Bahrain

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.

26 00 N, 50 33 E

periodic droughts; dust storms

3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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

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

161 km

Total: 0 km

Agricultural land: 10.1% (2023 est.)

Arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

Permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)

Permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)

Forest: 4.3% (2023 est.)

Other: 84.2% (2023 est.)

Territorial sea: 12 nm

Contiguous zone: 24 nm

Continental shelf: Extending to boundaries to be determined

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

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

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

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

Middle East

40 sq km (2012)

116 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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

Highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m

Lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m

Arabian Aquifer System

Total : 760 sq km

Land: 760 sq km

Water: 0 sq km

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)

At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female

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

Total population: 1.5 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Total population: 97.8% (2024 est.)

Male: 98.7% (2024 est.)

Female: 96.3% (2024 est.)

Noun: Bahraini(s)

Adjective: Bahraini

Urban population: 89.9% of total population (2023)

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

Improved:

Total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)

709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)

0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

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

Total dependency ratio: 28.8 (2024 est.)

Youth dependency ratio: 23.3 (2024 est.)

Elderly dependency ratio: 5.5 (2024 est.)

Potential support ratio: 18.2 (2024 est.)

Improved:

Total: 100% of population (2022 est.)

Unimproved:

Total: 0% of population (2022 est.)

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.)

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.

Total: 16 years (2023 est.)

Male: 15 years (2023 est.)

Female: 17 years (2023 est.)

4.3% of GDP (2021)

8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)

0.81 (2024 est.)

56.4% (2020 est.)

Total: 5.2% (2024 est.)

Male: 2.5% (2024 est.)

Female: 12.4% (2024 est.)

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

-1.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 33.4 years (2024 est.)

Male: 34.6 years

Female: 31.2 years

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

1.65 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Total: 1,566,888 (2024 est.)

Male: 940,022

Female: 626,866

Total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Male: 11.3 deaths/1,000 live births

Female: 8 deaths/1,000 live births

Total: 17.3% (2025 est.)

Male: 24.3% (2025 est.)

Female: 4.8% (2025 est.)

29.8% (2016)

2.8 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

12.2 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Total: 1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Beer: 0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Wine: 0.11 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.)

Total population: 80.4 years (2024 est.)

Male: 78.1 years

Female: 82.7 years

1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)

8.3% national budget (2025 est.)

0.82% (2024 est.)

Muslim 74.2%, other 25.9% (2020 est)

Municipal: 275.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Industrial: 14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Agricultural: 144.7 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.)

51.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

47.818 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.)

From consumed natural gas: 38.995 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

554.202 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

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

Name: Manama

Geographic coordinates: 26 14 N, 50 34 E

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

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

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

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)

Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch

Election/appointment process: The monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

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

15 August 1971 (from the UK)

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

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.

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

Legislature name: National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)

Legislative structure: Bicameral

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

National Day, 16 December (1971)

Note: 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection

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

20 years of age; universal

constitutional monarchy

Conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain

Conventional short form: Bahrain

Local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn

Local short form: Al Bahrayn

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

Chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashed AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)

Chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008

Telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111

FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192

Email address and website:
Ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.org

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

Consulate(s) general: New York

Title: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)

Lyrics/music: Unknown

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

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

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

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

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

red, white

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

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

Mailing address: 6210 Manama Place, Washington DC  20521-6210

Telephone: [973] 17-242700

FAX: [973] 17-272594

Email address and website:
ManamaConsular@state.gov

https://bh.usembassy.gov/

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

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Revenues: $5.538 billion (2020 est.)

Expenditures: $9.982 billion (2020 est.)

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

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

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates:
0.376 (2024 est.)
0.376 (2023 est.)
0.376 (2022 est.)
0.376 (2021 est.)
0.376 (2020 est.)

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

$47.737 billion (2024 est.)

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Household consumption: 38.9% (2023 est.)

Government consumption: 14.6% (2023 est.)

Investment in fixed capital: 27.5% (2023 est.)

Investment in inventories: 1.8% (2023 est.)

Exports of goods and services: 87.4% (2023 est.)

Imports of goods and services: -70.1% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

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

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

On food: 13.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)

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

0% of GDP (2023 est.)
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

913,300 (2024 est.)

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

$4.949 billion (2024 est.)
$5.118 billion (2023 est.)
$4.775 billion (2022 est.)

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

111.6% of GDP (2020 est.)

Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

1.2% (2024 est.)
1.2% (2023 est.)
1.4% (2022 est.)

note: % of labor force seeking employment

2.8% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Note: Central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

$93.937 billion (2024 est.)
$91.185 billion (2023 est.)
$87.781 billion (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

0.9% (2024 est.)
0.1% (2023 est.)
3.6% (2022 est.)

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

$2.282 billion (2024 est.)
$2.699 billion (2023 est.)
$6.839 billion (2022 est.)

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

$59,100 (2024 est.)
$57,800 (2023 est.)
$57,600 (2022 est.)

note: data in 2021 dollars

$33.044 billion (2024 est.)
$32.374 billion (2023 est.)
$33.066 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

$41.303 billion (2024 est.)
$40.344 billion (2023 est.)
$44.58 billion (2022 est.)

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

3% (2024 est.)
3.9% (2023 est.)
6.2% (2022 est.)

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

0.1% (2023 est.)

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Agriculture: 0.3% (2023 est.)

Industry: 43.4% (2023 est.)

Services: 51.9% (2023 est.)

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Exports: 600 metric tons (2023 est.)

Imports: 300 metric tons (2023 est.)

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

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

Production: 19.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Consumption: 19.878 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)

Imports: 81.98 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Proven reserves: 81.383 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Total petroleum production: 190,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Refined petroleum consumption: 72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil estimated reserves: 186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)

Installed generating capacity: 7.031 million kW (2023 est.)

Consumption: 35.09 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Exports: 467.898 million kWh (2023 est.)

Imports: 480.883 million kWh (2023 est.)

Transmission/distribution losses: 1.093 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Percent of population: 100% (2023 est.)

.bh

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)

Total subscriptions: 2.42 million (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 145 (2022 est.)

Total: 268,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 17 (2023 est.)

Total subscriptions: 246,000 (2023 est.)

Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 16 (2023 est.)

A9C

3 (2025)

Total: 184 (2023)

By type: General cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169

8 (2025)

3% of GDP (2024 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
3.2% of GDP (2022 est.)
3.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

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

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 5^th 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)

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)

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

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)

Note 1: The Royal Guard is officially under the command of the Army, but exercises considerable autonomy 

Note 2: 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

Refugees: 371 (2024 est.)

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

Note 1: 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

Note 2: 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

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)

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

Total ports: 4 (2024)

Large: 0

Medium: 3

Small: 1

Very small: 0

Ports with oil terminals: 1

Key ports: Al Manamah, Khalifa Bin Salman, Mina Salman, Sitrah

Chamber name: Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)

Number of seats: 40 (all directly elected)

Electoral system: Plurality/majority

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 4 years

Most recent election date: 11/12/2022 to 11/19/2022

Percentage of women in chamber: 20%

Expected date of next election: November 2026

Chamber name: Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)

Number of seats: 40 (all appointed)

Scope of elections: Full renewal

Term in office: 4 years

Most recent election date: 11/27/2022

Percentage of women in chamber: 25%

Expected date of next election: November 2026

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

Energy: 165.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)

Agriculture: 0.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Waste: 163.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)

Other: 1.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)