Bahrain

Constitutional MonarchyPop1.6MGDP (PPP)$93.9BCI30Beta CP0.0→Beta

Some figures reconciled across multiple sources via Civica's methodology (v0.2 BETA). Methodology →

Bahrain

⌘K

Overview

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.

Geography

Area

Land: 760 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
Total: 760 sq km

Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers
Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Land Use

Other: 84.2% (2023 est.)
Forest: 4.3% (2023 est.)
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.)

Location: Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia
Coastline: 161 km

Elevation

Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
Highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m

Irrigated land: 40 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers: Arabian Aquifer System
Map references: Middle East

Land Boundaries

Total: 0 km

Maritime Claims

Contiguous zone: 24 nm
Territorial sea: 12 nm
Continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Natural hazards: periodic droughts; dust storms
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
Natural resources: oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls
Area comparative: 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates: 26 00 N, 50 33 E
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 & Society

Literacy

Male: 98.7% (2024 est.)
Female: 96.3% (2024 est.)
Total population: 97.8% (2024 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.

Religions: Muslim 74.2%, other 25.9% (2020 est)

Sex Ratio

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
0 14 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15 64 years: 1.68 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.5 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female

Birth rate: 12.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate: 2.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Median Age

Male: 34.6 years
Total: 33.5 years (2025 est.)
Female: 31.2 years

Population

Male: 940,022
Total: 1,566,888 (2024 est.)
Female: 626,866

Nationality

Noun: Bahraini(s)
Adjective: Bahraini

Tobacco Use

Male: 24.3% (2025 est.)
Total: 17.3% (2025 est.)
Female: 4.8% (2025 est.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 89.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

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)

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.)

Dependency Ratios

Total dependency ratio: 28.8 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 18.2 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2024 est.)

Physician density: 0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

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.)

Net migration rate: -1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate: 1.64 children born/woman (2025 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.)

Infant Mortality Rate

Male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Total: 9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
Female: 8 deaths/1,000 live births

Population growth rate: 0.79% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate: 0.81 (2025 est.)
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

Life Expectancy at Birth

Male: 78.1 years
Female: 82.7 years
Total population: 80.4 years (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Sanitation Facility Access

Improved: total: total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
Unimproved: total: total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

Beer: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Total: 1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Major urban areas population: 709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)
Obesity adult prevalence rate: 29.8% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15 49): 56.4% (2020 est.)

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

Male: 15 years (2023 est.)
Total: 16 years (2023 est.)
Female: 17 years (2023 est.)

Government

Civica · structure

How power is organised

ExecutiveLegislative

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

Capital

Name: Manama
Etymology: name derives from the Arabic word al-manama, meaning "place of rest" or "place of dreams"
Time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E

Suffrage: 20 years of age; universal

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

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

Country Name

Former: Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain
Etymology: the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies on each side of the archipelago
Local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
Local short form: Al Bahrayn
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
Conventional short form: Bahrain

Independence: 15 August 1971 (from the UK)
Legal system: mixed legal system of Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law
Government type: constitutional monarchy

Judicial Branch

Note: note: 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.
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)
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
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

Executive Branch

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
Chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)
Head of government: Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020)
Election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

National holiday: National Day, 16 December (1971)
National color(s): red, white

National Heritage

Total world heritage sites: 3 (all cultural)
Selected world heritage site locales: Dilmun Burial Mounds; Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun; Bahrain Pearling Path

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

Legislative Branch

Legislature name: National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)
Legislative structure: bicameral

National Anthem(s)

Title: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
History: adopted 1971; Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, but they were changed in 2002 after Bahrain became a kingdom
Lyrics/music: unknown

National symbol(s): a white serrated band with five white points on top of a red field
Administrative divisions: 4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Chamber name: Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 40 (all directly elected)
Electoral system: plurality/majority
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 11/12/2022 to 11/19/2022
Expected date of next election: November 2026
Percentage of women in chamber: 20%

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Chamber name: Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
Term in office: 4 years
Number of seats: 40 (all appointed)
Scope of elections: full renewal
Most recent election date: 11/27/2022
Expected date of next election: November 2026
Percentage of women in chamber: 25%

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Fax: [1] (202) 362-2192
Chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
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

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Fax: [973] 17-272594
Embassy: Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District, P.O. Box 26431, Manama
Telephone: [973] 17-242700
Mailing address: 6210 Manama Place, Washington DC  20521-6210
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/

International organisations: 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
International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Legislature

BAHRAIN · LOWER HOUSE

Council of Representatives

40 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Al-Asalah

Parties

All political parties3 parties · 40 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Upper house

BAHRAIN · UPPER HOUSE

Shura Council

40 seats · hover a seat for the party

Total seats

Majority line

Largest party

Al-Asalah

Parties

All political parties3 parties · 40 seats · click to dim in hemicycle

Leaders

Current

HB
Hamad II of Bahrain
- Head of StateSince 1999
SB
Salman bin Hamad, Crown Prince of Bahrain
- Head of GovernmentSince 2020

Economy

Budget

Note: note: 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.)
Expenditures: $9.982 billion (2020 est.)

Exports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $41.3B

Note: note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Exports 2022: $44.58 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023: $40.344 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024: $41.303 billion (2024 est.)

Imports

Civica canonical (reconciled): $33.0B

Note: note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Imports 2022: $33.066 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023: $32.374 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024: $33.044 billion (2024 est.)

Industries: petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
Labor force: 913,300 (2024 est.)

Public Debt

Civica canonical (reconciled): 111.6%

Note: note: central government debt as a % of GDP
Public debt 2020: 111.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Remittances

Note: note: 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.)

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.)

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

Unemployment Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 1.1%

Note: note: % 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.)

Exports partners: UAE 16%, Saudi Arabia 15%, South Africa 8%, USA 6%, India 4% (2023)
Imports partners: China 13%, Saudi Arabia 12%, UAE 11%, Brazil 8%, Australia 7% (2023)

Real GDP Per Capita

Civica canonical (reconciled): $66,941

Note: note: 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.)

Real GDP Growth Rate

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.6%

Note: note: 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.)

Agricultural products: lamb/mutton, dates, milk, tomatoes, chicken, eggs, sheep offal, sheepskins, eggplants, chillies/peppers (2023)
Exports commodities: refined petroleum, aluminum, iron ore, aluminum wire, jewelry (2023)
Imports commodities: iron ore, aluminum oxide, ships, cars, gold (2023)

Current Account Balance

Civica canonical (reconciled): $2.3B

Note: note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
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.)

Taxes and other revenues: 2.8% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate): $47.737 billion (2024 est.)

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection
Household consumption: 38.9% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 14.6% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 1.8% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 27.5% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 87.4% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -70.1% (2023 est.)

Average Household Expenditures

On food: 13.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
On alcohol and tobacco: 0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Civica canonical (reconciled): 0.9%

Note: note: annual % change based on 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.)

Industrial production growth rate: 0.1% (2023 est.)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Civica canonical (reconciled): $93.937 billion (2024 est.)

Note: note: 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.)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Male: 2.5% (2024 est.)
Note: note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment
Total: 5.2% (2024 est.)
Female: 12.4% (2024 est.)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

Note: note: 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.)

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Note: note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data
Industry: 43.4% (2023 est.)
Services: 51.9% (2023 est.)
Agriculture: 0.3% (2023 est.)

Energy

Coal

Exports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

Total petroleum production: 190,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Electricity

Exports: 467.898 million kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 480.883 million kWh (2023 est.)
Consumption: 35.09 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 7.031 million kW (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.093 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Natural Gas

Imports: 81.98 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Production: 19.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Consumption: 19.878 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 81.383 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Electricity Access

Electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 554.202 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Electricity Generation Sources

Solar: 0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Fossil fuels: 99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Communications

Internet Users

Percent of population: 100% (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

Telephones Fixed Lines

Total subscriptions: 246,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Total subscriptions: 2,415,720 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 160 (2024 est.)

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Total: 268,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

Transport

Ports

Large: 0
Small: 1
Medium: 3
Key ports: Al Manamah, Khalifa Bin Salman, Mina Salman, Sitrah
Very small: 0
Total ports: 4 (2024)
Ports with oil terminals: 1

Airports: 3 (2025)
Heliports: 8 (2025)

Merchant Marine

Total: 184 (2023)
BY type: general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A9C

Environment

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

Land Use

Other: 84.2% (2023 est.)
Forest: 4.3% (2023 est.)
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.)

Urbanization

Urban population: 89.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Methane Emissions

Other: 1.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste: 163.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Energy: 165.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
Agriculture: 0.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and Recycling

Municipal solid waste generated annually: 951,900 tons (2024 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 14.1% (2022 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

Total Water Withdrawal

Municipal: 275.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Industrial: 14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Agricultural: 144.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Total emissions: 47.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 38.995 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: -1,401 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 8.825 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions: 51.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources: 116 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Military & 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 Expenditures

Civica canonical (reconciled): 2.9%

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 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 service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-55 to voluntarily join the reserves (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 and security service personnel strengths: information varies; approximately 10,000 active Bahrain Defense Force; approximately 3,000 National Guard (2025)

Terrorism

Terrorist group(s): al-Ashtar Brigades; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force

Space

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)
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

Transnational Issues

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees: 371 (2024 est.)

Scores & Rankings

ScoreValueGlobal rankTrendAs of

Civica Index30.0 / 100as of 2024-Q4134 / 1902024-Q4

V-Dem Liberal Democracy0.05as of 2024-Q4156 / 1702024-Q4

Freedom House StatusNot Free (8/100)as of 2024-Q4—2024-Q4

Press Freedom (RSF)Partly free (50/100)as of 2024—2024

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Civica. (2026). Civica Atlas — Bahrain — vintage 2026-Q1: Bahrain factbook. Civica Atlas. Retrieved May 7, 2026, from https://civicaatlas.org/factbook/bahrain

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Sources: FAO FAOSTAT, ILO ILOSTAT, IMF (WEO), UN Statistics Division, UNDP HDR, UNESCO Institute for Statistics, V-Dem, WHO Global Health Observatory, World Bank, WTO Stats, CIA World Factbook, Wikidata

Bahrain

Area

Land Use

Elevation

Land Boundaries

Maritime Claims

Literacy

Languages

Sex Ratio

Median Age

Population

Nationality

Tobacco Use

Urbanization

Age Structure

Dependency Ratios

Health Expenditure

Drinking Water Source

Education Expenditure

Infant Mortality Rate

Life Expectancy at Birth

Sanitation Facility Access

Alcohol Consumption Per Capita

School Life Expectancy (Primary to Tertiary Education)

How power is organised

Capital

Citizenship

Constitution

Country Name

Judicial Branch

Executive Branch

National Heritage

Legislative Branch

National Anthem(s)

Legislative Branch Lower Chamber

Legislative Branch Upper Chamber

Diplomatic Representation in the US

Diplomatic Representation from the US

Council of Representatives

Shura Council

Current

Hamad II of Bahrain

Salman bin Hamad, Crown Prince of Bahrain

Budget

Exports

Imports

Public Debt

Remittances

Exchange Rates

Unemployment Rate

Real GDP Per Capita

Real GDP Growth Rate

Current Account Balance

GDP Composition, BY End Use

Average Household Expenditures

Inflation Rate (Consumer Prices)

Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity)

Youth Unemployment Rate (Ages 15 24)

Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold

GDP Composition, BY Sector of Origin

Coal

Petroleum

Electricity

Natural Gas

Electricity Access

Energy Consumption Per Capita

Electricity Generation Sources

Internet Users

Telephones Fixed Lines

Telephones Mobile Cellular

Broadband Fixed Subscriptions

Ports

Merchant Marine

Land Use

Urbanization

Methane Emissions

Waste and Recycling

Total Water Withdrawal

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

International Environmental Agreements