Urban population in Bahrain
Bahrain: Urban population was 1.60 million in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Bahrain, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Bahrain is 1.60 million, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 years on record.
The figure is up 0.7% on the previous year and up 16.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban population in Bahrain peaked at 1.60 million in 2025 and was at its lowest, 136,179, in 1960.
That places Bahrain 142nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 136,179 | — |
| 1961 | 141,885 | +4.2% |
| 1962 | 147,693 | +4.1% |
| 1963 | 153,615 | +4.0% |
| 1964 | 159,658 | +3.9% |
| 1965 | 165,349 | +3.6% |
| 1966 | 169,832 | +2.7% |
| 1967 | 173,400 | +2.1% |
| 1968 | 175,319 | +1.1% |
| 1969 | 175,695 | +0.2% |
| 1970 | 176,042 | +0.2% |
| 1971 | 180,276 | +2.4% |
| 1972 | 189,301 | +5.0% |
| 1973 | 199,947 | +5.6% |
| 1974 | 211,190 | +5.6% |
| 1975 | 223,017 | +5.6% |
| 1976 | 235,370 | +5.5% |
| 1977 | 248,189 | +5.4% |
| 1978 | 261,403 | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 274,941 | +5.2% |
| 1980 | 288,721 | +5.0% |
| 1981 | 301,907 | +4.6% |
| 1982 | 314,911 | +4.3% |
| 1983 | 329,113 | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 344,703 | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 361,544 | +4.9% |
| 1986 | 379,412 | +4.9% |
| 1987 | 398,005 | +4.9% |
| 1988 | 416,934 | +4.8% |
| 1989 | 435,721 | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 453,781 | +4.1% |
| 1991 | 444,769 | -2.0% |
| 1992 | 456,744 | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 468,699 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 480,824 | +2.6% |
| 1995 | 493,152 | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 505,752 | +2.6% |
| 1997 | 518,680 | +2.6% |
| 1998 | 531,983 | +2.6% |
| 1999 | 545,736 | +2.6% |
| 2000 | 560,024 | +2.6% |
| 2001 | 580,898 | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 626,301 | +7.8% |
| 2003 | 679,140 | +8.4% |
| 2004 | 740,188 | +9.0% |
| 2005 | 810,323 | +9.5% |
| 2006 | 890,492 | +9.9% |
| 2007 | 981,723 | +10.2% |
| 2008 | 1.06 million | +8.3% |
| 2009 | 1.16 million | +9.0% |
| 2010 | 1.23 million | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 1.20 million | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 1.21 million | +1.2% |
| 2013 | 1.25 million | +3.7% |
| 2014 | 1.31 million | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 1.37 million | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 1.42 million | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 1.50 million | +5.4% |
| 2018 | 1.50 million | +0.1% |
| 2019 | 1.48 million | -1.3% |
| 2020 | 1.47 million | -0.8% |
| 2021 | 1.50 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 1.52 million | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 1.58 million | +3.4% |
| 2024 | 1.59 million | +0.7% |
| 2025 | 1.60 million | +0.7% |
Bahrain compared with similar countries
- Bahrain's 1.60 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 2.24 million, 71% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Bahrain's 1.60 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.90 million, 16% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 159,862 | 136,179 | 175,695 | 10 |
| 1970s | 219,968 | 176,042 | 274,941 | 10 |
| 1980s | 357,097 | 288,721 | 435,721 | 10 |
| 1990s | 490,012 | 444,769 | 545,736 | 10 |
| 2000s | 809,098 | 560,024 | 1.16 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.35 million | 1.20 million | 1.50 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.54 million | 1.47 million | 1.60 million | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
- 139 Papua New Guinea 1.70 million compare
- 140 Jamaica 1.69 million compare
- 141 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.65 million compare
- 143 Namibia 1.57 million compare
- 144 Equatorial Guinea 1.39 million compare
- 145 Albania 1.38 million compare
More climate change data for Bahrain
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 985,662 kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 40.92 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 16.54 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 24.39 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.0624 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.8709 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 5.43 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 5.43 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.0205 kt (2050)
- Synthetic Fertilizers — Emissions (CO2eq) 5.43 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Bahrain?
- Urban population in Bahrain was 1.60 million in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 1.60 million in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was 136,179 in 1960.
- How does Bahrain rank for urban population?
- Bahrain ranks 142nd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban population rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bahrain data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.