Demographics of Bahrain
Encyclopedia
This article is about the demographic
features of the population
of Bahrain
, including population density
, ethnicity
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Most of the population of Bahrain
is concentrated in the two principal cities, Manama
and Al Muharraq. Previously, an editor of this article confused the indigenous people of Bahrain, called Baharna
, who are ShiaMuslim
s with Shia Iranian immigrants (called Ajam
and other Shia immigrants from the Arabian Peninsula
. Anyway, Baharna comprise about 40 percent of Bahrain, while the Shia of Bahrain including immigrants are about 44%, while the Sunni community, who are mostly immigrants from South Asia
and Saudi Arabia
with some being native to the island, comprise about 50-55% of the population, while the rest of the population are Hindu
, Buddhist, or belong to other religions.
There are also number of expatriates from South and Southeast Asia: roughly 275,000 Indians, 125,000 Bangladeshis, 45,000 Pakistanis, 45,000 Filipinos and 8,000 Indonesians, according to various media reports and government statistics.
April 4, 1981 census
Islam
is the official religion. Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as a tiny indigenous Jewish community, also exist in Bahrain. Shia Muslims make up the majority of Muslims in Bahrain at almost 70% of the population, while Sunni Muslims and other assorted sects make up around 30%
Overall literacy is 89.1% (91.9% for men and 85% for women) (2003 est.).
Demographics
Demographics are the most recent statistical characteristics of a population. These types of data are used widely in sociology , public policy, and marketing. Commonly examined demographics include gender, race, age, disabilities, mobility, home ownership, employment status, and even location...
features of the population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
, including population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
, ethnicity
Ethnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
Most of the population of Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
is concentrated in the two principal cities, Manama
Manama
Manama is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 155,000 people.Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population...
and Al Muharraq. Previously, an editor of this article confused the indigenous people of Bahrain, called Baharna
Baharna
The Bahrani are the indigenous Shi'a inhabitants of the archipelago of Bahrain and the oasis of Qatif on the Persian Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia . The term is sometimes also extended to the Shi'a inhabitants of the al-Hasa oasis. They are all Arabic speaking, and some claim descent from Arab tribes...
, who are ShiaMuslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
s with Shia Iranian immigrants (called Ajam
Ajam
Ajam is a word used in Persian and Arabic literature but with different concepts. Ajam in Arabic has two primary meanings: "non-Arab" and "Persian".literally it has other meaning "one who is illiterate in language", "silent", or "mute", and refers to non-Arabs in general, or people of Southern...
and other Shia immigrants from the Arabian Peninsula
Arabian Peninsula
The Arabian Peninsula is a land mass situated north-east of Africa. Also known as Arabia or the Arabian subcontinent, it is the world's largest peninsula and covers 3,237,500 km2...
. Anyway, Baharna comprise about 40 percent of Bahrain, while the Shia of Bahrain including immigrants are about 44%, while the Sunni community, who are mostly immigrants from South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
with some being native to the island, comprise about 50-55% of the population, while the rest of the population are Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, Buddhist, or belong to other religions.
There are also number of expatriates from South and Southeast Asia: roughly 275,000 Indians, 125,000 Bangladeshis, 45,000 Pakistanis, 45,000 Filipinos and 8,000 Indonesians, according to various media reports and government statistics.
Population
| Bahraini | Non-Bahraini | Total | % Non-Bahraini | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 409,619 | 251,698 | 661,317 | 38.1% |
| 2002 | 427,246 | 283,307 | 710,554 | 39.9% |
| 2003 | 445,632 | 318,888 | 764,519 | 41.7% |
| 2004 | 464,808 | 358,936 | 823,744 | 43.6% |
| 2005 | 484,810 | 404,013 | 888,824 | 45.5% |
| 2006 | 505,673 | 454,752 | 960,425 | 47.3% |
| 2007 | 527,433 | 511,864 | 1,039,297 | 49.3% |
| 2008 | 541,587 | 561,909 | 1,103,496 | 50.9% |
| 2009 | 558,011 | 620,404 | 1,178,415 | 52.6% |
| 2010 | 568,399 | 666,172 | 1,234,571 | 54.0% |
Religions
- Muslim 70%, other 30%
April 4, 1981 census
| Religion | Men | Women | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Muslims | 166,467 | 131,673 | 298,140 |
| Christians | 15,973 | 9,638 | 25,611 |
| Other | 22,342 | 4,691 | 27,033 |
| Without religion | 11 | 3 | 14 |
| Total | 204,793 | 146,005 | 350,798 |
Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is the official religion. Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as a tiny indigenous Jewish community, also exist in Bahrain. Shia Muslims make up the majority of Muslims in Bahrain at almost 70% of the population, while Sunni Muslims and other assorted sects make up around 30%
CIA World Factbook demographic statistics
The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.Net migration rate
- 0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
- county comparison to the world: 74
Urbanization
- Urban population: 89% of total population (2008)
- Rate of urbanization: 1.8% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio
- At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
- Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 1.48 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
- Total population: 1.24 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality and life expectancy
- Infant mortality is 15.2 deaths/1,000 live births (19.65/1,000 for boys and 13.87/1,000 for girls) (2009 est.).
- county comparison to the world: 125
- Life expectancy is 74.45 years (71.97 years for men and 77 years for women) (2009 est.).
- county comparison to the world: 83
Total fertility rate
- 2.5 children born/woman (2009 est.)
- county comparison to the world: 95
HIV/AIDS
- Adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2001 est.)
- county comparison to the world: 110
- People living with HIV/AIDS: Less than 600 (2007 est.)
- county comparison to the world: 145
- Deaths: Less than 200 (2003 est.)
- county comparison to the world: 105
Languages
- ArabicArabic languageArabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
- EnglishEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
- PersianPersian languagePersian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
- Urdu
- MalayalamMalayalam languageMalayalam , is one of the four major Dravidian languages of southern India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India with official language status in the state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry. It is spoken by 35.9 million people...
- Hindi
- Singhalese
Literacy and education
Bahrain has traditionally boasted an advanced educational system. Schooling and related costs are entirely paid for by the government, and, although not compulsory, primary and secondary attendance rates are high. Bahrain also encourages institutions of higher learning, drawing on expatriate talent and the increasing pool of Bahrainis returning from abroad with advanced degrees. Bahrain University has been established for standard undergraduate and graduate study, and the College of Health Sciences—operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health—trains physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics.Overall literacy is 89.1% (91.9% for men and 85% for women) (2003 est.).
Sources
- 2003 U.S. Department of State website