2021 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. The Sunni royal family has long struggled to manage relations with its large Shia-majority population. In early 2011, amid Arab uprisings elsewhere in the region, the Bahraini Government confronted similar pro-democracy and reform protests at home with police and military action, including deploying Gulf Cooperation Council security forces to Bahrain. Failed political talks prompted opposition political societies to boycott 2014 legislative and municipal council elections. In 2018, a law preventing members of political societies dissolved by the courts from participating in elections effectively sidelined the majority of opposition figures from taking part in national elections. As a result, most members of parliament are independents. Ongoing dissatisfaction with the political status quo continues to factor into sporadic clashes between demonstrators and security forces. On 15 September 2020, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates signed peace agreements (the Abraham Accords) with Israel – brokered by the US – in Washington DC. Bahrain and the UAE thus became the third and fourth Middle Eastern countries, along with Egypt and Jordan, to recognize Israel.

Area

land

760 sq km

total

760 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

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

11.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5.3% (2018 est.)

forest

0.7% (2018 est.)

other

88% (2018 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

18.45% (male 141,039/female 136,687)

15-24 years

15.16% (male 129,310/female 98,817)

25-54 years

56.14% (male 550,135/female 294,778)

55-64 years

6.89% (male 64,761/female 38,870)

65 years and over

3.36% (male 25,799/female 24,807) (2020 est.)

Birth rate

12.5 births/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current Health Expenditure

4.1% (2018)

Death rate

2.81 deaths/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

3.4

potential support ratio

29.8 (2020 est.)

total dependency ratio

26.5

youth dependency ratio

23.1

Drinking water source

improved: total

total: 100% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

Education expenditures

2.3% of GDP (2017)

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 46%, Asian 45.5%, other Arab 4.7%, African 1.6%, European 1%, other 1.2% (includes Gulf Co-operative country nationals, North and South Americans, and Oceanians) (2010 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2021 est.)

male

12.31 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10.54 deaths/1,000 live births

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

82.02 years (2021 est.)

male

77.39 years

total population

79.67 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

94.9% (2018)

male

99.9%

total population

97.5%

Major urban areas - population

664,000 MANAMA (capital) (2021)

Maternal mortality ratio

14 deaths/100,000 live births (2017 est.)

Median age

female

30.3 years (2020 est.)

male

34.4 years

total

32.9 years

Nationality

adjective

Bahraini

noun

Bahraini(s)

Net migration rate

-0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

29.8% (2016)

Physicians density

0.93 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

1,526,929 (July 2021 est.)

note

note: immigrants make up approximately 45% of the total population, according to UN data (2019)

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

Population growth rate

0.9% (2021 est.)

Religions

Muslim 73.7%, Christian 9.3%, Jewish 0.1%, other 16.9% (2017 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: total

total: 100% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2017 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

17 years (2019)

male

16 years

total

16 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.03 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.31 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.87 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.67 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.04 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.53 male(s)/female (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.68 children born/woman (2021 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

12.2% (2012 est.)

male

2.6%

total

5.3%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

89.6% of total population (2021)

Administrative divisions

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

note

note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Capital

etymology

name derives from the Arabic "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

amendments

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; amended 2012, 2017

history

adopted 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 surrounding 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maggie NARDI (since August 2019)

email address and website

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

embassy

Building 979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), 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 Rashid AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

ambsecretary@bahrainembassy.orgmofa.gov.bh

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)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime minister SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020); first deputy prime minister (vacant); Deputy Prime Ministers MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak Al-Khalifa (since September 2005), Jawad bin Salim al-ARAIDH, ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman Al-Khalifa (since 11 December 2006), KHALID bin Abdallah Al-Khalifa (since November 2010); note - KHALIFA ibn Salman Al Khalifa, who served as prime minister since Bahrain's independence in 1971, died on 11 November 2020

Flag description

red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

note

note: 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, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

highest courts

Court of Cassation (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (consists of the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (consists of the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sittings include the president and at least one judge)

judge selection and term of office

Court of Cassation judges appointed by royal decree and serve for a specified tenure; Constitutional Court president and members appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, a body chaired by the monarch and includes judges from the Court of Cassation, sharia law courts, and Civil High Courts of Appeal; members serve 9-year terms; High Sharia Court of Appeal member appointments by royal decree for a specified tenure

note

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.

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

description

bicameral National Assembly consists of:Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (40 seats; members appointed by the king)Council of Representatives or Majlis al-Nuwab (40 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by absolute majority vote in 2 rounds if needed; members serve 4-year renewable terms)

election results

Consultative Council - composition - men 31, women 9, percent of women 22.5%Council of Representatives (for 2018 election)  - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - Islamic Al-Asalah (Sunni Salafi) 3, Minbar al-Taqadumi (Communist) 2, National Unity Gathering (Sunni progovernment) 1, National Islamic Minbar (Sunni Muslim Brotherhood) 1, independent 33; composition - men 34, women 6, percent of women 15%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 19%

elections

Consultative Council - last appointments on 12 December 2018 (next NA)Council of Representatives - first round for 9 members held on 24 November 2018; second round for remaining 31 members held on 1 December 2018 (next to be held in 2022)

National anthem

lyrics/music

unknown

name

"Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)

note

note: adopted 1971; although Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, they were changed in 2002 following the transformation of Bahrain from an emirate to a kingdom

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

a red field surmounted by a white serrated band with five white points; national colors: red, white

Political parties and leaders

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

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

mutton, dates, milk, poultry, tomatoes, fruit, sheep offals, sheep skins, eggs, pumpkins

Budget

expenditures

9.407 billion (2017 est.)

revenues

5.854 billion (2017 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-10.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B+ (2020)

Moody's rating

B2 (2018)

Standard & Poors rating

B+ (2017)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2016

-$1.493 billion (2016 est.)

Current account balance 2017

-$1.6 billion (2017 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 31 December 2016

$42.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Debt - external 31 December 2017

$52.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Economic overview

Oil and natural gas play a dominant role in Bahrain’s economy. Despite the Government’s past efforts to diversify the economy, oil still comprises 85% of Bahraini budget revenues. In the last few years lower world energy prices have generated sizable budget deficits - about 10% of GDP in 2017 alone. Bahrain has few options for covering these deficits, with low foreign assets and fewer oil resources compared to its GCC neighbors. The three major US credit agencies downgraded Bahrain’s sovereign debt rating to "junk" status in 2016, citing persistently low oil prices and the government’s high debt levels. Nevertheless, Bahrain was able to raise about $4 billion by issuing foreign currency denominated debt in 2017.Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil and gas –finance, and construction. Bahrain continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. In April 2018 Bahrain announced it had found a significant oil field off the country’s west coast, but is still assessing how much of the oil can be extracted profitably.In addition to addressing its current fiscal woes, Bahraini authorities face the long-term challenge of boosting Bahrain’s regional competitiveness — especially regarding industry, finance, and tourism — and reconciling revenue constraints with popular pressure to maintain generous state subsidies and a large public sector. Since 2015, the government lifted subsidies on meat, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline and has begun to phase in higher prices for electricity and water. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. It plans to introduce a Value Added Tax (VAT) by the end of 2018.

Exchange rates

currency

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2013

0.376 (2013 est.)

Exchange rates 2014

0.376 (2014 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.377 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.37705 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.37705 (2020 est.)

Exports

Exports 2017

$26.762 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$30.1 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, aluminum and plating, crude petroleum, iron ore, gold (2019)

Exports - partners

United Arab Emirates 31%, Saudi Arabia 12%, Japan 8%, United States 8% (2019)

Fiscal year

calendar year

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

80.2% (2017 est.)

government consumption

15.5% (2017 est.)

household consumption

45.8% (2017 est.)

imports of goods and services

-67.9% (2017 est.)

investment in fixed capital

26.1% (2017 est.)

investment in inventories

0.4% (2017 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.3% (2017 est.)

industry

39.3% (2017 est.)

services

60.4% (2017 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$38.472 billion (2019 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

Imports 2017

$22.132 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$27.19 billion note: data are in current year dollars (2018 est.)

Imports - commodities

cars, iron ore, jewelry, gold, gas turbines (2019)

Imports - partners

United Arab Emirates 27%, China 11%, Saudi Arabia 7%, United States 5%, Brazil 5%, Japan 5%, India 5% (2019)

Industrial production growth rate

0.6% (2017 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) 2016

2.8% (2016 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017

1.4% (2017 est.)

Labor force

831,600 (2017 est.)

note

note: excludes unemployed; 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

1%

industry

32%

services

67% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Public debt

Public debt 2016

81.4% of GDP (2016 est.)

Public debt 2017

88.5% of GDP (2017 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2018

$72.51 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$73.95 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$69.65 billion note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2017

3.85% (2017 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2018

13.89% (2018 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2019

2.49% (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2010 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2018

$46,200 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2018 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2019

$45,100 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$40,900 note: data are in 2017 dollars (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2016

$3.094 billion (31 December 2016 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2017

$2.349 billion (31 December 2017 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: official estimate; actual rate is higher

Unemployment rate 2016

3.7% (2016 est.)

Unemployment rate 2017

3.6% (2017 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

12.2% (2012 est.)

male

2.6%

total

5.3%

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - imports

226,200 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - production

40,000 bbl/day (2018 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

124.6 million bbl (1 January 2018 est.)

Electricity - consumption

26.11 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - exports

213 million kWh (2015 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2016 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2017 est.)

Electricity - imports

276 million kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

3.928 million kW (2016 est.)

Electricity - production

26.81 billion kWh (2016 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2020)

Natural gas - consumption

15.89 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - production

15.89 billion cu m (2017 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2018 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

61,000 bbl/day (2016 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

245,300 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

14,530 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

274,500 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

8.73 (2020 est.)

total

148,595 (2020)

Broadcast media

state-run Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 5 terrestrial TV networks and several radio stations; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; 1 private FM station directs broadcasts to Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2019)

Internet country code

.bh

Internet users

percent of population

99.54% (2020 est.)

total

1.71 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

17 per 100 fixed-line, 116 per 100 mobile-cellular; modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly expanding mobile-cellular telephones (2020)

general assessment

Bahrain is one of the most technically advanced and connected countries in the world; NGN for increased mobile and Wi-Fi traffic; mobile infrastructure and fiber-optic Internet allows greater Internet penetration and competitive prices; government provides free Internet in schools and public areas, and national broadband with sole control over network; regulator controlled by monarchy; Internet freedom restricted through blocks; well served by satellite and submarine cable access; importer of broadcasting equipment from UAE (2020)

international

country code - 973; landing points for the FALCON, Tata TGN-Gulf, GBICS/MENA, and FOG submarine cable network that provides links to Asia, the Middle East, and Africa; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; satellite earth station - 1 (2019)

note

note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

15.67 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

266,659 (2020)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

102.8 (2020 est.)

total subscriptions

1,748,672 (2020)

Airports

total

4 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2017)

over 3,047 m

3

total

4

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A9C

Heliports

1 (2013)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 12, oil tanker 4, other 189 (2021)

total

205

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

420.98 million mt-km (2018)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

5,877,003 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

42

number of registered air carriers

6 (2020)

Pipelines

20 km gas, 54 km oil (2013)

Ports and terminals

major seaport(s)

Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Roadways

paved

3,392 km (2010)

total

4,122 km (2010)

unpaved

730 km (2010)

Military - note

as of 2021, Bahrain hosted the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which included the US 5th Fleet, several subordinate naval task forces, and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; in 2018, the UK opened a naval support base in BahrainBahrain has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US; MNNA is a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; while MNNA status provides military and economic privileges, it does not entail any security commitments

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 (2021)

note

note - the Royal Guard is officially under the command of the Army, but exercises considerable autonomy

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 10,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,000 Navy; 1,500 Air Force); est. 3,000 National Guard (2021)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the inventory of the Bahrain Defense force is comprised mostly of equipment acquired from the US along with a smaller quantity of material from European suppliers; since 2010, the US is the leading supplier of arms to Bahrain (2020)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2016

4.7% of GDP (2016)

Military Expenditures 2017

4.3% of GDP (2017)

Military Expenditures 2018

4.1% of GDP (2018)

Military Expenditures 2019

3.7% of GDP (2019)

Military Expenditures 2020

4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for NCOs, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2019)

Disputes - international

none

Terrorist group(s)

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

note

note: 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 Appendix-T

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

31.69 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

15.47 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

69.04 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)

Climate

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

Environment - current issues

desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources (groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs); lowered water table leaves aquifers vulnerable to saline contamination; desalinization provides some 90% of the country's freshwater

Environment - international 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

Land use

agricultural land

11.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 3.9% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5.3% (2018 est.)

forest

0.7% (2018 est.)

other

88% (2018 est.)

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Revenue from coal

coal revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

forest revenues

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

116 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

144.7 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

industrial

14.1 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

municipal

275.6 million cubic meters (2017 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

89.6% of total population (2021)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

951,943 tons (2016 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

76,155 tons (2012 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

8% (2012 est.)