The Arabian Peninsula Partnership
The Gospel for every person and a church for every people in the Arabian Peninsula amongst indigenous peoples
Information about Bahrain
Area 691 sq.km. A group of one larger and 34 smaller barren islands in the Arabian Gulf between the Qatar peninsula and Saudi Arabian mainland — linked to the latter by a causeway.
| Population |
Annual Growth |
Density |
| 2000: 617,217 |
+2.05% |
893 per sq. km. |
| 2010: 713,145 |
+1.35% |
1,032 per sq. km. |
| 2025: 858,368 |
+1.11% |
1,242 per sq. km. |
| Capital: Manama |
Urbanites: 90% |
Arabs: 65.4%. Bahraini 380,000;Other Arab (Saudi, Palestinian, Egyptian, etc.) 25,000.
South Asian: 13%. Indian (Malayali, Tamil, Telugu, etc.) Pakistani 30,000.
Other Asian: 6.4%. Filipino, Korean, etc.
European: 2%. UK 7,000; USA 3,500.
Official language: Arabic Literacy: 85%
Diversification from oil production to oil refining, aluminium (the world's largest smelter) manufacturing and banking. Nearly half the labour force is foreign. Public debt 62% of GNP. Income/person $8,330 (27% of USA).
British Protectorate until 1971. Absolute monarchy between 1975 and 2001. The Amir ruled with the help of an appointed Cabinet and Consultative Council. Every attempt at political expression by the disenfranchised Shi'a majority was vigorously repressed. In 2001 the new Amir committed the country to a constitutional monarchy and democratic government to be instituted in 2003.
Islam is the official religion, and all Bahrainis are considered Muslim. No evangelism among them is permitted. The ruling elite are Sunni Muslims, but 61% of the population are Shi'a. Expatriate Christians are free to worship together. Persecution index 20th in the world.
| Religions |
Population % |
Adherents |
| Muslim |
82.31 |
508,031 |
| Christian |
10.36 |
63,944 |
| Hindu |
6.25 |
38,576 |
| non-Religious |
0.69 |
4,259 |
| Baha'i |
0.22 |
1,358 |
| Jewish |
0.10 |
617 |
| Buddhist |
0.07 |
432 |
| Christians |
Denom. |
Affiliation |
,000 |
| Protestant |
5 |
0.82 |
5 |
| Independent |
20 |
2.29 |
14 |
| Anglican |
1 |
0.49 |
3 |
| Catholic |
2 |
4.05 |
25 |
| Orthodox |
2 |
0.36 |
2
|
| Churches |
Congregations |
Members |
Affiliates
|
| Catholic |
11 |
5,750 |
23,000 |
| Anglican |
10 |
1,796 |
3,000 |
| Coptic Orthodox |
1 |
800 |
2,000 |
| National Evangelical |
21 |
1,138 |
1,900 |
| Pentecostal groups (6) |
9 |
450 |
900 |
| Other denominations (21) |
59 |
7,105 |
18,679 |
| Total Christians |
111 |
17,039 |
49,479 |
Operation World
Gulf Daily News - The Voice of Bahrain
