2024 Edition Primary

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.    

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

18.1% (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)

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

12.2 births/1,000 population (2024 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 (2024 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

0.81 (2024 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2017)

Infant mortality rate

female

8 deaths/1,000 live births

male

11.3 deaths/1,000 live births

total

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

Languages

Languages

Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu

major-language sample(s)

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

82.7 years

male

78.1 years

total population

80.4 years (2024 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

31.2 years

male

34.6 years

total

33.4 years (2024 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Bahraini

noun

Bahraini(s)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

29.8% (2016)

Physician density

0.93 physicians/1,000 population (2015)

Population

female

626,866 (2024 est.)

male

940,022

total

1,566,888

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

0.82% (2024 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

1.68 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.06 male(s)/female

at birth

1.03 male(s)/female

total population

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

Tobacco use

female

4.5% (2020 est.)

male

25.3% (2020 est.)

total

14.9% (2020 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.65 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

89.9% of total population (2023)

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

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

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)

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 - men 30, women 10, percentage women 25%Council of Representatives - percent of vote by society - NA; seats by society - NA; composition - men 32, women 8, percentage women 20%; total National Assembly percentage 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

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

Suffrage

20 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

lamb/mutton, dates, milk, chicken, tomatoes, fruits, sheep offal, eggs, sheepskins, cucumbers/gherkins (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Average household expenditures

on alcohol and tobacco

0.4% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

on food

13% of household expenditures (2022 est.)

Budget

expenditures

$9.357 billion (2020 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$5.538 billion (2020 est.)

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 2021

$2.602 billion (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

$6.839 billion (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

$2.699 billion (2023 est.)

note

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

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

Exchange rates

Currency

Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

0.376 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

0.376 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

0.376 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

0.376 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

0.376 (2023 est.)

Exports

Exports 2021

$35.653 billion (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$44.58 billion (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$40.344 billion (2023 est.)

note

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

Exports - commodities

aluminum, refined petroleum, iron ore, aluminum wire, iron blocks (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Exports - partners

Saudi Arabia 15%, UAE 10%, US 9%, Japan 5%, India 4% (2022)

note

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

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

89.7% (2021 est.)

government consumption

15.8% (2021 est.)

household consumption

39.2% (2021 est.)

imports of goods and services

-70.2% (2021 est.)

investment in fixed capital

24.6% (2021 est.)

investment in inventories

1% (2021 est.)

note

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

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

0.3% (2023 est.)

industry

44.5% (2023 est.)

note

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

services

51.1% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$43.205 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Imports

Imports 2021

$27.996 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$33.066 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$32.374 billion (2023 est.)

note

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

Imports - commodities

iron ore, aluminum oxide, cars, gold, ships (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Imports - partners

China 15%, UAE 12%, Brazil 9%, Australia 8%, India 7% (2022)

note

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

Industrial production growth rate

-1.1% (2023 est.)

note

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

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) 2021

-0.61% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

3.63% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

0.07% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Labor force

855,000 (2023 est.)

note

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

Public debt

Public debt 2020

115.52% of GDP (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$79.531 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$83.421 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$85.491 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2021

2.59% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

4.89% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

2.48% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2021

$54,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$56,700 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$57,600 (2023 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

0% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

0% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

0% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

note

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$4.993 billion (2021 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$4.775 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$5.118 billion (2023 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

2.92% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

1.55% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

1.33% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

1.16% (2023 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

12.5% (2023 est.)

male

2.9% (2023 est.)

note

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

total

5.8% (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from consumed natural gas

35.163 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

8.185 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

43.343 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Coal

exports

2,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

94.7 metric tons (2022 est.)

Electricity

consumption

34.515 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

447.711 million kWh (2022 est.)

imports

484.596 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

6.983 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

1.063 billion kWh (2022 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

fossil fuels

100% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

514.32 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

Natural gas

consumption

17.924 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

imports

81.98 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

production

18.005 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

proven reserves

81.383 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)

Petroleum

crude oil estimated reserves

186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

72,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

total petroleum production

189,000 bbl/day (2023 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

17 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

253,000 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

145 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

2.141 million (2022 est.)

Airports

3 (2024)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A9C

Heliports

8 (2024)

Merchant marine

by type

general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169

total

184 (2023)

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

key ports

Al Manamah, Khalifa Bin Salman, Mina Salman, Sitrah

medium

3

ports with oil terminals

1

small

1

total ports

4 (2024)

Roadways

paved

3,392 km

total

4,122 km

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 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 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 (2024)

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 (2024)

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 (2024)

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 (2024)

Military expenditures

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 Expenditures 2023

3.1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 18-55 to voluntarily join the reserves; no compulsory service (2024)

Space agency/agencies

Bahrain National Space Science Agency (NSSA; established 2014) (2024)

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, the UAE, and the US; also a member of the Arab Space Coordination Group, established by the UAE in 2019 (2024)

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 the Space Programs reference guide

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 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

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.)