Bahrain

In brief

Bahrain is a country in Western Asia. Its capital is Manama. With 1.6 million inhabitants in 2025, it ranks 150th in the world by population, out of the 195 countries recognised by the UN. Its area is 765 km². An island nation, Bahrain has no land border.

GDP per capita stands at $30,597 (2025), 43rd in the world. Life expectancy at birth is 81.4 years (2024). 100% of the population lives in cities.

History of Bahrain

In antiquity Bahrain was the heart of the Dilmun civilisation, a trading hub between Mesopotamia and the Indus valley. The Al Khalifa family has ruled since 1783. A British protectorate in the 19th century, Bahrain was the first Arab Gulf country where oil was found, in 1932. Independent on 15 August 1971, it became a kingdom in 2002. Protests in 2011 were suppressed.

Geography of Bahrain

An archipelago of some thirty natural islands in the Persian Gulf, Bahrain is linked to Saudi Arabia by the 25 km King Fahd Causeway. The land is flat and desert.

Map of Bahrain

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Flag of Bahrain

The flag of Bahrain is red and white. Its official proportions are 3:5 (height to width).

• Red68%
• White33%

Share of the flag’s surface taken by each colour.

What the flag stands for

Red, with a white serrated band of five points, representing the five pillars of Islam. The white was added in the 19th century to distinguish Bahraini ships from pirate vessels, which flew red.

Sources: Wikipedia, articles “Bahrain” and “Flag of Bahrain”.

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Fact file

Economy and society