Bahrain
Everything Palanor holds about Bahrain, in one place: 125 public signals, what its economy runs on, how often America’s largest companies name it, the news that names it, and Country Posture. Every figure is computed from stored readings and carries its source and date.
AsiaMiddle East & North AfricaMiddle East & Africa
The latest read
- GDP in current U.S. dollars: $49 billion (2025); record high since 1970; 1y +3.7%.
- Real GDP growth: 3.48% (2025); 37th percentile since 1971; 1y +0.58 pts.
- Consumer price inflation: -0.14% (2025); 24th percentile since 1966; lowest since 2021; 1y −1.06 pts.
- Unemployment: 1.1% (2025); 41st percentile since 1991; highest since 2022; 1y +0.02 pts.
- Household consumption, share of GDP: 39.9% of GDP (2024); 30th percentile since 1990; highest since 2020; 1y +0.98 pts.
- Net exports, share of GDP: 17.5% of GDP (2024); 61st percentile since 1990; 1y +0.24 pts.
Country Posture
What Bahrain’s economy is doing
Momentum
2025Inputs only. Did not pass the pre-registered back-test: 1996–2009: AUC 0.590 below 0.60; AUC 0.590 below the single-input baseline (0.624); 2010–2022: AUC 0.595 below 0.60; AUC 0.595 below the single-input baseline (0.641).
Inputs
| Real GDP growth | 3.5 |
| Growth against its three-year average | -0.8 |
| Change in unemployment | 0.0 |
| Change in the employment rate | -0.2 |
| Export volume growth | — |
| OECD leading indicator | — |
Resilience
2025Withheld: 3 of 5 core inputs reported for 2025.
Inputs
| Interest as a share of revenue | — |
| Budget balance | — |
| Reserves, months of imports | 1.4 |
| Current account | 5.8 |
| Governance (WGI mean) | 0.01 |
| External debt | — |
Pressure
2025Inputs only. Did not pass the pre-registered back-test: 1996–2009: AUC 0.657 below the single-input baseline (0.672).
Inputs
| Inflation | -0.1 |
| Change in inflation | -1.1 |
| Currency move against the dollar | 0.0% |
| Conflict deaths per million | 0.0 |
| Political stability | -0.33 |
| Private credit, three-year change | — |
| Bond spread over U.S. Treasuries | — |
Posture describes what an economy is doing; it is not a rating and never ranks countries. Each input is read against the country’s own history and against every other economy that year. An axis shows a score only after passing a back-test fixed before any result was computed. Method and back-test.
Country Schemas
Where Bahrain is in its cycles
Where Bahrain sits in eight long cycles, each read from published statistics against a method fixed before any reading was computed. A stage describes; it is not a rating, and no stage is better or worse than another.
- Development stage
High mass consumption99% · 2025
Pre-take-offTake-offDrive to maturityHigh mass consumption20002025
- Demographic stage
Low stationary63% · 2025
High stationaryEarly expandingLate expandingLow stationaryDeclining20002025
- Debt cycle stage
Withheld.
Early cycleLeveragingLate cycleDeleveraging20002025
Withheld: too little of its evidence is published and fresh.
- External balance stage
Debt repayer57% · 2025
Immature debtorMature debtorDebt repayerImmature creditorMature creditorCredit disinvestor20002025
- Export structure stage
Commodity-reliant91% · 2025
Commodity-reliantDiversifyingManufacturing exporterComplex exporter20002025
- Structural pressure
Low45% · 2025
LowBuildingHighAcute20002025
- Middle-class stage
No reading.
Pre-middle-classEmerging middle classMiddle-class majorityAffluentNot enough of this schema’s evidence is published for this country.
- Electoral cycle
Pre-election73% · 2026-10
Post-electionMid-termPre-election2020-012026-10
Passport reach
Where a Bahrain passport opens doors
The share of world GDP, outside Bahrain itself, in the economies whose published rules let a holder of this passport in, as of October 2026. Palanor records the rules of destinations holding 88% of world GDP, from each government’s own list, and weights them by World Bank GDP for 2025. Rank is among 199 passports.
Work
14.6%rank 53 of 199
the right to work (free movement in full; treaty and working-holiday routes at half); 2 destinations in full, 1 at half.
Recorded changes
Reach is shown here and not weighted into Country Strength: it rewards membership of a free-movement area or a treaty more than the strength of an economy. Entry is always at the border officer’s discretion, and conditions (length of stay, fees, age limits) vary. Method, sources and the full ranking: Passports and citizenship.
Palanor calculation from each destination government's published rules; GDP weights from the World Bank (CC BY 4.0), one year for the whole line, so it moves only when a list changes.
GDP by expenditure
What Bahrain’s economy runs on
In 2024, household spending was 39.9% of GDP, government consumption 14.1%, investment 28.4% and net exports +17.5% (exports 87.5%, imports 70.0%).
World Bank national accounts. The parts can miss 100 by a few points (the statistical discrepancy).
Same World Bank definition for every country, so the shares compare directly: What each economy runs on.
IMF World Economic Outlook
The IMF’s outlook for Bahrain
The latest year before the October 2026 edition (often still an IMF estimate) and the IMF’s own projections. These are the IMF’s published forecasts, shown as published; Palanor does not project them further. Since the previous edition the IMF cut its growth forecast for this year by 10.8 percentage points (Palanor calculation).
| Measure | 2025 | 2026 IMF f’cast | 2027 IMF f’cast | 2031 IMF f’cast |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real GDP growth% | 3.5 | -11.3 | 13.9 | 3.1 |
| Inflation, average consumer prices% | -0.1 | 2.2 | 1.5 | 2.0 |
| GDP, current US dollarsUS$ bn | 49.0 | 46.0 | 52.5 | 63.0 |
| GDP at purchasing-power parityintl $ bn | 113.6 | 104.2 | 122.5 | 151.6 |
| GDP per person, US dollarsUS$ | 30,541 | 28,147 | 31,511 | 34,916 |
| Current account balance% of GDP | 5.0 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 0.2 |
| Government gross debt% of GDP | 144.3 | 162.8 | 150.3 | 161.6 |
| Government overall balance% of GDP | -13.2 | -11.4 | -9.5 | -10.0 |
| Government primary balance% of GDP | -6.5 | -3.6 | -1.5 | -1.4 |
| Government net interest paid% of GDP · Palanor calc. | 6.7 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 8.6 |
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database (edition on the projection). Dashed: the IMF's published projection.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database (edition on the projection). Dashed: the IMF's published projection.
Source: IMF World Economic Outlook Database, October 2026. Provided by the IMF “as is” and free of charge from the IMF; the IMF does not endorse Palanor. Net interest paid is a Palanor calculation: the IMF's primary balance minus its overall balance.
Charts
The headline series
Conflict
Organized violence
News
In the news
- Verstappen wins chaotic Bahrain GP in Malaysia as Russell retires
The Dutch driver claimed victory in a rain-interrupted Bahrain Grand Prix held in Malaysia, as Russell's retirement helped Antonelli's title chances.
Palanor Wire2026-10-04positive · +wins
- Interview : Taptap Send: Bahrain Is a Centre for Fintech Talent and Innovation, More Than 90% of Our Transfers Arrive Within Minutes
Marketaux (financial news API)2026-10-11neutral
- Fintech Forward 2026 explores AI, tokenization in Bahrain
Marketaux (financial news API)2026-10-07neutral
- Formula 1 driver Valtteri Bottas is cycling from Sepang to Singapore between Grand Prix events. The 37-year-old Cadillac driver set out for the next F1 stop in Singapore after failing to finish the Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia on Sunday.
The Associated Press · Bluesky2026-10-06neutral
- FIA to investigate software bug after Bahrain GP in Malaysia reut.rs/4z98GIf
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-05neutral
- Verstappen wins chaotic rain-delayed Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia reut.rs/4hEa3HR
Reuters · Bluesky2026-10-04positive · +wins
- Max Verstappen has taken his first win of the year but a retirement for George Russell handed a huge title boost to Kimi Antonelli at Formula 1's Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia.
The Associated Press · Bluesky2026-10-04positive · +win +boost
Headlines that name Bahrain, matched by name with fixed rules (a wrong match is worse than a missing one). Tone is read from each headline’s own words; no model reads or summarizes an article, and other publishers’ stories link out.
Company graph
Companies headquartered in Bahrain
Palanor’s company graph holds 8 entities headquartered here (GLEIF headquarters address, else legal address).
Signals
Every series about Bahrain
Grouped by theme, the most-read first. All 125 in the Library.
Growth and output8 of 26
- Bahrain · GDP · USD bn (current)record high since 1970; 1y +3.7%$49bn2025
- Bahrain · Real GDP Growth · % y/y37th percentile since 1971; 1y +0.58 pts3.48%2025
- Bahrain · Country Strength18th percentile since 1990; lowest since 2021; 1y −14.3%57.5 index2025
- Bahrain · GDP per Capita · PPP USDrecord high since 1990; 1y +5.6%70,997 usd2025
- Bahrain · Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Value Added · % of GDPrecord low since 2006; 1y −0.0044 pts0.24% of GDP2025
- Bahrain · Industry (incl. Construction) Value Added · % of GDP28th percentile since 2006; lowest since 2020; 1y −0.967 pts41.2% of GDP2025
- Bahrain · Manufacturing Value Added · % of GDP83rd percentile since 2006; 1y +0.0277 pts19.9% of GDP2025
- Bahrain · Services Value Added · % of GDP57th percentile since 2006; highest since 2020; 1y +1.02 pts54.3% of GDP2025
Prices1 of 3
- Bahrain · Inflation · CPI % y/y24th percentile since 1966; lowest since 2021; 1y −1.06 pts-0.14%2025
Jobs and people at work3 of 4
- Bahrain · Female Labor Force Participation · %65th percentile since 1990; lowest since 2022; 1y −0.12 pts42.3%2025
- Bahrain · Male Labor Force Participation · %49th percentile since 1990; lowest since 2022; 1y −0.14 pts85.9%2025
- Bahrain · Unemployment Rate · %41st percentile since 1991; highest since 2022; 1y +0.02 pts1.1%2025
Government and debt8
- Bahrain · Budget Balance · % GDP13th percentile since 1990; lowest since 2020; 1y −2.15-13.2 pct_gdp2025
- Bahrain · Government Debt · % GDPrecord high since 1990; 1y +7.9%144.3 pct_gdp2025
- Bahrain · Government Spending · % GDP46th percentile since 1990; lowest since 2014; 1y −2.4%28.2 pct_gdp2025
- Bahrain · Net Interest · % GDPrecord high since 1990; 1y +3.6%6.68 pct_gdp2025
- Bahrain · Primary Balance · % GDP21st percentile since 1990; lowest since 2020; 1y −1.92-6.48 pct_gdp2025
- Bahrain · Budget Balance · % GDP (central govt)8th percentile since 1990; lowest since 2016; 1y −7.90-12.4 pct_gdp2020
- Bahrain · Interest · % of Expense (central govt)95th percentile since 1990; 1y −0.56 pts18.9%2020
- Bahrain · Interest · % of Revenue (central govt)record high since 1990; 1y +9.74 pts31.9%2020
Trade and capital flows2 of 3
- Bahrain · Current Account · % GDP74th percentile since 1975; 1y +19.3%5.76 pct_gdp2025
- Bahrain · Net International Investment Position, % of GDP (IMF)43rd percentile since 1989; lowest since 2021; 1y −0.711 pts58.7% of GDP2024
Energy and resources1 of 5
- Crude Oil Production · Bahrainrecord low since Jan 1973; 1y −83.9%302026-06-01
Conflict and geopolitics6 of 12
- U.S. Active-Duty Troops in Bahrain (DMDC)record low since Sep 2008; 1y −15.3%2,871 persons2026-08-31
- Bahrain · Organized-Violence Deaths (UCDP, annual)record low since 1989; 1y unchanged0 deaths2025
- Bahrain · Governance · WGI six-dimension mean69th percentile since 1996; highest since 2009; 1y +1200.0%0.01 index2025
- Bahrain · Political Stability · WGI57th percentile since 1996; 1y −0.008-0.33 index2025
- Bahrain · Regulatory Quality · WGIrecord high since 1996; 1y +5.4%1 index2025
- Bahrain · Rule of Law · WGI61st percentile since 1996; highest since 2009; 1y +7.8%0.18 index2025
Migration4 of 6
- International Migrant Stock: Bahrain (UN)record high since 1990840,202 people2024
- International Migrants as a Share of Population: Bahrain (UN)56th percentile since 1990; lowest since 200552.3% of population2024
- U.S.-Born People Living in Bahrain (UN)record high since 19901,473 people2024
- Change in Migrant Share of Population Since 2000: Bahrain (UN)lowest since 200516.62024
Climate and the physical world4 of 6
- Bahrain · Arable Land · % of landrecord low since 1961; 1y unchanged2.63% of land area2024
- Bahrain · Renewable Freshwater · m³ per personrecord low since 1961; 1y unchanged32022
- Bahrain · Forest Area · % of landrecord high since 1990; 1y +0.6 pts4.86%2024
- Bahrain · PM2.5 Exposure · µg/m³record low since 1990; 1y −3.0%55.2 µg/m³2020
Health and living standards5
- Bahrain · Life Expectancy at Birth · yearsrecord high since 1960; 1y +0.2%81.4 years2024
- Bahrain · Access to Electricity · % of populationrecord high since 1990; 1y unchanged100%2024
- Bahrain · Human Development Index · UNDP96th percentile since 1990; 1y −0.3%0.9 index2023
- Bahrain · Basic Drinking Water Access · % of populationrecord low since 2000; 1y unchanged99.9%2024
- Bahrain · Safely Managed Drinking Water · % of population36th percentile since 2000; 1y unchanged98.9%2024
Peers
Elsewhere in Asia
Alphabetical. Palanor does not rank countries.
AfghanistanArmeniaAzerbaijanBangladeshBhutanBruneiCambodiaChinaCyprusGeorgiaHong KongIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIsraelJapanJordanKazakhstanKuwaitKyrgyzstanLaosLebanonMacaoMalaysiaMaldivesMongoliaMyanmarNepalNorth KoreaOmanPakistanPalestinePhilippinesQatarSaudi ArabiaSingaporeSouth KoreaSri LankaSyriaTaiwanTajikistanThailandTimor-LesteTürkiyeTurkmenistanUnited Arab EmiratesUzbekistanVietnamYemen