Bahrain Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Manama

Population

1,566,888 (2024 est.)

Area

760 sq km

Location

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

🧭 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

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

26 00 N, 50 33 E

Map references

Middle East

Area — total

760 sq km

Area — land

760 sq km

Area — water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

Land boundaries — total

0 km

Coastline

161 km

Maritime claims — territorial sea

12 nm

Maritime claims — contiguous zone

24 nm

Maritime claims — continental shelf

Extending to boundaries to be determined

Climate

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

Terrain

Mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Elevation — highest point

Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m

Elevation — lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

Natural resources

Oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

Land use — agricultural land

10.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

4.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

84.2% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2012)

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

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

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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

1,566,888 (2024 est.)

Population — male

940,022

Population — female

626,866

Nationality — noun

Bahraini(s)

Nationality — adjective

Bahraini

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.)

Languages — Languages

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu

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.

Religions

Muslim 74.2%, other 25.9% (2020 est)

Age structure — 0-14 years

18.1% (male 143,399/female 139,667)

Age structure — 15-64 years

77.7% (male 762,190/female 454,616)

Age structure — 65 years and over

4.3% (2024 est.) (male 34,433/female 32,583)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

28.8 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

23.3 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

5.5 (2024 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

18.2 (2024 est.)

Median age — total

33.5 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

34.6 years

Median age — female

31.2 years

Population growth rate

0.79% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (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

Urbanization — urban population

89.9% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.68 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1.5 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate — total

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

Infant mortality rate — male

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

8 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

80.4 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

78.1 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

82.7 years

Total fertility rate

1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.81 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

4.3% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

29.8% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

17.3% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

24.3% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

4.8% (2025 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

56.4% (2020 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

8.3% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

97.8% (2024 est.)

Literacy — male

98.7% (2024 est.)

Literacy — female

96.3% (2024 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

16 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

15 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

17 years (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

None of the selected agreements

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

10.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

4.3% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

84.2% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

89.9% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

47.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

-1,401 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

8.825 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from consumed natural gas

38.995 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

51.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Methane emissions — energy

165.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Methane emissions — agriculture

0.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — waste

163.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Methane emissions — other

1.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

951,900 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

14.1% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

275.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

144.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

116 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Kingdom of Bahrain

Country name — conventional short form

Bahrain

Country name — local long form

Mamlakat al Bahrayn

Country name — local short form

Al Bahrayn

Country name — former

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

Country name — etymology

The name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies on each side of the archipelago

Government type

Constitutional monarchy

Capital — name

Manama

Capital — geographic coordinates

26 14 N, 50 34 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

Name derives from the Arabic word al-manama, meaning "place of rest" or "place of dreams"

Administrative divisions

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

Legal system

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

Constitution — history

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

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

International law organization participation

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

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

The father must be a citizen of Bahrain

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

25 years; 15 years for Arab nationals

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020)

Executive branch — cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the monarch

Executive branch — election/appointment process

The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch — legislature name

National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

40 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

11/12/2022 to 11/19/2022

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

20%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

November 2026

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

40 (all appointed)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

4 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

11/27/2022

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

25%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

November 2026

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)

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

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

Political parties

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashed AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 342-1111

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 362-2192

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

New York

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

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

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District, P.O. Box 26431, Manama

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

6210 Manama Place, Washington DC 20521-6210

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[973] 17-242700

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[973] 17-272594

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

ManamaConsular@state.gov https://bh.usembassy.gov/

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

Independence

15 August 1971 (from the UK)

National holiday

National Day, 16 December (1971)

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

National symbol(s)

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

National color(s)

Red, white

National anthem(s) — title

"Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Unknown

National anthem(s) — history

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

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

3 (all cultural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Dilmun Burial Mounds; Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun; Bahrain Pearling Path

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$93.937 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$91.185 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$87.781 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

3% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

3.9% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

6.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$59,100 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$57,800 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$57,600 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$47.737 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

0.9% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

0.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

3.6% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

0.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

43.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

51.9% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

38.9% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

14.6% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

27.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

1.8% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

87.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-70.1% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

0.1% (2023 est.)

Labor force

913,300 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

1.2% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

1.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

1.4% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

5.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

2.5% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

12.4% (2024 est.)

Average household expenditures — on food

13.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Average household expenditures — on alcohol and tobacco

0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$5.538 billion (2020 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$9.982 billion (2020 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2020

111.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

2.8% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

$2.282 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$2.699 billion (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

$6.839 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$41.303 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$40.344 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$44.58 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

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

Exports - commodities

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

Imports — Imports 2024

$33.044 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$32.374 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$33.066 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

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

Imports - commodities

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$4.949 billion (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$5.118 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$4.775 billion (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

0.376 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

0.376 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

0.376 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

0.376 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

0.376 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

7.031 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

35.09 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

467.898 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

480.883 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

1.093 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — fossil fuels

99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

600 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

300 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — total petroleum production

190,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Petroleum — crude oil estimated reserves

186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)

Natural gas — production

19.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — consumption

19.878 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Natural gas — imports

81.98 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Natural gas — proven reserves

81.383 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

554.202 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

246,000 (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

16 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

2,415,720 (2023 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

160 (2024 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.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

268,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

17 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A9C

Airports

3 (2025)

Heliports

8 (2025)

Merchant marine — total

184 (2023)

Merchant marine — by type

General cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169

Ports — total ports

4 (2024)

Ports — large

0

Ports — medium

3

Ports — small

1

Ports — very small

0

Ports — ports with oil terminals

1

Ports — key ports

Al Manamah, Khalifa Bin Salman, Mina Salman, Sitrah

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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 expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

3% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

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 service age and obligation

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

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)

🛰️ Space⬆️ Top

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

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

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

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

371 (2024 est.)