0
...
23Thailand72.9
24India73.8
25=Qatar75.5
26Bahrain75.6
27Kuwait77.6
28Sri Lanka79.6
29Jordan81.1
30Philippines81.8
31Lebanon85.7
Asia Avg79.0
q=51.
Modernity & Learning (2020)42
Pos.Lower is better
Avg Rank42
1Finland8.4
2Taiwan10.0
3Switzerland15.1
...
90Tonga75.2
91=New Caledonia75.5
91=Qatar75.5
93Bahrain75.6
94Colombia77.1
95Kuwait77.6
96Sri Lanka79.6
97Kenya79.8
World Avg83.2
q=205.

Modernity and Education:

In the 1990s, the expected duration of education in Bahrain fell by over half a year, whereas most of the rest of the world's increased. 43

Research & Development
Higher is better
Pos.2016
% RDP PPP
1S. Korea4.2944
2Israel4.1144
3Japan3.5844
...
118=Macau0.0545
119Honduras0.0446
120=Guatemala0.0447
120=Bahrain0.0445
120=Colombia0.0445
123Iraq0.0348
124=El Salvador0.0347
124=China0.0345
Asia Avg0.75
World Avg0.84
q=126.
Secondary Education
Higher is better
49
Pos.201849
1=Luxembourg100.0%
1=Estonia100.0%
1=Austria100.0%
...
91Palestine61.1%
92Suriname60.5%
93Mexico59.7%
94Bahrain59.6%
95Brazil59.5%
96Bolivia58.8%
97Zimbabwe58.7%
98Gabon57.6%
Asia Avg66.0%
World Avg63.0%
q=169.
Length of Schooling
Higher is better
50
Pos.2021
Years50
1Australia21.1
2New Zealand20.3
3Greece20.0
...
26S. Korea16.5
27Switzerland16.5
28Canada16.4
29Bahrain16.3
30Lithuania16.3
31USA16.3
32Italy16.2
33Czechia16.2
Asia Avg13.5
World Avg13.5
q=193.
Intellectual Endeavours
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Ukraine1
2Czechia2
3Hungary3
...
112Belize112
113Algeria113
114Bahamas114
115Bahrain115
116Kazakhstan116
117Sri Lanka117
118Rwanda118
119Guatemala119
Asia Avg97.1
World Avg82.0
q=163.

Technology and Information:

Internet Users
Higher is better
51
Pos.201651
1Iceland100%
2Faroe Islands99%
3Norway98%
...
13Finland93%
14Qatar92%
15UAE92%
16Bahrain92%
17Estonia91%
18Japan91%
19New Zealand89%
20=USA89%
Asia Avg48.7%
World Avg48.1%
q=201.
Freedom On The Internet
Lower is better
52
Pos.201252
1Estonia10
2USA12
3Germany15
...
35Thailand61
36Pakistan63
37Belarus69
38=Bahrain71
38=Saudi Arabia71
40Vietnam73
41=Ethiopia75
41=Myanmar (Burma)75
Asia Avg56.6
World Avg46.7
q=47.
IPv6 Uptake
Higher is better
53
Pos.2017
Ratio53
1Belgium55.4
2Germany41.8
3Switzerland35.1
...
156=Greenland0.0
156=Brunei0.0
156=Aruba0.0
156=Bahrain0.0
156=Palau0.0
156=Equatorial Guinea0.0
156=Belize0.0
156=Suriname0.0
Asia Avg2.11
World Avg3.82
q=176.

8. National Culture

#charity #corruption #happiness #morals #politics

World Giving Index
Higher is better
54
Pos.2022
%54
1Indonesia68.0
2Kenya61.0
3USA59.0
...
28=Mongolia46.0
28=Denmark46.0
28=Uganda46.0
31Bahrain45.0
32=Malta45.0
32=Singapore45.0
32=Macedonia45.0
32=Venezuela45.0
Asia Avg37.9
World Avg39.6
q=125.
Corruption
Higher is better
55
Pos.2022
Points55
1Denmark90.0
2=Finland87.0
2=New Zealand87.0
...
68Cuba45.0
69Jamaica44.0
70=Oman44.0
70=Bahrain44.0
72Senegal43.0
73=S. Africa43.0
73=Bulgaria43.0
73=Benin43.0
Asia Avg39.98
World Avg42.98
q=180.

Thoughout the 2000s and 2010s, Bahrain's score on the Corruption Perception Index declined terribly; it was amongst the 10 countries with the worse rise in perceived corruption in both of those decades.

Happiness
Higher is better
56
Pos.2018
Score56
1Finland7.6
2Norway7.6
3Denmark7.6
...
40El Salvador6.2
41Nicaragua6.1
42Poland6.1
43Bahrain6.1
44Uzbekistan6.1
45Kuwait6.1
46Thailand6.1
47Italy6.0
Asia Avg5.29
World Avg5.38
q=156.
Creativity & Culture
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Belgium1
2Netherlands2
3Estonia3
...
102Vietnam102
103Armenia103
104Ghana104
105Bahrain105
106Ecuador106
107Uganda107
108Lesotho108
109Georgia109
Asia Avg99.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Open Trading, Aid & Development
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Ireland1
2Denmark2
3Sweden3
...
154Paraguay154
155Grenada155
156Venezuela156
157Bahrain157
158Mauritania158
159Brunei159
160Algeria160
161Papua New Guinea161
Asia Avg86.3
World Avg82.0
q=163.

9. Peace Versus Instability

#extremism #human_development #peace #politics #religious_violence #terrorism

Global Peace Index
Lower is better
57
Pos.2023
Score57
1Iceland1.12
2Denmark1.31
3Ireland1.31
...
105=Togo2.13
106Guyana2.13
107Sri Lanka2.14
108Bahrain2.15
109Swaziland2.17
110Benin2.18
111Lesotho2.19
112Djibouti2.20
Asia Avg2.17
World Avg2.07
q=163.
Peacekeeping & Security
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Samoa1
2S. Africa2
3Tunisia3
...
156Swaziland156
157Yemen157
158Iraq158
159Bahrain159
160Slovenia160
161Tonga161
162Marshall Islands162
163Guinea-Bissau163
Asia Avg76.0
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Refugees & UN Treaties
Lower is better
33
Pos.2017
Rank33
1Austria1
2Germany2
3Netherlands3
...
74Albania74
75Botswana75
76Lebanon76
77Bahrain77
78Sri Lanka78
79Algeria79
80Ecuador80
81Kuwait81
Asia Avg92.2
World Avg82.0
q=163.
Impact of Terrorism
Lower is better
58
Pos.2019
Score58
1Togo0.00
2Mongolia0.00
3Swaziland0.00
...
87Jordan3.09
88Italy3.11
89Paraguay3.12
90Bahrain3.20
91Tanzania3.27
92Spain3.35
93Bolivia3.39
94Algeria3.41
Asia Avg3.60
World Avg2.78
q=150.

10. Economic Inequality and Poverty

#health #inequality #life_expectancy

Inequality in Life Expectancy
Lower is better59
Pos.201959
1Iceland2.40
2=Singapore2.50
2=Hong Kong2.50
...
41Bosnia & Herzegovina5.40
42=Latvia5.40
43Lithuania5.50
44=Bahrain5.50
45Qatar5.70
46Kuwait5.90
47Maldives6.00
48=Malaysia6.10
Asia Avg11.80
World Avg14.59
q=184.

11. Religion and Beliefs

#buddhism #christianity #hinduism #islam #judaism

Data from the Pew Forum, a professional polling outfit, states that in 2010 the religious makeup of this country was as follows in the table below60:

Christian14.5%
Muslim70.3%
Hindu9.8%
Buddhist2.5%
Folk Religion0.1%
Jewish0.6%
Unaffiliated1.9%

The CIA World Factbook has slightly different data, and states: Muslim (Shia and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)61.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union produced a report in 2012 entitled "Freedom of Thought" (2012)62, in which they document bias and prejudice at the national level that is based on religion, belief and/or lack of belief. Their entry for Bahrain states:

The constitution does not explicitly protect freedom of religion or belief, but it does make provision for the freedom of conscience, the inviolability of places of worship, and the freedom to perform religious rites and hold religious parades and meetings, in accordance with the customs observed in the country. The constitution stipulates that there shall be no discrimination in the rights and duties of citizens on grounds of religion. However, the constitution also states that Islam is the official religion and that Islamic law is a principal source for legislation.

By declaring Islam as the state religion and Islamic law as the source of legislation, the constitution implies that Muslims are forbidden to change their religion (since Sharia outlaws apostasy). The constitution imposes no restrictions on non-Muslims' right to choose, change, or practice their religion or belief, including the study, discussion, and promulgation of those beliefs. The constitution prohibits discrimination in the rights and duties of citizens on the basis of religion or belief; however, there are no further laws to prevent discrimination, nor procedures to file a grievance.

The civil and criminal legal systems consist of a complex mix of courts based on diverse legal sources, including both Shiite and Sunni schools of Islamic jurisprudence, tribal law, and other civil codes. Sharia governs personal status, and a person's rights can vary according to Shiite or Sunni interpretation, as determined by the individual's faith or by the courts. In May 2009, the government adopted the country's first personal status law, which regulates family matters such as inheritance, child custody, marriage, and divorce. The law is only applicable to the Sunni population as Shiite clerics and lawmakers opposed legislation that would have applied to Shiite courts.

The press and publications law prohibits anti-Islamic media, and mandates imprisonment for "exposing the state's official religion for offense and criticism." The law states that "any publication that prejudices the ruling system of the country and its official religion can be banned from publication by a ministerial order." The law allows the production and distribution of religious media and publications. Islamic studies are a part of the curriculum in government schools and mandatory for all public school students. In 2011, Bahrain experienced prolonged unrest as protestors, predominantly from the majority Shia community, demanded political reform and an end to the political hegemony of the Sunni minority. The sectarian dimension of the political uprising resulted in substantial intra-Muslim conflict, including government attacks on Shi'ite religious buildings and the violent oppression of Shi'ite protestors. Violence has diminished in 2012, but the simmering sectarian tensions remain alongside the demands for political reform.

Cases of Discrimination

In August, 2012, a Bahraini court sentenced a man to two years in prison for making insulting comments about one of the Prophet Mohammad's wives. The man reportedly insulted Aisha in comments online.

"Freedom of Thought" by IHEU (2012)63

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