Economy Overview
Oil and natural gas play a dominant role in Bahrain’s economy. Despite the Government’s past efforts to diversify the economy, oil still comprises 85% of Bahraini budget revenues. In the last few years lower world energy prices have generated sizable budget deficits - about 10% of GDP in 2017 alone. Bahrain has few options for covering these deficits, with low foreign assets and fewer oil resources compared to its GCC neighbors. The three major US credit agencies downgraded Bahrain’s sovereign debt rating to "junk" status in 2016, citing persistently low oil prices and the government’s high debt levels. Nevertheless, Bahrain was able to raise about $4 billion by issuing foreign currency denominated debt in 2017. Other major economic activities are production of aluminum - Bahrain's second biggest export after oil and gas –finance, and construction. Bahrain continues to seek new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. In April 2018 Bahrain announced it had found a significant oil field off the country’s west coast, but is still assessing how much of the oil can be extracted profitably. In addition to addressing its current fiscal woes, Bahraini authorities face the long-term challenge of boosting Bahrain’s regional competitiveness — especially regarding industry, finance, and tourism — and reconciling revenue constraints with popular pressure to maintain generous state subsidies and a large public sector. Since 2015, the government lifted subsidies on meat, diesel, kerosene, and gasoline and has begun to phase in higher prices for electricity and water. As part of its diversification plans, Bahrain implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US in August 2006, the first FTA between the US and a Gulf state. It plans to introduce a Value Added Tax (VAT) by the end of 2018.
Agriculture Products
mutton, dates, milk, poultry, tomatoes, fruit, sheep offals, sheep skins, eggs, pumpkins
Industries
petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, Islamic and offshore banking, insurance, ship repairing, tourism
Industrial Production Growth Rate
0.6% (2017 est.)
Labor Force
831,600 (2017 est.)
Labor Force by Occupation
Agriculture: 1%
Industry: 32%
Services: 67% (2004 est.)
Unemployment Rate
0: 3.6% (2017 est.)
1: 3.7% (2016 est.)
Note: official estimate; actual rate is higher
Youth Unemployment Rate
Total: 5.3%
Male: 2.6%
Female: 12.2% (2012 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line
NA
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: NA
Highest 10%: NA
Budget
Revenues: 5.854 billion (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 9.407 billion (2017 est.)
Budget Surplus
-10.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public Debt
0: 88.5% of GDP (2017 est.)
1: 81.4% of GDP (2016 est.)
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
0: $2.349 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
1: $3.094 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt External
0: $52.15 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
1: $42.55 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
Exchange Rates
0: Bahraini dinars (BHD) per US dollar -
1: 0.37705 (2020 est.)
2: 0.37705 (2019 est.)
3: 0.377 (2018 est.)
4: 0.376 (2014 est.)
5: 0.376 (2013 est.)
