Introduction
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. <br><br>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.
Geography
- Land
- 760 sq km
- Total
- 760 sq km
- Water
- 0 sq km
3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
161 km
Asia
- Highest point
- Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m
- Lowest point
- Persian Gulf 0 m
26 00 N, 50 33 E
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
40 sq km (2012)
- Total
- 0 km
- Agricultural land
- 10.1% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: arable land
- arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent crops
- permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
- Agricultural land: permanent pasture
- permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
- arable land
- 2.63%
- Forest
- 4.3% (2023 est.)
- Other
- 84.2% (2023 est.)
- permanent crops
- 2.5%
No
Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Arabian Aquifer System
- Google Maps
- https://goo.gl/maps/5Zue99Zc6vFBHxzJ7
- OpenStreetMap
- https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/378734
Middle East
- Contiguous zone
- 24 nm
- Continental shelf
- extending to boundaries to be determined
- Territorial sea
- 12 nm
periodic droughts; dust storms
oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
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
Western Asia
mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment
- UTC+03:00
- number of time zones
- 1
People and Society
- 0-14 years
- 18.1% (male 143,399/female 139,667)
- 15-64 years
- 77.7% (male 762,190/female 454,616)
- 65 years and over
- 4.3% (2024 est.) (male 34,433/female 32,583)
- Beer
- 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Other alcohols
- 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Spirits
- 0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Total
- 1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
- Wine
- 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
12.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
56.4% (2020 est.)
- 2.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
- adult female
- 47 per 1,000
- adult male
- 55 per 1,000
- Elderly dependency ratio
- 5.5 (2024 est.)
- Potential support ratio
- 18.2 (2024 est.)
- Total dependency ratio
- 28.8 (2024 est.)
- Youth dependency ratio
- 23.3 (2024 est.)
- improved total
- 98.9%
- Improved: total
- total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
- Education expenditure (% GDP)
- 1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Education expenditure (% national budget)
- 8.3% national budget (2025 est.)
2 % of GDP
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.)
0.81 (2025 est.)
- 4 % of GDP
- Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
- 4.3% of GDP (2021)
- Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
- 8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
0.1%
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
- Female
- 8 deaths/1,000 live births
- Male
- 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
- neonatal
- 4 deaths/1,000 live births
- Total
- 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
- Languages
- Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu
- Major-language sample(s)
- <br>كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)<br><br>The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
- number of languages
- 1
- Female
- 82.7 years
- Male
- 78.1 years
- Total population
- 80.4 years (2024 est.)
- Female
- 96.3% (2024 est.)
- Male
- 98.7% (2024 est.)
- Total population
- 97.8% (2024 est.)
709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)
17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
- Female
- 31.2 years
- Male
- 34.6 years
- Total
- 33.5 years (2025 est.)
8 births/1,000 women 15-19
- Adjective
- Bahraini
- Noun
- Bahraini(s)
-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
29.8% (2016)
0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
- Female
- 626,866
- Male
- 940,022
- Total
- 1,566,888 (2024 est.)
0.79% (2025 est.)
Muslim 74.2%, other 25.9% (2020 est)
- improved total
- 93.35%
- Improved: total
- total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
- Unimproved: total
- total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
- Female
- 17 years (2023 est.)
- Male
- 15 years (2023 est.)
- Total
- 16 years (2023 est.)
- 0-14 years
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years
- 1.68 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over
- 1.06 male(s)/female
- At birth
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- Total population
- 1.5 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
- Female
- 4.8% (2025 est.)
- Male
- 24.3% (2025 est.)
- Total
- 17.3% (2025 est.)
1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
- Rate of urbanization
- 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
- Urban population
- 89.9% of total population (2023)
- measles
- 99%
Government
4 governorates (<em>muhafazat</em>, singular - <em>muhafazah</em>); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)
- Etymology
- name derives from the Arabic word <em>al-manama</em>, meaning "place of rest" or "place of dreams"
- Geographic coordinates
- 26 14 N, 50 34 E
- Name
- Manama
- Time difference
- UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Citizenship by birth
- no
- Citizenship by descent only
- the father must be a citizen of Bahrain
- Dual citizenship recognized
- no
- Residency requirement for naturalization
- 25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals
- svg
- https://mainfacts.com/media/images/coats_of_arms/bh.svg
- 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
- History
- previous 1973; latest adopted 14 February 2002, entry into force 14 February 2002
- alternative spellings
- BH, Kingdom of Bahrain, Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn
- Conventional long form
- Kingdom of Bahrain
- Conventional short form
- Bahrain
- Etymology
- the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies on each side of the archipelago
- FIFA code
- BHR
- Former
- Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain
- Local long form
- Mamlakat al Bahrayn
- local long form (ara)
- مملكة البحرين
- Local short form
- Al Bahrayn
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador-designate Stephanie HALLETT (since 19 December 2025); Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth A. LITCHFIELD
- Email address and website
- <br>ManamaConsular@state.gov<br><br>https://bh.usembassy.gov/
- Embassy
- Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District, P.O. Box 26431, Manama
- FAX
- [973] 17-272594
- Mailing address
- 6210 Manama Place, Washington DC 20521-6210
- Telephone
- [973] 17-242700
- Chancery
- 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
- Chief of mission
- Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashed AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)
- Consulate(s) general
- New York
- Email address and website
- <br>ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org<br><br>https://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?language=en-US&tabid=7702
- FAX
- [1] (202) 362-2192
- Telephone
- [1] (202) 342-1111
- Cabinet
- Cabinet appointed by the monarch
- Chief of state
- King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)
- Election/appointment process
- the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
- Head of government
- Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020)
<strong>description:</strong> red, with a white serrated band of five white points on the left side<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red is the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam<br><br><strong>history: </strong>until 2002, the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
The flag of Bahrain has a red field. On the hoist side, it features a white vertical band that spans about one-third the width of the field and is separated from the rest of the field by five adjoining fly-side pointing white isosceles triangles that serve as a serrated line.
- svg
- https://flagcdn.com/bh.svg
constitutional monarchy
15 August 1971 (from the UK)
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
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
- 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)
- 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
- Note
- <strong>note:</strong> the judiciary of Bahrain is divided into civil law courts and sharia law courts; sharia courts (involving personal status and family law) are further divided into Sunni Muslim and Shia Muslim; the Courts are supervised by the Supreme Judicial Council.
- 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
mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law
- Legislative structure
- bicameral
- Legislature name
- National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)
- Chamber name
- Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)
- Electoral system
- plurality/majority
- Expected date of next election
- November 2026
- Most recent election date
- 11/12/2022 to 11/19/2022
- Number of seats
- 40 (all directly elected)
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 20%
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Term in office
- 4 years
- Chamber name
- Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
- Expected date of next election
- November 2026
- Most recent election date
- 11/27/2022
- Number of seats
- 40 (all appointed)
- Percentage of women in chamber
- 25%
- Scope of elections
- full renewal
- Term in office
- 4 years
red, white
- Selected World Heritage Site locales
- Dilmun Burial Mounds; Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun; Bahrain Pearling Path
- Total World Heritage Sites
- 3 (all cultural)
- National Day, 16 December (1971)
- note
- <strong>note:</strong> 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection
a white serrated band with five white points on top of a red field
<p><strong>note:</strong> political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 law</p>
Monday
20 years of age; universal
Yes
Economy
- lamb/mutton, dates, milk, tomatoes, chicken, eggs, sheep offal, sheepskins, eggplants, chillies/peppers (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- On alcohol and tobacco
- 0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- On food
- 13.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
- Expenditures
- $9.982 billion (2020 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
- Revenues
- $5.538 billion (2020 est.)
- code
- BHD
- name
- Bahraini dinar (BHD) [.د.ب]
- $2.28 billion
- Current account balance 2022
- $6.839 billion (2022 est.)
- Current account balance 2023
- $2.699 billion (2023 est.)
- Current account balance 2024
- $2.282 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
<p>high-income, growing Middle Eastern island economy; oil and aluminum exporter with diversification led by services, construction and manufacturing; regional finance and tourism hub; high public debt linked to oil revenue dependence and limited tax base; vulnerable to water reservoir depletion</p>
- Currency
- Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -
- Exchange rates 2020
- 0.376 (2020 est.)
- Exchange rates 2021
- 0.376 (2021 est.)
- Exchange rates 2022
- 0.376 (2022 est.)
- Exchange rates 2023
- 0.376 (2023 est.)
- Exchange rates 2024
- 0.376 (2024 est.)
- $41.3 billion
- Exports 2022
- $44.58 billion (2022 est.)
- Exports 2023
- $40.344 billion (2023 est.)
- Exports 2024
- $41.303 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
- refined petroleum, aluminum, iron ore, aluminum wire, jewelry (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- UAE 16%, Saudi Arabia 15%, South Africa 8%, USA 6%, India 4% (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- net inflows
- $2.7 billion
- Exports of goods and services
- 87.4% (2023 est.)
- Government consumption
- 14.6% (2023 est.)
- Household consumption
- 38.9% (2023 est.)
- Imports of goods and services
- -70.1% (2023 est.)
- Investment in fixed capital
- 27.5% (2023 est.)
- Investment in inventories
- 1.8% (2023 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
- Agriculture
- 0.3% (2023 est.)
- Industry
- 43.4% (2023 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
- Services
- 51.9% (2023 est.)
- $47.737 billion (2024 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate
$29,654
$43.79 billion
$28,090
28 % of GDP
- $33.04 billion
- Imports 2022
- $33.066 billion (2022 est.)
- Imports 2023
- $32.374 billion (2023 est.)
- Imports 2024
- $33.044 billion (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
- iron ore, aluminum oxide, ships, cars, gold (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- China 13%, Saudi Arabia 12%, UAE 11%, Brazil 8%, Australia 7% (2023)
- note
- <b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- 0.1% (2023 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
- 0.92%
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
- 3.6% (2022 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
- 0.1% (2023 est.)
- Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
- 0.9% (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices
- 913,300 (2024 est.)
- note
- <b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- total
- 932,073 persons
- agriculture
- 0.83%
- industry
- 34.91%
- services
- 64.26%
- Note
- <strong>note:</strong> central government debt as a % of GDP
- Public debt 2020
- 111.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
- $106.35 billion
- Note
- <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
- $87.781 billion (2022 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
- $91.185 billion (2023 est.)
- Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
- $93.937 billion (2024 est.)
- 2.6%
- Note
- <b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
- Real GDP growth rate 2022
- 6.2% (2022 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2023
- 3.9% (2023 est.)
- Real GDP growth rate 2024
- 3% (2024 est.)
- $66,941
- Note
- <b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars
- Real GDP per capita 2022
- $57,600 (2022 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2023
- $57,800 (2023 est.)
- Real GDP per capita 2024
- $59,100 (2024 est.)
- Note
- <strong>note:</strong> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
- Remittances 2021
- 0% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Remittances 2022
- 0% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Remittances 2023
- 0% of GDP (2023 est.)
- $4.95 billion
- Note
- <b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
- $4.775 billion (2022 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
- $5.118 billion (2023 est.)
- Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
- $4.949 billion (2024 est.)
- 2.8% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
- note
- <strong>note:</strong> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
- 1.1%
- Note
- <b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment
- Unemployment rate 2022
- 1.4% (2022 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2023
- 1.2% (2023 est.)
- Unemployment rate 2024
- 1.2% (2024 est.)
- Female
- 12.4% (2024 est.)
- Male
- 2.5% (2024 est.)
- Note
- <b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
- Total
- 5.2% (2024 est.)
Energy
- Exports
- 600 metric tons (2023 est.)
- Imports
- 300 metric tons (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 35.09 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- consumption per capita
- 0 kWh
- Exports
- 467.898 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Imports
- 480.883 million kWh (2023 est.)
- Installed generating capacity
- 7.031 million kW (2023 est.)
- Transmission/distribution losses
- 1.093 billion kWh (2023 est.)
- Electrification - total population
- 100% (2022 est.)
- Fossil fuels
- 99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- hydroelectric
- 0%
- nuclear
- 0%
- renewable
- 0.04%
- Solar
- 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
- 10,702 kg of oil equivalent
- Total energy consumption per capita 2023
- 554.202 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
- Consumption
- 19.878 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Imports
- 81.98 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
- Production
- 19.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
- Proven reserves
- 81.383 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
- Crude oil estimated reserves
- 186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
- Refined petroleum consumption
- 72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
- Total petroleum production
- 190,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
0%
Communications
- per 100 inhabitants
- 17 per 100
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 17 (2023 est.)
- Total
- 268,000 (2023 est.)
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)
.bh
- Percent of population
- 100% (2023 est.)
####|###
+973
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 16 (2023 est.)
- Total subscriptions
- 246,000 (2023 est.)
- subscriptions per 100
- 154 per 100
- Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
- 160 (2024 est.)
- Total subscriptions
- 2,415,720 (2023 est.)
Transportation
- passengers carried
- 5.73 million passengers
- registered carrier departures
- 60,083 departures
3 (2025)
A9C
Right
8 (2025)
- By type
- general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169
- Total
- 184 (2023)
- Key ports
- Al Manamah, Khalifa Bin Salman, Mina Salman, Sitrah
- Large
- 0
- Medium
- 3
- Ports with oil terminals
- 1
- Small
- 1
- Total ports
- 4 (2024)
- Very small
- 0
BRN
Military and Security
- armored vehicles
- tanks
<p>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</p> 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<br><br>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)
- Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (includes the Royal Guard), Royal Bahraini Navy, Royal Bahraini Air Force<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Guard, Special Security Forces Command (SSFC), Coast Guard (2025)
- active duty personnel
- 19,000
- note
- <strong>note 1:</strong> the Royal Guard is officially under the command of the Army, but exercises considerable autonomy <br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> the Ministry of Interior is responsible for internal security and oversees police and specialized security units responsible for maintaining internal order; the National Guard's primary mission is to guard critical infrastructure such as the airport and oil fields and is a back-up to the police; the Guard is under the Ministry of Interior but reports directly to the king
- percent of total labor force
- 2.33 %
information varies; approximately 10,000 active Bahrain Defense Force; approximately 3,000 National Guard (2025)
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)
- 3 % of GDP
- current USD
- $1,383,973,404
- Military Expenditures 2020
- 4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)
- Military Expenditures 2021
- 3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
- Military Expenditures 2022
- 3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
- Military Expenditures 2023
- 3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
- Military Expenditures 2024
- 3% of GDP (2024 est.)
- percent of central government expenditure
- 10.22 %
- percent of GDP
- 2.89 % of GDP
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-55 to voluntarily join the reserves (2025)
- PowerIndex score
- 1.6731
Transnational Issues
- Refugees
- 371 (2024 est.)
Space
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<br><br>2023 - first domestically built technology-demonstrator nanosatellite (Kuwait Sat-1) launched by US<br><br>2025 - first domestically built remote-sensing nanosatellite (Al Munther) launched by US
Bahrain Space Agency (BSA; established 2014) (2025)
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
- al-Ashtar Brigades; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force
- note
- <strong>note 1:</strong> details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide <br><br><strong>note 2: </strong>in addition to the al-Ashtar Brigades and the IRGC/Qods Force, Saraya al-Mukhtar (aka The Mukhtar Brigade) is an Iran-backed terrorist organization based in Bahrain, reportedly receiving financial and logistic support from the IRGC; Saraya al-Mukhtar's self-described goal is to depose the Bahraini Government with the intention of paving the way for Iran to exert greater influence in Bahrain; the group was designated by the US as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in Dec 2020
Environment
- From coal and metallurgical coke
- -1,401 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From consumed natural gas
- 38.995 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- From petroleum and other liquids
- 8.825 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
- Total emissions
- 47.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
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
- 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
- Signed, but not ratified
- none of the selected agreements
- Agriculture
- 0.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- Energy
- 165.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
- Other
- 1.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
- Waste
- 163.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
51.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
21 % of total land area
0 % of total
116 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- 3,878 % of internal resources
- Agricultural
- 144.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Industrial
- 14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Municipal
- 275.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
- Municipal solid waste generated annually
- 951,900 tons (2024 est.)
- Percent of municipal solid waste recycled
- 14.1% (2022 est.)