2020 Edition

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.

Area

land

760 sq km

total

760 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Climate

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Coastline

161 km

Elevation

highest point

Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Geographic coordinates

26 00 N, 50 33 E

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

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Land use

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.)

forest

4.3% (2023 est.)

other

84.2% (2023 est.)

Location

Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Map references

Middle East

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

extending to boundaries to be determined

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

periodic droughts; dust storms

Natural resources

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

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

Terrain

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Age structure

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)

Alcohol consumption per capita

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.)

Birth rate

12.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.4% (2020 est.)

Death rate

2.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

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.)

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

8.3% national budget (2025 est.)

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.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.81 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

8 deaths/1,000 live births

male

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu

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.

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.7 years

male

78.1 years

total population

80.4 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

96.3% (2024 est.)

male

98.7% (2024 est.)

total population

97.8% (2024 est.)

Major urban areas - population

709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

31.2 years

male

34.6 years

total

33.5 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Bahraini

noun

Bahraini(s)

Net migration rate

-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

29.8% (2016)

Physician density

0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Population

female

626,866

male

940,022

total

1,566,888 (2024 est.)

Population growth rate

0.79% (2025 est.)

Religions

Muslim 74.2%, other 25.9% (2020 est)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2023 est.)

male

15 years (2023 est.)

total

16 years (2023 est.)

Sex ratio

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.)

Tobacco use

female

4.8% (2025 est.)

male

24.3% (2025 est.)

total

17.3% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

89.9% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)

Capital

etymology

name derives from the Arabic word al-manama, 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

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

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

history

previous 1973; latest adopted 14 February 2002, entry into force 14 February 2002

Country name

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

former

Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain

local long form

Mamlakat al Bahrayn

local short form

Al Bahrayn

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador-designate Stephanie HALLETT (since 19 December 2025); Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth A. LITCHFIELD

email address and website

ManamaConsular@state.gov 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

Diplomatic representation in the US

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

ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org https://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?language=en-US&tabid=7702

FAX

[1] (202) 362-2192

telephone

[1] (202) 342-1111

Executive branch

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)

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 type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

15 August 1971 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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

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)

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

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

Legal system

mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law

Legislative branch

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

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

Legislative branch - upper chamber

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

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1971; Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, but they were changed in 2002 after Bahrain became a kingdom

lyrics/music

unknown

title

"Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)

National color(s)

red, white

National heritage

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 holiday

National Day, 16 December (1971)

National symbol(s)

a white serrated band with five white points on top of a red field

Political parties

note:  political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 law

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

lamb/mutton, dates, milk, tomatoes, chicken, eggs, sheep offal, sheepskins, eggplants, chillies/peppers (2023)

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

on food

13.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$9.982 billion (2020 est.)

revenues

$5.538 billion (2020 est.)

Current account balance

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.)

Economic overview

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

Exchange rates

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.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$44.58 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$40.344 billion (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$41.303 billion (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, aluminum, iron ore, aluminum wire, jewelry (2023)

Exports - partners

UAE 16%, Saudi Arabia 15%, South Africa 8%, USA 6%, India 4% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

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.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.3% (2023 est.)

industry

43.4% (2023 est.)

services

51.9% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$47.737 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$33.066 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$32.374 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$33.044 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

iron ore, aluminum oxide, ships, cars, gold (2023)

Imports - partners

China 13%, Saudi Arabia 12%, UAE 11%, Brazil 8%, Australia 7% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

0.1% (2023 est.)

Industries

petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

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.)

Labor force

913,300 (2024 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2020

111.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

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.)

Real GDP growth rate

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.)

Real GDP per capita

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.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

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.)

Taxes and other revenues

2.8% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

1.4% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

1.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

12.4% (2024 est.)

male

2.5% (2024 est.)

total

5.2% (2024 est.)

Coal

exports

600 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

35.09 billion kWh (2023 est.)

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.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

554.202 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Natural gas

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.)

Petroleum

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.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2023 est.)

total

268,000 (2023 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.bh

Internet users

percent of population

100% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2023 est.)

total subscriptions

246,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

160 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

2,415,720 (2023 est.)

Airports

3 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A9C

Heliports

8 (2025)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169

total

184 (2023)

Ports

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

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 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 service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 10,000 active Bahrain Defense Force; approximately 3,000 National Guard (2025)

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 expenditures

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.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-55 to voluntarily join the reserves (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees

371 (2024 est.)

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 agency/agencies

Bahrain Space Agency (BSA; established 2014) (2025)

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)

Terrorist group(s)

al-Ashtar Brigades; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force

Carbon dioxide emissions

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.)

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

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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Methane emissions

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.)

Particulate matter emissions

51.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

116 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

144.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

275.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

951,900 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

14.1% (2022 est.)