CapitalManama
Population1,566,888
Area760 km²
GDP per capita$59,100
LanguagesArabic , English, Farsi, Urdu
CurrencyBahraini dinars
Life Expectancy80.4 yr
Governmentconstitutional monarchy
Introduction
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.
Geography
Area
land
760 sq km
water
0 sq km
total
760 sq km
Climate
arid climate; winters that are mild and enjoyable; summers that are extremely hot and humid
Terrain
predominantly a low desert plain that gradually ascends to a low central escarpment
Land use
other
84.2% (2023 est.)
forest
4.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
10.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
Location
Middle East, an archipelago situated in the Persian Gulf, to the east of Saudi Arabia
Coastline
161 km
Elevation
lowest point
Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point
Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m
Irrigated land
40 sq km (2012)
Major aquifers
Arabian Aquifer System
Map references
Middle East
Land boundaries
total
0 km
Maritime claims
contiguous zone
24 nm
territorial sea
12 nm
continental shelf
extending to boundaries to be determined
Natural hazards
occasional droughts; occurrences of dust storms
Geography - note
proximity to key Middle Eastern oil reserves; a strategically significant position in the Persian Gulf, through which a substantial portion of the Western world's oil must pass to reach the open sea
Natural resources
petroleum, both associated and non-associated natural gas, seafood, and pearls
Area - comparative
3.5 times larger than Washington, D.C.
Geographic coordinates
26 00 N, 50 33 E
Population distribution
the smallest population among the Gulf States, yet with an urbanization rate surpassing 90%; the highest concentration of settlements is located at the far northern tip of the island, particularly in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq
People & Society
Literacy
male
98.7% (2024 est.)
female
96.3% (2024 est.)
total population
97.8% (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.
Religions
Muslim 74.2%, other 25.9% (2020 est)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.03 male(s)/female
0-14 years
1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.68 male(s)/female
total population
1.5 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
65 years and over
1.06 male(s)/female
Birth rate
12.08 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Death rate
2.86 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Median age
male
34.6 years
total
33.5 years (2025 est.)
female
31.2 years
Population
male
940,022
total
1,566,888 (2024 est.)
female
626,866
Nationality
noun
Bahraini(s)
adjective
Bahraini
Tobacco use
male
24.3% (2025 est.)
total
17.3% (2025 est.)
female
4.8% (2025 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
89.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
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)
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% (estimates from 2020)
Dependency ratios
total dependency ratio
28.8 (2024 est.)
youth dependency ratio
23.3 (2024 est.)
potential support ratio
18.2 (2024 est.)
elderly dependency ratio
5.5 (2024 est.)
Physician density
0.74 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
Health expenditure
Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
4.3% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8.6% of national budget (2022 est.)
Net migration rate
-1.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
Hospital bed density
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2019 est.)
Total fertility rate
1.64 children born/woman (2025 est.)
Drinking water source
improved: total
total: 99.9% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0.1% of population (2022 est.)
Education expenditure
Education expenditure (% GDP)
1.9% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget)
8.3% national budget (2025 est.)
Infant mortality rate
male
11.3 deaths/1,000 live births
total
9.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
female
8 deaths/1,000 live births
Population growth rate
0.79% (2025 est.)
Gross reproduction rate
0.81 (2025 est.)
Population distribution
Although it has the smallest population among the Gulf States, its urbanization rate surpasses 90%; the highest density of settlements is located at the northern tip of the island, particularly in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq.
Life expectancy at birth
male
78.1 years
female
82.7 years
total population
80.4 years (2024 est.)
Maternal mortality ratio
17 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
Sanitation facility access
improved: total
total: 100% of population (2022 est.)
unimproved: total
total: 0% of population (2022 est.)
Alcohol consumption per capita
beer
0.4 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine
0.11 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
total
1.18 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits
0.66 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Major urban areas - population
709,000 MANAMA (capital) (2023)
Obesity - adult prevalence rate
29.8% (2016)
Currently married women (ages 15-49)
56.4% (2020 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
male
15 years (2023 est.)
total
16 years (2023 est.)
female
17 years (2023 est.)
Environment
Climate
dry; winters that are mild and enjoyable; summers that are excessively hot and humid
Land use
other
84.2% (2023 est.)
forest
4.3% (2023 est.)
agricultural land
10.1% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)
agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)
Urbanization
urban population
89.9% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization
1.99% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Methane emissions
other
1.2 kt (2019-2021 est.)
waste
163.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
energy
165.3 kt (2022-2024 est.)
agriculture
0.6 kt (2019-2021 est.)
Waste and recycling
municipal solid waste generated annually
951,900 tons (2024 est.)
percent of municipal solid waste recycled
14.1% (2022 est.)
Environmental issues
land degradation; periods of drought; deterioration of coastal areas due to oil spills and other discharges from large vessels, oil processing plants, and distribution facilities; scarcity of freshwater supplies; saltwater intrusion caused by a decrease in the water table
Total water withdrawal
municipal
275.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
industrial
14.1 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
agricultural
144.7 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions
total emissions
47.818 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from consumed natural gas
38.995 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from coal and metallurgical coke
-1,401 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
from petroleum and other liquids
8.825 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Particulate matter emissions
51.8 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Total renewable water resources
116 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
International environmental 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
Government
Flag
description: red, featuring a white serrated band with five white points on the left side
meaning: red is the customary hue for flags of Persian Gulf nations; the five points symbolize the five pillars of Islam
history: prior to 2002, the flag included eight white points, but this was changed to five to prevent confusion with the Qatari flag
Capital
name
Manama
etymology
the name originates from the Arabic term al-manama, which translates to "place of rest" or "place of dreams"
time difference
UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
geographic coordinates
26 14 N, 50 34 E
Suffrage
20 years of age; universal
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
history
previously used in 1973; latest version adopted on 14 February 2002, with enforcement starting on 14 February 2002
amendment process
the proposal can be made by the king or by at least 15 members from either chamber of the National Assembly, followed by a review by an Assembly committee and, if endorsed, sent to the government for restatement as drafts; approval necessitates a two-thirds majority vote from both chambers and confirmation by the king; constitutional provisions regarding the state religion (Islam), the state language (Arabic), and the monarchy along with "inherited rule" are not subject to amendment
Country name
former
Dilmun, Tylos, Awal, Mishmahig, Bahrayn, State of Bahrain
etymology
the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies on each side of the archipelago
local long form
Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form
Al Bahrayn
conventional long form
Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form
Bahrain
Independence
15 August 1971 (from the UK)
Legal system
a mixed legal framework comprising Islamic (sharia) law, English common law, Egyptian civil, criminal, and commercial codes; customary law
Government type
constitutional monarchy
Judicial branch
highest court(s)
Court of Cassation (comprising the chairman and 3 judges); Supreme Court of Appeal (comprising the chairman and 3 judges); Constitutional Court (comprising the president and 6 members); High Sharia Court of Appeal (court sessions include the president and at least one judge)
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
judge selection and term of office
judges of the Court of Cassation are appointed via royal decree and serve for a designated term; the president and members of the Constitutional Court are appointed by the Higher Judicial Council, which is presided over 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; appointments for the High Sharia Court of Appeal members are made by royal decree for a specified duration
Executive branch
cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the monarch
chief of state
King HAMAD bin Isa Al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999)
head of government
Prime Minister Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad Al-Khalifa (since 11 November 2020)
election/appointment process
the monarchy operates on a hereditary basis; the prime minister is designated by the monarch
National holiday
National Day, 16 December (1971)
National color(s)
red, white
National heritage
total World Heritage Sites
3 (all cultural)
selected World Heritage Site locales
Dilmun Burial Mounds; Qal'at al-Bahrain – Ancient Harbor and Capital of Dilmun; Bahrain Pearling Path
Political parties
note: political parties are banned, although political societies were authorized under legislation passed in July 2005
Legislative branch
legislature name
National Assembly (Al-Majlis Al-Watani)
legislative structure
bicameral
National anthem(s)
title
"Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain)
history
adopted in 1971; the original lyrics were penned by Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH, but were revised in 2002 following Bahrain's transition to a kingdom
lyrics/music
unknown
National symbol(s)
a white serrated band with five white points on top of a red field
Administrative divisions
4 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Asimah (Capital), Janubiyah (Southern), Muharraq, Shamaliyah (Northern)
Legislative branch - lower chamber
chamber name
Council of Representatives (Majlis Al-Nuwab)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
40 (all directly elected)
electoral system
plurality/majority
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/12/2022 to 11/19/2022
expected date of next election
November 2026
percentage of women in chamber
20%
Legislative branch - upper chamber
chamber name
Shura Council (Majlis Al-Shura)
term in office
4 years
number of seats
40 (all appointed)
scope of elections
full renewal
most recent election date
11/27/2022
expected date of next election
November 2026
percentage of women in chamber
25%
Diplomatic representation in the US
FAX
[1] (202) 362-2192
chancery
3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone
[1] (202) 342-1111
chief of mission
Ambassador Abdulla bin Rashed AL KHALIFA (since 21 July 2017)
consulate(s) general
New York
email address and website
[email protected]
https://www.mofa.gov.bh/Default.aspx?language=en-US&tabid=7702
Diplomatic representation from the US
FAX
[973] 17-272594
embassy
Building 979, Road 3119, Block 331, Zinj District, P.O. Box 26431, Manama
telephone
[973] 17-242700
mailing address
6210 Manama Place, Washington DC 20521-6210
chief of mission
Ambassador-designate Stephanie HALLETT (since 19 December 2025); Chargé d’Affaires Elizabeth A. LITCHFIELD
email address and website
[email protected]
https://bh.usembassy.gov/
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
International law organization participation
has not provided a declaration of jurisdiction to the ICJ; is not a party to the ICCt
Economy
Budget
revenues
$5.538 billion (2020 est.)
expenditures
$9.982 billion (2020 est.)
Exports
Exports 2022
$44.58 billion (2022 est.)
Exports 2023
$40.344 billion (2023 est.)
Exports 2024
$41.303 billion (2024 est.)
Imports
Imports 2022
$33.066 billion (2022 est.)
Imports 2023
$32.374 billion (2023 est.)
Imports 2024
$33.044 billion (2024 est.)
Industries
petroleum refining and processing, aluminum production, iron pelletizing, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repair, tourism
Labor force
913,300 (2024 est.)
Public debt
Public debt 2020
111.6% of GDP (2020 est.)
Remittances
Remittances 2021
0% of GDP (2021 est.)
Remittances 2022
0% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2023
0% of GDP (2023 est.)
Exchange rates
Currency
Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -
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.)
Exchange rates 2024
0.376 (2024 est.)
Economic overview
high-income, expanding Middle Eastern island economy; an exporter of oil and aluminum with diversification driven by services, construction, and manufacturing; a regional hub for finance and tourism; significant public debt due to reliance on oil revenues and a constrained tax base; susceptible to depletion of water reservoirs
Unemployment rate
Unemployment rate 2022
1.4% (2022 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023
1.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2024
1.2% (2024 est.)
Exports - partners
UAE 16%, Saudi Arabia 15%, South Africa 8%, USA 6%, India 4% (2023)
Imports - partners
China 13%, Saudi Arabia 12%, UAE 11%, Brazil 8%, Australia 7% (2023)
Real GDP per capita
Real GDP per capita 2022
$57,600 (2022 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2023
$57,800 (2023 est.)
Real GDP per capita 2024
$59,100 (2024 est.)
Real GDP growth rate
Real GDP growth rate 2022
6.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2023
3.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2024
3% (2024 est.)
Agricultural products
lamb/mutton, dates, milk, tomatoes, chicken, eggs, sheep offal, sheepskins, eggplants, chillies/peppers (2023)
Exports - commodities
refined petroleum, aluminum, iron ore, aluminum wire, jewelry (2023)
Imports - commodities
iron ore, aluminum oxide, ships, cars, gold (2023)
Current account balance
Current account balance 2022
$6.839 billion (2022 est.)
Current account balance 2023
$2.699 billion (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2024
$2.282 billion (2024 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
2.8% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$47.737 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by end use
household consumption
38.9% (2023 est.)
government consumption
14.6% (2023 est.)
investment in inventories
1.8% (2023 est.)
investment in fixed capital
27.5% (2023 est.)
exports of goods and services
87.4% (2023 est.)
imports of goods and services
-70.1% (2023 est.)
Average household expenditures
on food
13.6% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
on alcohol and tobacco
0.4% of household expenditures (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
3.6% (2022 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
0.1% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
0.9% (2024 est.)
Industrial production growth rate
0.1% (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$87.781 billion (2022 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$91.185 billion (2023 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$93.937 billion (2024 est.)
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)
male
2.5% (2024 est.)
total
5.2% (2024 est.)
female
12.4% (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$4.775 billion (2022 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$5.118 billion (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$4.949 billion (2024 est.)
GDP - composition, by sector of origin
industry
43.4% (2023 est.)
services
51.9% (2023 est.)
agriculture
0.3% (2023 est.)
Energy
Coal
exports
600 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports
300 metric tons (2023 est.)
Petroleum
total petroleum production
190,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
crude oil estimated reserves
186.5 million barrels (2021 est.)
refined petroleum consumption
72,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Electricity
exports
467.898 million kWh (2023 est.)
imports
480.883 million kWh (2023 est.)
consumption
35.09 billion kWh (2023 est.)
installed generating capacity
7.031 million kW (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses
1.093 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Natural gas
imports
81.98 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
production
19.55 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
consumption
19.878 billion cubic meters (2023 est.)
proven reserves
81.383 billion cubic meters (2021 est.)
Electricity access
electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy consumption per capita
Total energy consumption per capita 2023
554.202 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Electricity generation sources
solar
0.2% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
fossil fuels
99.7% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Communications
Internet users
percent of population
100% (2023 est.)
Broadcast media
The Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation (BRTC), which is state-owned, manages six terrestrial television channels along with multiple radio stations; satellite television services enable viewers to access global broadcasts; there exists one private FM station catering to Indian audiences; additionally, radio and television transmissions from neighboring countries are accessible (2023)
Internet country code
.bh
Telephones - fixed lines
total subscriptions
246,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
16 (2023 est.)
Telephones - mobile cellular
total subscriptions
2,415,720 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
160 (2024 est.)
Broadband - fixed subscriptions
total
268,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
17 (2023 est.)
Transportation
Ports
large
0
small
1
medium
3
key ports
Al Manamah, Khalifa Bin Salman, Mina Salman, Sitrah
very small
0
total ports
4 (2024)
ports with oil terminals
1
Airports
3 (2025)
Heliports
8 (2025)
Merchant marine
total
184 (2023)
by type
general cargo 12, oil tanker 3, other 169
Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A9C
Military & Security
Military - note
The Bahrain Defense Force (BDF), founded in 1968, is tasked with ensuring territorial defense and assisting with internal security. Its main focus is on Iran, addressing both the conventional military threats posed by it and Tehran's backing of regional terrorist organizations. The BDF takes part in multinational military exercises and has executed minor deployments beyond its borders; for instance, in 2015, Bahrain contributed a few hundred troops and combat aircraft to the Saudi Arabia-led military intervention in Yemen.
Bahrain's primary security allies are Saudi Arabia and the United States. Bahraini officials have stated that the security relationship between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia is "indivisible." Following the internal uprising of 2011, Saudi Arabia dispatched forces to Bahrain to aid in maintaining internal order. Bahrain is home to the US Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT; established in 1983), which encompasses the US 5th Fleet and the Combined Maritime Forces (established in 2002), a coalition consisting of over 30 nations focused on providing maritime security for regional shipping routes. Furthermore, Bahrain has established close security collaborations with the United Kingdom, which operates a naval support facility within the country.Bahrain also accommodates the Gulf Cooperation Council's (GCC) Unified Maritime Operations Center and is a participant in the Peninsula Shield Forces, a collective military force created by GCC nations to uphold security and stability in the region (2025).
Military expenditures
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
3.2% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military Expenditures 2024
3% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and security forces
Bahrain Defense Force (BDF): Royal Bahraini Army (which includes the Royal Guard), Royal Bahraini Navy, Royal Bahraini Air Force.
Ministry of Interior: National Guard, Special Security Forces Command (SSFC), Coast Guard (2025).
Military service age and obligation
Individuals can voluntarily enlist in military service at the age of 18; those aged 18-55 may voluntarily join the reserves (2025).
Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
The military's arsenal largely consists of older US weaponry, supplemented by smaller quantities from other nations, including France, Germany, Turkey, and the United Kingdom (2025).
Military and security service personnel strengths
Estimates vary; the active personnel of the Bahrain Defense Force is approximately 10,000, while the National Guard has around 3,000 members (2025).
Terrorism
Terrorist group(s)
al-Ashtar Brigades; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force
Transnational Issues
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees
371 (2024 est.)
Space
Space agency/agencies
Bahrain Space Agency (BSA; founded in 2014) (2025)
Space program overview
is dedicated to advancing space science and research, utilizing technologies related to space, and enhancing capabilities in areas such as satellite production, tracking, control, data processing and analysis, as well as remote sensing. It collaborates with numerous international organizations and commercial partners, including those from India, Italy, Japan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, the UK, the UAE, and the US. Additionally, it is a participant in the Arab Space Coordination Group (2025)
Key space-program milestones
2022 - launched the first scientific nanosatellite (Light-1 CubeSat), developed with support from the UAE and launched by Japan; became a signatory of the US-led Artemis Accords for space exploration
2023 - launched the first domestically produced technology-demonstrator nanosatellite (Kuwait Sat-1) by the US
2025 - launched the first domestically manufactured remote-sensing nanosatellite (Al Munther) by the US
