Red was the color of the Kharijite Muslims of Bahrain about 1820, and white was chosen to show amity with the British. The flag was recognized in 1933 but was used long before. The current flag law was adopted on Aug. 19, 1972. Between the white and red there may be a straight or serrated line, but the latter is most common.

Bahrain Official name: Dawlat al-Bahrayn (State of Bahrain). Form of government: monarchy (emirate). Chief of state: Emir. Head of government: Prime Minister. Population (1998): 633,000. Population projection: (2000) 660,000; (2010) 780,000. Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1994): 22.0 (world avg. 15.7). Gross national product (1996): U.S.$4,693,000,000 (U.S.$7,840 per capita). Land use (1994): meadows and pastures 5.8%; agricultural and under permanent cultivation 2.9%; built-on and wasteland 91.3%.