Page 341 - Records of Bahrain (7) (ii)_Neat

3rd population census, 1959 731
BRITISH POLITICAL AGENCY,
POST OFFIC15 BOX No .11 /|,
BAHRAIN

(1026/59) | RESTRICTED December 30 > 1959
r
I
I
Dear Departmont,
We have rocoivod from the Bahrain Government the final
figures for tho 1959 census, and enclose a copy herein, In
transmitting it to us tho Socrotury to the Government expressed
special thanks to Mr.R.S.Porter, Statistical Adviser of the
Middle East Development Division, Beirut, for his invaluuble
assistance in organising the census. As you will see there
is, unfortunately, no covering report summarising the results,
but only the bare tabulated figures, We liave accordingly
prepared, and enclose, a table bringing out tho more interesting
details and a comparison with the tv/o previous censuses in
1941 and 1950.
The counting was done in May of this year by approximately
150 enumerators and the operation was tho responsibility of
the Director of Finance of the Balmain Government, assisted
in its organisation by the Director of Labour, Ac will bo
seen from the tablo the figures show an increase of 30$ in
the total population of Bahrain since 1950. In fact this
figure 18 a slight under-statement, us the 1950 figures
included foreign diplomatic und Service personnel und visiting
seamen. Furthermore, the figures for population of the towns
und villages are not strictly comparable, since those for 1959
are based on the criterion of usual place of residence, whereas
in 1950 people were recorded where tliey huppened to be on.
census night. This accounto for part of the Increase in the
main towns and for an apparent drop in tlic population of tlic
oil town of Awuli.

An encouraging, and in t lies a days rare development is
that the increase in urban population has not been achieved
ut the expense of;the rural, the ratio between the tv/o remaining
approximately the same at 75:25 in both 1950 and 1959- Thus
a 30% increase in total population is reflected in u 25/5
increase in rurul population. Tho 40$ increase in Manama,
tlie capital, is attributed largoly to immigration. The
estimated increase of 164$ in literacy is also a moot encouraging
sign, though the increase of 179$ in the Indian and Pakistani
population may not be so welcome to the Balirain authorities.
The increase in the number of houses reflects tho
considerable recent building activity, und slightly exceeds
the percentage increase for total population. It is interesting
to note that 75$ of the poi>ulation live in concrete or stone
houses und only 17$ in tho barastios or shucks, which are
nevertheless such a prominent feature of tiie Dahruin landscape.
The average size of a household is 5i persons.

In brief, therefore, the 1959 census reveals a considerable
but well-balanced increase in population, with little tendency *
towards rural depopulation, and, taking tlio increase in
literacy and housing as an index, an appreciable raising in

Irablan Department,
Foreign Office,
London RESTRICTED