Bahrain
Asia · Western Asia
Tax-free and connected to Saudi Arabia; smaller and more relaxed than Dubai.
At a Glance
📈Bahrain's Human Development Index
0.888
Very High human development#33 of 191 countries worldwide, #6 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 83% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Bahrain
Bahrain is a small island nation in the Arabian Gulf with a surprisingly long history as a trading and pearl-diving civilisation, and a contemporary culture that blends Gulf Arab traditions with a more open and cosmopolitan atmosphere than many of its neighbours. The old souqs, ancient burial mounds, and Formula One circuit make for an eclectic mix. It suits those curious about the Gulf region who want a more accessible entry point.
- First Gulf state to discover oil (1932) — and first to run low on it.
- Only Gulf state with a Shia Muslim majority, ruled by a Sunni monarchy.
- Hosts the US Fifth Fleet — while Iran is visible on a clear day.
Quick Facts
Capital
Manama
Language
Arabic
Currency
.د.ب BHD
Area
800 km²
Nomad Hub
Fixed Broadband
146Mbps
Mobile
315Mbps
GDP / Capita
$31K
PPP / Capita
$71K
Inflation
-0.1%
Unemployment
1.1%
Innovation (GII)
30.0
GNI / Capita
$29K
Tax Revenue
2.8%
FDI Inflows
5.7%
Education Spend
1.9%
Cost of Living
47.6
Price Level Index
51st pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 1990
0.733 → 0.888 (+0.155)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 33 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
Thinking about Bahrain for real?
The matcher weighs your budget, timeline and dealbreakers against the same data on this page, then answers with the places that actually fit.
Find your match →Bahrain head-to-head
💬Quick answers
What is Bahrain's Human Development Index?
Bahrain's Human Development Index is 0.888 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #33 of 191 countries.
Is Bahrain safe?
Bahrain scores 2.13 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #107 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
How expensive is Bahrain?
Numbeo's cost-of-living index puts Bahrain at 47.6 (New York = 100); that is #91 cheapest of 143 countries with data.
What is life expectancy in Bahrain?
Life expectancy at birth in Bahrain is 81.4 yrs (World Bank), ranked #34 of 195 countries.