Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
17 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
268,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state-run Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 6 terrestrial TV networks and several radio stations; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; 1 private FM station has broadcasts for Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2023)
Communications: Internet country code
.bh
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
100.00% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
16 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
246,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
160 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
2,415,720 (2023 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
lamb/mutton, dates, milk, tomatoes, chicken, eggs, sheep offal, sheepskins, eggplants, chillies/peppers (2023)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on alcohol and tobacco
0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Average household expenditures: on food
13.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$9.982 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$5.538 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
$2.410 billion (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
$1.523 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$752.1 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$1.493 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$1.600 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$2.435 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$794.4 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$3.245 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
$2.602 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
$6.839 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$2.699 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$2.282 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
0.376000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
0.376000 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
0.376000 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
0.376000 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
0.376000 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
0.376000 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
0.376000 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
0.376000 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
0.376000 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
0.376000 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
0.376000 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
0.376000 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
0.376000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, aluminum, iron ore, aluminum wire, jewelry (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$28.609 billion (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$32.069 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$25.805 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$23.919 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$26.882 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$29.959 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$29.564 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$25.249 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$35.235 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$44.58 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$40.344 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$41.303 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
87.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
14.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
38.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-70.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
27.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
1.8% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
0.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
43.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
51.9% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$66,941 (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$47.737 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$106.348 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
iron ore, aluminum oxide, ships, cars, gold (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$13.097 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$22.302 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$21.088 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$23.876 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$27.049 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$25.208 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$23.297 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$27.577 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$33.066 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$32.374 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$33.044 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
0.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
1.85% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
2.79% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
1.39% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.09% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
1.01% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
-2.32% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
-0.61% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
3.63% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
0.07% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.92% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
913,300 (2024 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
42.27% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
43.53% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
70.57% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
77.53% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
84.30% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
91.36% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
111.60% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$71.379 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$65.822 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$67.526 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$75.333 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$83.980 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$78.669 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$82.672 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$87.781 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$91.185 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$93.937 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
2.51% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
3.81% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
4.95% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
2.05% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
2.05% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-5.91% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.35% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.18% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.88% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
2.60% (2024 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$54,299 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$48,034 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$47,429 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$50,185 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$56,600 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$53,436 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$54,955 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$61,678 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$64,171 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$3.546 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$2.612 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$2.823 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$2.334 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$3.903 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$2.523 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$4.993 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$4.775 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$5.118 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$4.949 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
2.8% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
1.22% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
1.76% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
1.55% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
1.26% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
1.05% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
1.08% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
12.4% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
2.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
5.2% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: fossil fuels
99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
35.09 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
467.898 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
480.883 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
7.031 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.093 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
554.202 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: consumption
19.878 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: imports
81.98 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: production
19.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Energy: Natural gas: proven reserves
81.383 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: crude oil estimated reserves
186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: total petroleum production
190,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
-1,401 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from consumed natural gas
38.995 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
8.825 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
47.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Environment: Environmental issues
desertification; drought; coastal degradation from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources; saline contamination from lowered water table
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
none of the selected agreements
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
10.1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
4.3% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
84.2% (2023 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: agriculture
0.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: energy
165.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: other
1.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Methane emissions: waste
163.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
51.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
116 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
144.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
275.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
100.00% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
951,900 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
14.1% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geography: Area: land
760 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
161 km
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
26 00 N, 50 33 E
Geography: Geography - note
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
Geography: Irrigated land
40 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: total
0 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
10.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
4.3% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
84.2% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Geography: Map references
Middle East
Geography: Maritime claims: contiguous zone
24 nm
Geography: Maritime claims: continental shelf
extending to boundaries to be determined
Geography: Maritime claims: territorial sea
12 nm
Geography: Natural hazards
periodic droughts; dust storms
Geography: Population distribution
smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq
Geography: Terrain
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
Government: Administrative divisions
4 governorates ( muhafazat , singular - muhafazah ); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)
Government: Capital: etymology
name derives from the Arabic word al-manama , meaning "place of rest" or "place of dreams"
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
26 14 N, 50 34 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Bahrain
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed by the king or by at least 15 members of either chamber of the National Assembly followed by submission to an Assembly committee for review and, if approved, submitted to the government for restatement as drafts; passage requires a two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both chambers and validation by the king; constitutional articles on the state religion (Islam), state language (Arabic), and the monarchy and "inherited rule" cannot be amended
Government: Constitution: history
previous 1973; latest adopted 14 February 2002, entry into force 14 February 2002
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Bahrain
Government: Country name: etymology
the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies on each side of the archipelago
Government: Country name: former
Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain
Government: Country name: local long form
Mamlakat al Bahrayn
Government: Country name: local short form
Al Bahrayn
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador-designate Stephanie HALLETT (since 19 December 2025); Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth A. LITCHFIELD
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
ManamaConsular@state.gov https://bh.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District, P.O. Box 26431, Manama
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[973] 17-272594
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6210 Manama Place, Washington DC 20521-6210
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[973] 17-242700
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashed AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org https://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?language=en-US&tabid=7702
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 362-2192
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 342-1111
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020)
Government: Flag
description: red, with a white serrated band of five white points on the left side meaning: red is the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam history: until 2002, the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, CICA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOOSA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
Civil High Courts of Appeal; middle and lower civil courts; High Sharia Court of Appeal; Senior Sharia Court; Administrative Courts of Appeal; military courts
Government: Legal system
mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
November 2026
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
11/12/2022 to 11/19/2022
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
40 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
20%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
November 2026
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
11/27/2022
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
40 (all appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
25%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
4 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1971; Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, but they were changed in 2002 after Bahrain became a kingdom
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
unknown
Government: National color(s)
red, white
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Dilmun Burial Mounds; Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun; Bahrain Pearling Path
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
3 (all cultural)
Government: National holiday
National Day, 16 December (1971)
Government: National symbol(s)
a white serrated band with five white points on top of a red field
Government: Political parties
note: political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 law
Government: Suffrage
20 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
In 1783, the Sunni AL-KHALIFA family took power in Bahrain. 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. A steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy, in the process developing petroleum processing and refining, aluminum production, and hospitality and retail sectors. It has also endeavored to become a leading regional banking center, especially with respect to Islamic finance. Bahrain's small size, central location among Gulf countries, economic dependence on Saudi Arabia, and proximity to Iran require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Its foreign policy activities usually fall in line with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In 2022, the United States designated Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally. The Sunni royal family has long struggled to manage relations with its Shia-majority population. In 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government responded to similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces. In 2020, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed the US-brokered Abraham Accords with Israel. In 2023, Bahrain and the United States signed the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement to enhance cooperation across a wide range of areas, from defense and security to emerging technology, trade, and investment.
Military and Security: Military - note
the BDF (established 1968) is responsible for territorial defense and support to internal security; its primary concern is Iran, both the conventional military threat and Tehran's support to regional terrorist groups; the BDF participates in multinational exercises and has conducted small deployments outside of the country; in 2015, for example, Bahrain joined the Saudi Arabia-led military intervention in Yemen, supplying a few hundred troops and combat aircraft Bahrain’s closest security partners are Saudi Arabia and the US; Bahraini leaders have said that the security ties of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are “indivisible”; Saudi Arabia sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; Bahrain hosts the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which includes the US 5th Fleet and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; Bahrain also has close security ties with the UK, which maintains a naval support facility there Bahrain hosts the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Unified Maritime Operations Center and is a member of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (includes the Royal Guard), Royal Bahraini Navy, Royal Bahraini Air Force Ministry of Interior: National Guard, Special Security Forces Command (SSFC), Coast Guard (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
information varies; approximately 10,000 active Bahrain Defense Force; approximately 3,000 National Guard (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the military's inventory is comprised of mostly older US armaments alongside smaller quantities from other countries, such as France, Germany, Turkey, and the UK (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2015
4.64% (2015 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2016
4.67% (2016 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2017
4.32% (2017 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2018
4.04% (2018 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2019
4.03% (2019 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
4.06% (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
3.52% (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
3.42% (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
3.52% (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
2.89% (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-55 to voluntarily join the reserves (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
18.1% (male 143,399/female 139,667)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
77.7% (male 762,190/female 454,616)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
4.3% (2024 est.) (male 34,433/female 32,583)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
12.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.00% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
56.4% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
2.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
5.5 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
18.2 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
28.8 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
23.3 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
8.3% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
1.89% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Bahraini 47.4%, Asian 43.4%, other Arab 4.9%, African 1.4%, North American 1.1%, Gulf Co-operative countries 0.9%, European 0.8%, other 0.1% (2020 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.81 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.3% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.10% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
1.8 beds/1,000 population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
8 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
7.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
82.1 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
80.9 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
96.3% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
98.7% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
97.82% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
31.2 years
People and Society: Median age: male
34.6 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Bahraini
People and Society: Net migration rate
-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
29.8% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
People and Society: Population
1,588,670 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population distribution
smallest population of the Gulf States, but urbanization rate exceeds 90%; largest settlement concentration is found on the far northern end of the island in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.73% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
626,866
People and Society: Population: male
940,022
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
17 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
15 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
16 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.68 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.5 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
4.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
24.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
17.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.80 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
100.00% (2024 est.)
Space: Key space-program milestones
2022 - first scientific nanosatellite (Light-1 CubeSat) built with assistance from the UAE and launched by Japan; joined US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration 2023 - first domestically built technology-demonstrator nanosatellite (Kuwait Sat-1) launched by US 2025 - first domestically built remote-sensing nanosatellite (Al Munther) launched by US
Space: Space agency/agencies
Bahrain Space Agency (BSA; established 2014) (2025)
Space: Space program overview
focuses on promoting space research and science, applying space-related technologies, and building capacity in the fields of satellite manufacturing, tracking, control, data processing and analysis, and remote sensing; cooperates with a variety of foreign agencies and commercial entities, including those of India, Italy, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the UAE, and the US; also a member of the Arab Space Coordination Group (2025)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
al-Ashtar Brigades; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
371 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
3 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A9C
Transportation: Heliports
8 (2025)
Transportation: Merchant marine: by type
general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169
Transportation: Merchant marine: total
184 (2023)
Transportation: Ports: key ports
Al Manamah, Khalifa Bin Salman, Mina Salman, Sitrah
Transportation: Ports: large
0
Transportation: Ports: medium
3
Transportation: Ports: ports with oil terminals
1
Transportation: Ports: small
1
Transportation: Ports: total ports
4 (2024)
Transportation: Ports: very small
0
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.