2023 Edition

Background

In 1783, the Sunni Al-KHALIFA family took power in Bahrain. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in 1971. A steady decline in oil production and reserves since 1970 prompted Bahrain to take steps to diversify its economy, in the process developing petroleum processing and refining, aluminum production, and hospitality and retail sectors. It has also endeavored to become a leading regional banking center, especially with respect to Islamic finance. Bahrain's small size, central location among Gulf countries, economic dependence on Saudi Arabia, and proximity to Iran require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Its foreign policy activities usually fall in line with Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In 2022, the United States designated Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally. The Sunni royal family has long struggled to manage relations with its 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

18.14% (male 142,866/female 139,083)

15-64 years

77.83% (male 759,539/female 449,848)

65 years and over

4.03% (2023 est.) (male 32,162/female 30,388)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

12.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

NA

Contraceptive prevalence rate

NA

Current health expenditure

4.2% of GDP (2020)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

43.8% (2023 est.)

Death rate

2.8 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

4.6

potential support ratio

21.8 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

31.3

youth dependency ratio

26.8

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

Education expenditures

2.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Ethnic groups

Bahraini 47.4%, Asian 43.4%, other Arab 4.9%, African 1.4%, North American 1.1%, Gulf Co-operative countries 0.9%, European 0.8%, other 0.1% (2020 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.82 (2023 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

8.3 deaths/1,000 live births

male

11.7 deaths/1,000 live births

total

10 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)

Languages

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu

major-language sample(s)

كتاب حقائق العالم، المصدر الذي لا يمكن الاستغناء عنه للمعلومات الأساسية (Arabic)The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.5 years

male

77.9 years

total population

80.1 years (2023 est.)

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

709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)

Maternal mortality ratio

16 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Median age

female

31 years

male

34.6 years

total

33.3 years (2023 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Bahraini

noun

Bahraini(s)

Net migration rate

-1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

29.8% (2016)

Physicians density

0.93 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

1,553,886 (2023 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

0.85% (2023 est.)

Religions

Muslim 74.2%, other (includes Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Baha'i) 25.8% (2020 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: NA

improved: total

total: 100% of population

improved: urban

urban: NA

unimproved: rural

rural: NA

unimproved: total

total: 0% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: NA

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

15-64 years

1.69 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.06 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

1.51 male(s)/female (2023 est.)

Tobacco use

female

4.5% (2020 est.)

male

25.3% (2020 est.)

total

14.9% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.66 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

89.9% of total population (2023)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

20.5%

male

6.1%

total

9.9% (2021 est.)

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 Steven C. BONDY (since 9 February 2022)

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 Rashed AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)

consulate(s) general

New York

email address and website

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

FAX

[1] (202) 362-2192

telephone

[1] (202) 342-1111

Executive branch

cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the monarch

chief of state

King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (born 21 October 1969)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020); Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure KHALID bin Abdallah Al Khalifa (since 13 June 2022)

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

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

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

judge selection and term of office

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

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 - all members appointed; composition as of August 2023 - men 30, women 10, percent of women 25%Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - NA; composition as of August 2023 - men 32, women 8, percent of women 20%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 23%

elections

Consultative Council - last appointments on 30 November 2022 (next appointments in 2026)Council of Representatives - first round for 6 members held on 12 November 2022; second round for remaining 34 members held on 19 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2026)

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 heritage

selected World Heritage Site locales

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

total World Heritage Sites

3 (all cultural)

National holiday

National Day, 16 December (1971); 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

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.4% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

on food

13.2% of household expenditures (2018 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$12.63 billion (2019 est.)

revenues

$9.168 billion (2019 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

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

Credit ratings

Fitch rating

B+ (2020)

Moody's rating

B2 (2018)

note

note: The year refers to the year in which the current credit rating was first obtained.

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.)

Current account balance 2018

-$2.435 billion (2018 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

growing, economically diverse Middle Eastern island economy; major recovery and balancing efforts to fulfill Economic Vision 2030; regional finance hub; increasing openness; high youth unemployment; water scarcity amid reservoir depletion

Exchange rates

Currency

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2017

0.376 (2017 est.)

Exchange rates 2018

0.376 (2018 est.)

Exchange rates 2019

0.376 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.376 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.376 (2021 est.)

Exports

Exports 2017

$26.732 billion (2017 est.)

Exports 2018

$30.097 billion (2018 est.)

Exports 2021

$35.235 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: Data are in current year dollars and do not include illicit exports or re-exports.

Exports - commodities

refined petroleum, aluminum, iron ore and reductions, aluminum wiring, crude petroleum (2021)

Exports - partners

United Arab Emirates 17%, Saudi Arabia 16%, United States 7%, Japan 7%, India 4% (2021)

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

$23.876 billion (2017 est.)

Imports 2018

$27.187 billion (2018 est.)

Imports 2021

$27.577 billion (2021 est.)

note

note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - commodities

iron ore, jewelry, cars, floating platforms, refined petroleum, gold, broadcasting equipment (2021)

Imports - partners

United Arab Emirates 24%, Saudi Arabia 15%, Brazil 12%, China 9%, India 6% (2021)

Industrial production growth rate

0.4% (2021 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) 2019

1.01% (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020

-2.32% (2020 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

-0.61% (2021 est.)

Labor force

819,100 (2021 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 2017 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019

$74.364 billion (2019 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$70.694 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$72.267 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2019

2.17% (2019 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-4.94% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

2.23% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data are in 2017 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2019

$49,800 (2019 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2020

$47,800 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$49,400 (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2019

$3.903 billion (31 December 2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2020

$2.523 billion (31 December 2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 31 December 2021

$4.993 billion (31 December 2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

16.6% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: official estimate; actual rate is higher

Unemployment rate 2019

1.2% (2019 est.)

Unemployment rate 2020

1.78% (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate 2021

1.87% (2021 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

20.5%

male

6.1%

total

9.9% (2021 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from consumed natural gas

35.804 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

7.308 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

total emissions

43.112 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)

Coal

consumption

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

exports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

imports

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

production

0 metric tons (2020 est.)

proven reserves

0 metric tons (2019 est.)

Electricity

consumption

31,038,250,000 kWh (2019 est.)

exports

447 million kWh (2019 est.)

imports

652 million kWh (2019 est.)

installed generating capacity

6.982 million kW (2020 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

611 million kWh (2019 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2021)

Electricity generation sources

biomass and waste

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

geothermal

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

hydroelectricity

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

nuclear

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

solar

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

tide and wave

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

wind

0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2019

547.976 million Btu/person (2019 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

18,251,140,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

exports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

imports

0 cubic meters (2021 est.)

production

18,271,840,000 cubic meters (2019 est.)

proven reserves

81.382 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil and lease condensate exports

0 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil and lease condensate imports

228,800 bbl/day (2018 est.)

crude oil estimated reserves

186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

73,200 bbl/day (2019 est.)

total petroleum production

185,300 bbl/day (2021 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

9 (2020 est.)

total

148,928 (2020 est.)

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

100% (2021 est.)

total

1.5 million (2021 est.)

Telecommunication systems

domestic

approximately 18 per 100 fixed-line and 131 per 100 mobile-cellular; modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly expanding mobile-cellular telephones (2021)

general assessment

Bahrain continues to develop its telecoms sector in a bid to develop its long-term Economic Vision 2030 strategy; this is a multi-faceted strategy aimed at developing a digital transformation across numerous sectors, including e-government, e-health, e-commerce, and e-banking; 5G services have become widely available since they were launched in 2020; Bahrain’s telecom sector by the Fourth National Telecommunications Plan (initiated in 2016) which focuses on fiber optic infrastructure deployment and establishing affordable prices for high-speed access (2022)

international

country code - 973; Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has made part of the C-band spectrum available for 5G private networks, in line with the goals outlined in its Workplan for the 2022-23 period (2023)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

18 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

266,741 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

131 (2021 est.)

total subscriptions

1,923,443 (2021 est.)

Airports

4 (2021)

Airports - with paved runways

4

note

note: paved runways have a concrete or asphalt surface but not all have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control; the length of a runway required for aircraft to safely operate depends on a number of factors including the type of aircraft, the takeoff weight (including passengers, cargo, and fuel), engine types, flap settings, landing speed, elevation of the airport, and average maximum daily air temperature; paved runways can reach a length of 5,000 m (16,000 ft.), but the “typical” length of a commercial airline runway is between 2,500-4,000 m (8,000-13,000 ft.)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A9C

Heliports

1 (2021)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 11, oil tanker 3, other 176

total

190 (2022)

National air transport system

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

420.98 million (2018) mt-km

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

the BDF is a small, but well-equipped military focused on territorial defense and support to internal security; its primary concern is Iran, both the conventional military threat and its 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; the Army’s primary combat units are an armored brigade and a mechanized brigade, plus battalions of royal guards and special forces; in a conflict, the Army would be supported by the paramilitary National Guard; the Navy’s principal warships are a US-provided secondhand frigate, 2 corvettes acquired from Germany, and a secondhand British offshore patrol vessel; the Air Force has small numbers of US-made combat aircraft and attack helicopters Bahrain’s closest security partners are the US and Saudi Arabia; it hosts the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which includes 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 2003, the US granted Bahrain Major Non-NATO Ally status, a designation under US law that provides foreign partners with certain benefits in the areas of defense trade and security cooperation; Bahraini leaders have said that the security of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are “indivisible”; Saudi Arabia sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; Bahrain also has close security ties to other Gulf Cooperation Council  countries, particularly Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, as well as the UK (2023)

Military and security forces

Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (includes the Royal Guard), Royal Bahraini Navy, Royal Bahraini Air ForceMinistry of Interior: National Guard, Special Security Forces Command (SSFC), Coast Guard (2023)

note

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

Military and security service personnel strengths

information varies; approximately 10,000 active personnel (7,500 Army; 1,000 Navy; 1,500 Air Force); approximately 3,000 National Guard (2023)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the military's inventory consists of a mix of equipment acquired from a wide variety of suppliers; in recent years, the US has been the leading supplier of arms to Bahrain (2023)

Military expenditures

Military Expenditures 2018

4% of GDP (2018 est.)

Military Expenditures 2019

4% of GDP (2019 est.)

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 service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for non-commissioned officers, technicians, and cadets; no conscription (2022)

note

note: the BDF hires foreign nationals, Sunni Muslims primarily from Arabic countries and Pakistan, to serve under contract; as of 2020, foreigners were estimated to comprise as much as 80% of the military; the policy has become a controversial issue with the primarily Shia population; during the 2011, the BDF reportedly deployed mostly foreign personnel against protesters

Disputes - international

none identified

Space agency/agencies

Bahrain National Space Science Agency (NSSA; established 2014) (2023)

Space program overview

space program in nascent stages and is focused on developing the capabilities to build and operate satellites; the NSSA’s mission includes promoting space science, technology, and research, building capacity in the fields of satellite manufacturing, tracking, control, data processing and analysis, and remote sensing, developing space-related programs and space policy, and facilitating international cooperation; cooperates with a variety of foreign agencies and commercial entities, including those of India, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and the UAE; also a member of the Arab Space Coordination Group, established by the UAE in 2019 (2023)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S

Terrorist group(s)

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

note

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 Appendix-T 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

Air pollutants

carbon dioxide emissions

31.69 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

15.47 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

51.82 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 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

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Revenue from forest resources

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Total renewable water resources

120 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

140 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

10 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal

280 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

89.9% of total population (2023)

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.)