Population, GDP, natural resources, leaders and history of Bahrain: the Magna Factbook country file, with its Magna grade (MCB, ranked #65 of 195).
Bahrain is a constitutional monarchy in Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia. The country's capital is Manama; it covers 760 sq km. Independence: 15 August 1971 (from the UK). Terrain: mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment. Climate: arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers. Population: 1.6 million (2024 estimate). Population growth: +0.79% per year. Median age: 33.5 years. Life expectancy: 80.4 years (2024 est.). Languages: Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu Religions: Muslim 74.2%, other 25.9% (2020 est) Urban population: 89.9% of total population (2023). Major urban areas: 709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023) high-incom…
| Capital | Manama |
|---|---|
| Population | 1,566,888 (2024 est.) |
| GDP (PPP) | $93.937 billion (2024 est.) |
| GDP per capita (PPP) | $59,100 (2024 est.) |
| Real GDP growth | 3% (2024 est.) |
| Inflation | 0.9% |
| Unemployment | 1.2% |
| Public debt | 111.6% of GDP (2020 est.) |
| Exports | $41.303 billion (2024 est.) |
| Imports | $33.044 billion (2024 est.) |
| Life expectancy | 80.4 years (2024 est.) |
| Median age | 33.5 |
| Urbanization | 89.9% of total population (2023) |
| Government | constitutional monarchy |
| Independence | 15 August 1971 (from the UK) |
| Languages | Arabic (official), English, Farsi, Urdu |
MCB · 53/100 — The Magna grade is our 0–100 composite of structural national power — five dimensions, 100+ indicators. It is the Bureau's own assessment, not a mirror of World Bank or CIA figures.
Momentum 0 — Quarterly momentum: the Bureau's read on the country's trajectory over the last quarter, from −10 (deteriorating fast) to +10 (accelerating).
The quarter passed without decisive turns. Governance continued, markets functioned, and the score reflects that uneventfulness.
For countries like this, the real story is always the slow one — and this quarter added no new chapter to it.
Oil, Natural gas.
None. King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)
Bahrain maintains 29 embassies and 6 consulates abroad. The breadth of a diplomatic network is a direct measure of diplomatic power — it shows how far a country’s influence, alliances and interests reach.
| Embassies abroad | 29 |
|---|---|
| Consulates abroad | 6 |
Source: Outbound: Consular Affairs Center (Yonsei Univ.), diplomatic & consular networks database, March 2026 report (Zenodo).
Transport networks are economic power made physical — ports, runways, railways and pipelines decide what a country can move, sell and defend.
| Sea access | Coastal — 161 km of coastline. |
|---|---|
| Airports (total) | 3 + 8 heliports (registration prefix A9C) |
| Major seaports | Al Manamah, Khalifa Bin Salman, Mina Salman, Sitrah |
| Pipelines | 20 km gas, 54 km oil (2013) |
Bahrain International Airport (BAH) — Manama.
Sources: OurAirports public-domain extract (2026-10-02); per-entry Wikipedia links included; CIA World Factbook via cia_factbook snapshot (2026-09-28); theodora.com CIA mirror (CIA World Factbook Transportation section), scraped 2026-10-02
| Political system | constitutional monarchy |
|---|---|
| Next election | No election currently scheduled. |
MCB · 53 Ranked #65 of 195 countries in the Magna Country Rankings. Full ranking breakdown for Bahrain.
Historical timeline of Bahrain
