Bahrain population pyramid 2026
1,675,572 people in 2026 (projected). Bahrain’s pyramid has a large male bulge from labour migration: at ages 40–44 there are about 227 men for every 100 women.
- 2026 population
- 1.7Mrank 153 of 237
- Median age
- 33.4 yearsoldest rank 116
- Fertility rate
- 1.77births per woman · below replacement
- Structure
- Older4.2% age 65+
Bahrain population pyramid
2026 · Share of total by five-year age group and sex
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The UN series provides historical estimates through 2023. Figures from 2024 onward—including 2026—are medium-scenario projections, not counts or predictions guaranteed to occur.
Bahrain age distribution in 2026
Children under 15 account for 18.2% of the population, while 4.2% are aged 65 or older. The remaining 77.7% are in the conventional working-age range of 15–64. On these shares, the site classifies Bahrain’s age structure as older; the guide to constrictive population pyramids explains what that shape implies.
The total age dependency ratio is 28.8: about 29 people under 15 or 65+ for every 100 people aged 15–64 (23.4 children and 5.4 older people). This is an age-balance indicator, not a literal count of economic dependants per worker.
What shapes Bahrain’s population pyramid
A Gulf labour pyramid with early roots
Bahrain was the first place on the Arab side of the Gulf where oil was found, in 1932, and a male surplus is already visible in its earliest pyramids. Even in 1950 men outnumbered women at ages 15–39, and by 1975 the ratio at 25–34 was close to two to one. Net migration added about 140,000 people between 1950 and 1999, when the total population was still well under a million, and about 545,000 more between 2000 and 2023. Most of the newcomers were men recruited, largely from South and Southeast Asia, for construction, services and industry.
In 2026 the sex ratio is near balance among children, at about 103–104 boys per 100 girls, then jumps to 161 at 20–24, 201 at 30–34 and 227 at 40–44 before falling back after 50. Overall there are about 163 men per 100 women, placing Bahrain near the top of the sex ratio by country ranking, though below Qatar, where the imbalance is even more extreme. Bahraini citizens are commonly estimated at roughly half of all residents, a larger share than in Qatar or the United Arab Emirates, which helps explain why the bulge is less dominant.
Notches that come from migration, not births
The UN data flag a notch at 15–19, born about 2007–11, about 15% smaller than its neighbours, and a bulge at 35–39. Neither mainly reflects swings in births. The 15–19 band is simply the last band before workers arrive: below it are resident families, above it the migrant bulge, which starts at 20–24 and is largest at 35–39. The children of Bahrain are a fairly smooth sequence, with fertility having fallen from more than seven per woman in 1960 to about 1.8 today.
The young adult population also shapes the vital rates. Deaths are very low, about 3,700 in 2026 against about 19,900 births, because few residents are old; workers usually leave when their contracts end rather than retire in Bahrain. Life expectancy for men (81.2 years) is unusually close to that of women (82.4). The most similar age structures are those of the Maldives, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
The medium scenario assumes much lower net migration, about 56,000 between 2026 and 2050, yet the population still rises to about 2.1 million and the male bulge remains clearly visible in 2050.
What to notice across the years
Distinctive cohorts and turning points
Comparing each five-year band with its neighbours picks out the cohorts that break a smooth slope. These irregularities usually record past surges or deficits in births, or migration concentrated at particular ages; the pattern alone does not identify which. The guide to baby booms and echo cohorts explains how to date and interpret them.
| Age band in 2026 | Born about | Feature | Versus neighbouring bands |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35–39 | 1987–1991 | Bulge (larger cohort) | +17% |
| 15–19 | 2007–2011 | Notch (smaller cohort) | −14% |
In the UN medium scenario births outnumber deaths in every year through 2100. Children under 15 outnumber people aged 65 and older in every pyramid year through 2100.
Births, deaths, and migration
A pyramid changes in only three ways: births add to the base, deaths remove people at every age, and migration adds or removes people mainly in young adulthood. In 2026, Bahrain is projected to record 19,865 births (about 54 births a day) and 3,741 deaths, a natural increase of 16,124. Net migration adds +14,280 people, ranking #12 in the net migration rate ranking.
Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates 442,959 births, 62,691 deaths, and cumulative net migration of +545,351. Over that period migration moved the total more than the balance of births and deaths did. See how migration shapes a pyramid and birth rate versus fertility rate. The medium scenario assumes net migration of +56,246 between 2026 and 2050.
Annual values 1950–2100; dashed lines after 2023 are the UN medium projection. The trend table below lists the values by decade.
Life expectancy and mortality
- Life expectancy, women
- 82.4 years40.8 in 1950
- Life expectancy, men
- 81.2 years36.9 in 1950
- Further years at 65
- 20.1 yearsboth sexes
- Infant mortality
- 4.9per 1,000 births · 204 in 1950
- Under-five mortality
- 5.9per 1,000 births
- Mother’s mean age at birth
- 30.0 yearssex ratio at birth 103.8
Women in Bahrain are projected to live 1.2 years longer than men, which is why the female side of the pyramid widens relative to the other at older ages (see the life expectancy gap ranking). Infant mortality has fallen from 204 to 4.9 deaths per 1,000 live births since 1950, ranking #169 of 237 in the infant mortality ranking (highest first). A mean age at childbearing of 30.0 years sets the spacing between generations, and so how far apart echo cohorts sit in the pyramid.
Median age, fertility rate, and global ranks for Bahrain
The median age of 33.4 years splits the population into two equal halves. A total fertility rate of 1.77 births per woman is below the replacement level of roughly 2.1, and life expectancy at birth is 81.7 years.
These ranks compare all 237 countries and areas in this dataset using the same 2026 UN medium projection. Ranks use the stored source precision, so displayed rounding can make adjacent values look identical; small differences should not be overinterpreted.
| Indicator | 2026 value | Global rank | Ranking direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,675,572 | #153 | Largest first |
| Median age | 33.4 years | #116 | Oldest first |
| Fertility rate | 1.77 | #129 | Highest first |
| Annual growth | +1.8% | #51 | Fastest first |
| Life expectancy | 81.7 years | #46 | Highest first |
| Population aged 65+ | 4.2% | #183 | Highest share first |
Largest age groups in Bahrain
The five largest cohorts identify where the 2026 population is concentrated. They can reflect past birth patterns, survival, and migration; the chart alone does not establish which cause dominates.
| Rank | Age group | Population | Share of total | Male / female |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 35–39 | 222,344 | 13.3% | 158.8K / 63.5K |
| 2 | 30–34 | 199,359 | 11.9% | 133.2K / 66.2K |
| 3 | 40–44 | 180,175 | 10.8% | 125K / 55.1K |
| 4 | 25–29 | 151,042 | 9.0% | 94.7K / 56.3K |
| 5 | 45–49 | 132,219 | 7.9% | 87.6K / 44.6K |
Sex ratio and the balance by age
In the 2026 projection, Bahrain has 1,039,020 males and 636,552 females. That is 163.2 males per 100 females, ranking #4 when the dataset is ordered from the highest male-to-female ratio to the lowest.
Males account for 62.0% of the population and females for 38.0%. There are 402,468 more males than females overall. Among people aged 65 and older, the ratio is 109.3 males per 100 females.
The overall balance can conceal large differences by age; how sex ratios change with age explains the usual pattern. The ratio reflects the male/female categories in the UN source and is not a measure of gender identity. Compare all profiles in the sex-ratio ranking.
At birth, 103.8 boys are projected to be born for every 100 girls in 2026, close to the biological norm of about 105 (compare the sex ratio at birth ranking). The ratio at birth sets the balance at the base of the pyramid; how it changes with age then depends on survival and migration.
How Bahrain has changed since 1950
The population has increased from 117,263 in 1950 to 1,675,572 in 2026, a change of 1329%. Over the same span, median age moved from 17.9 to 33.4 years.
The under-15 share changed from 42.2% to 18.2%, while the share aged 65 and older changed from 2.9% to 4.2%. These shifts show why total population growth and age-structure change need to be read separately.
How the population could change by 2050
Under the UN medium scenario, Bahrain’s population is projected to grow by about 28%, reaching 2,139,464 in 2050. The median age changes from 33.4 to 35.0 years.
The 65+ share is projected to rise by 4.3 percentage points to 8.5%. At the same time, the under-15 share is projected at 17.1%. How UN projections work explains the assumptions behind these figures.
The population is still rising at the end of the UN medium projection in 2100, when it reaches 3,090,323. The page therefore does not assign a peak year beyond the available horizon.
Population trend: 1950–2100
Mid-year population for every year. Estimates through 2023; dashed line shows the UN medium projection.
| Year | Population | Median age | Fertility | Life exp. | Births | Deaths | Net migration | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 117,263 | 17.9 | 7.29 | 38.6 | 5,766 | 2,985 | +600 | +2.9% |
| 1960 | 165,477 | 17.7 | 7.26 | 50.6 | 8,208 | 2,694 | +1,266 | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 224,809 | 16.2 | 6.43 | 64.4 | 8,622 | 1,649 | −4,939 | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 358,978 | 20.8 | 4.76 | 70.7 | 10,190 | 1,388 | +6,741 | +4.3% |
| 1990 | 514,796 | 23.7 | 3.82 | 72.6 | 13,972 | 1,634 | +5,090 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 669,580 | 25.6 | 2.80 | 74.7 | 13,680 | 1,772 | +2,886 | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 1,213,244 | 29.0 | 1.99 | 78.6 | 18,788 | 2,520 | −19,329 | -0.3% |
| 2020 | 1,483,077 | 31.0 | 1.86 | 78.7 | 19,002 | 3,836 | −5,048 | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 1,569,666 | 32.9 | 1.82 | 81.3 | 19,558 | 3,278 | +20,002 | +2.3% |
| 2024* | 1,607,049 | 33.2 | 1.80 | 81.4 | 19,338 | 3,552 | +22,699 | +2.4% |
| 2026* | 1,675,572 | 33.4 | 1.77 | 81.7 | 19,865 | 3,741 | +14,280 | +1.8% |
| 2030* | 1,765,209 | 33.7 | 1.73 | 82.4 | 20,868 | 4,099 | +1,111 | +1.0% |
| 2040* | 1,951,233 | 34.1 | 1.68 | 83.9 | 23,162 | 5,271 | +1,226 | +1.0% |
| 2050* | 2,139,464 | 35.0 | 1.66 | 85.2 | 24,071 | 6,981 | +1,347 | +0.9% |
| 2060* | 2,323,451 | 35.5 | 1.65 | 86.4 | 25,858 | 8,620 | +1,348 | +0.8% |
| 2070* | 2,513,013 | 35.8 | 1.65 | 87.5 | 28,180 | 10,359 | +1,277 | +0.8% |
| 2080* | 2,703,179 | 36.2 | 1.64 | 88.5 | 30,042 | 12,245 | +1,158 | +0.7% |
| 2090* | 2,894,320 | 36.5 | 1.64 | 89.6 | 32,140 | 13,803 | +1,030 | +0.7% |
| 2100* | 3,090,323 | 36.6 | 1.63 | 90.5 | 34,614 | 15,793 | +933 | +0.6% |
* 2024 onward is the UN medium projection. Fertility is births per woman; life expectancy is years at birth; births, deaths, and net migration are counts for that calendar year.
Download every year, 1950–2100 (CSV)
2026 population by age and sex
The table provides the counts behind the chart. Age groups are five-year bands, with everyone aged 100 or older combined.
| Age group | Male | Female | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–4 | 50,577 | 49,242 | 99,819 | 6.0% |
| 5–9 | 51,980 | 50,360 | 102,340 | 6.1% |
| 10–14 | 51,974 | 50,172 | 102,146 | 6.1% |
| 15–19 | 48,599 | 44,243 | 92,842 | 5.5% |
| 20–24 | 70,966 | 44,014 | 114,980 | 6.9% |
| 25–29 | 94,733 | 56,309 | 151,042 | 9.0% |
| 30–34 | 133,190 | 66,169 | 199,359 | 11.9% |
| 35–39 | 158,815 | 63,529 | 222,344 | 13.3% |
| 40–44 | 125,040 | 55,135 | 180,175 | 10.8% |
| 45–49 | 87,641 | 44,578 | 132,219 | 7.9% |
| 50–54 | 62,034 | 32,644 | 94,678 | 5.7% |
| 55–59 | 40,193 | 25,453 | 65,646 | 3.9% |
| 60–64 | 26,632 | 21,175 | 47,807 | 2.9% |
| 65–69 | 17,162 | 14,996 | 32,158 | 1.9% |
| 70–74 | 9,738 | 8,774 | 18,512 | 1.1% |
| 75–79 | 4,553 | 4,405 | 8,958 | 0.5% |
| 80–84 | 3,046 | 3,000 | 6,046 | 0.4% |
| 85–89 | 1,411 | 1,474 | 2,885 | 0.2% |
| 90–94 | 564 | 657 | 1,221 | 0.1% |
| 95–99 | 149 | 189 | 338 | 0.0% |
| 100+ | 24 | 34 | 58 | 0.0% |
Countries with the most similar age structure
These profiles have the 2026 age distributions closest to Bahrain’s, measured by the total difference in the share of the population in each five-year band. Similar shapes can arise from very different histories, so the match is a starting point for comparison, not an explanation.
- Maldives96% overlap · median age 33.4
- Kuwait94% overlap · median age 34.8
- Oman91% overlap · median age 29.8
- Saudi Arabia91% overlap · median age 29.7
- Bhutan90% overlap · median age 31.0
- Qatar90% overlap · median age 33.4
To calculate school-age, working-age, or older groups with other boundaries, use the age-group calculator for Bahrain.
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APA
World Population Pyramid. (2026, October 19). Bahrain Population Pyramid 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/bahrain/
MLA
“Bahrain Population Pyramid 2026.” World Population Pyramid, 19 Oct. 2026, worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/bahrain/.
Chicago
World Population Pyramid. “Bahrain Population Pyramid 2026.” Last modified October 19, 2026. https://worldpopulationpyramid.com/countries/bahrain/.
Underlying data: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2024). World Population Prospects 2024.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Bahrain in 2026?
Under the UN World Population Prospects 2024 medium scenario, Bahrain's population in 2026 is projected at 1,675,572.
What is the median age in Bahrain?
The projected median age in Bahrain in 2026 is 33.4 years: half the population is younger and half is older.
What is the fertility rate in Bahrain?
The projected total fertility rate in 2026 is 1.77 births per woman, below the replacement level of about 2.1 in low-mortality populations.
Is Bahrain's population projected to grow?
Between 2026 and 2050, the UN medium scenario indicates the population will grow by about 28%, from 1.7M to 2.1M.
What share of Bahrain is aged 65 or older?
In 2026, 4.2% of the projected population is aged 65 or older. By 2050, the medium scenario places the share at 8.5%.
How many babies are born in Bahrain each year?
The UN medium scenario projects 19,865 births and 3,741 deaths in 2026, about 54 births a day. Births exceed deaths by 16,124.
What is life expectancy in Bahrain for men and women?
Life expectancy at birth in 2026 is projected at 82.4 years for women and 81.2 years for men, a gap of 1.2 years in favour of women.
Does Bahrain have more immigrants or emigrants?
Bahrain is projected to gain about 14,280 more people through migration than it loses in 2026. Between 2000 and 2023 the UN estimates cumulative net migration of +545,351.
What is the sex ratio in Bahrain?
The projected 2026 population sex ratio is 163.2 males per 100 females. This all-age ratio is different from the sex ratio at birth and can vary substantially by age.
Sources and notes
- United Nations, DESA, Population Division: World Population Prospects 2024, medium scenario.
- Population values are mid-year figures. Source values published in thousands are converted to people; displayed figures may imply more precision than is appropriate for planning.
- Historical values through 2023 are estimates. Values from 2024 onward are projections.
- Calculations follow the site methodology.