Bahrain

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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. <br><br>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.

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

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26 00 N, 50 33 E

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Middle East

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3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

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161 km

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

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mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

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oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

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40 sq km (2012)

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Arabian Aquifer System

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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

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periodic droughts; dust storms

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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

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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.)

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Muslim 74.2%, other 25.9% (2020 est)

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0.79% (2025 est.)

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

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

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-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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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

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709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)

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

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1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)

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0.81 (2025 est.)

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0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

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

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29.8% (2016)

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56.4% (2020 est.)

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desertification; drought; coastal degradation from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources; saline contamination from lowered water table

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

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51.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

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116 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

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constitutional monarchy

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

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

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

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20 years of age; universal

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<strong>note:</strong> 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.

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<p><strong>note:</strong>  political parties are prohibited, but political societies were legalized under a July 2005 law</p>

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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

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15 August 1971 (from the UK)

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National Day, 16 December (1971)

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<strong>note:</strong> 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protection

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<strong>description:</strong> red, with a white serrated band of five white points on the left side<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> red is the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam<br><br><strong>history: </strong>until 2002, the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag

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

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red, white

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<p>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</p>

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

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<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

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$47.737 billion (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

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<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

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

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

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

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<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

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0.1% (2023 est.)

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<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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913,300 (2024 est.)

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<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

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<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

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<strong>note:</strong> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

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

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<strong>note:</strong> central government debt as a % of GDP

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2.8% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

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<strong>note:</strong> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

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

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

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

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<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

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

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<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

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<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

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

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<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

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

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<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

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

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state-run Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC) operates 6 terrestrial TV networks and several radio stations; satellite TV systems provide access to international broadcasts; 1 private FM station has broadcasts for Indian listeners; radio and TV broadcasts from countries in the region are available (2023)

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.bh

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A9C

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3 (2025)

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8 (2025)

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Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (includes the Royal Guard), Royal Bahraini Navy, Royal Bahraini Air Force<br><br>Ministry of Interior: National Guard, Special Security Forces Command (SSFC), Coast Guard (2025)

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<strong>note 1:</strong> the Royal Guard is officially under the command of the Army, but exercises considerable autonomy <br><br><strong>note 2:</strong> 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

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

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the military's inventory is comprised of mostly older US armaments alongside smaller quantities from other countries, such as France, Germany, Turkey, and the UK (2025)

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

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<p>the BDF (established 1968) is responsible for territorial defense and support to internal security; its primary concern is Iran, both the conventional military threat and Tehran's support to regional terrorist groups; the BDF participates in multinational exercises and has conducted small deployments outside of the country; in 2015, for example, Bahrain joined the Saudi Arabia-led military intervention in Yemen, supplying a few hundred troops and combat aircraft</p> Bahrain’s closest security partners are Saudi Arabia and the US; Bahraini leaders have said that the security ties of Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are “indivisible”; Saudi Arabia sent forces to Bahrain to assist with internal security following the 2011 uprising; Bahrain hosts the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established 1983), which includes the US 5th Fleet and the Combined Maritime Forces (established 2002), a coalition of more than 30 nations providing maritime security for regional shipping lanes; Bahrain also has close security ties with the UK, which maintains a naval support facility there<br><br>Bahrain hosts the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Unified Maritime Operations Center and is a member of the Peninsula Shield Forces, a joint military force established by the GCC countries with the aim of maintaining security and stability in the region (2025)

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

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focuses on promoting space research and science, applying space-related technologies, and building capacity in the fields of satellite manufacturing, tracking, control, data processing and analysis, and remote sensing; cooperates with a variety of foreign agencies and commercial entities, including those of India, Italy, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the UAE, and the US; also a member of the Arab Space Coordination Group (2025)

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2022 - first scientific nanosatellite (Light-1 CubeSat) built with assistance from the UAE and launched by Japan; joined US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration<br><br>2023 - first domestically built technology-demonstrator nanosatellite (Kuwait Sat-1) launched by US<br><br>2025 - first domestically built remote-sensing nanosatellite (Al Munther) launched by US

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

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<strong>note 1:</strong> 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 <br><br><strong>note 2: </strong>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