Net migration in Bahrain
Bahrain: Net migration was 18,128 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Bahrain, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
In 2025, net migration in Bahrain stood at 18,128.
That represents a change of down 20.1% on the previous year and down 50.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Bahrain peaked at 47,674 in 2008 and was at its lowest, -31,967, in 2019.
That places Bahrain 33rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,266 | — |
| 1961 | 1,076 | -15.0% |
| 1962 | 810 | -24.7% |
| 1963 | 714 | -11.9% |
| 1964 | 491 | -31.2% |
| 1965 | -415 | -184.5% |
| 1966 | -718 | +73.0% |
| 1967 | -829 | +15.5% |
| 1968 | -3,952 | +376.7% |
| 1969 | -4,638 | +17.4% |
| 1970 | -4,939 | +6.5% |
| 1971 | 3,159 | -164.0% |
| 1972 | 6,190 | +95.9% |
| 1973 | 6,450 | +4.2% |
| 1974 | 6,711 | +4.0% |
| 1975 | 6,900 | +2.8% |
| 1976 | 6,993 | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 7,017 | +0.3% |
| 1978 | 6,974 | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 6,908 | -0.9% |
| 1980 | 6,741 | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 4,523 | -32.9% |
| 1982 | 3,980 | -12.0% |
| 1983 | 4,252 | +6.8% |
| 1984 | 4,557 | +7.2% |
| 1985 | 4,657 | +2.2% |
| 1986 | 4,822 | +3.5% |
| 1987 | 5,152 | +6.8% |
| 1988 | 5,294 | +2.8% |
| 1989 | 5,220 | -1.4% |
| 1990 | 5,090 | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 4,562 | -10.4% |
| 1992 | 2,768 | -39.3% |
| 1993 | 2,850 | +3.0% |
| 1994 | 3,387 | +18.8% |
| 1995 | 3,842 | +13.4% |
| 1996 | 4,162 | +8.3% |
| 1997 | 4,036 | -3.0% |
| 1998 | 3,733 | -7.5% |
| 1999 | 3,130 | -16.2% |
| 2000 | 2,886 | -7.8% |
| 2001 | 34,371 | +1091.0% |
| 2002 | 45,952 | +33.7% |
| 2003 | 45,571 | -0.8% |
| 2004 | 45,413 | -0.3% |
| 2005 | 45,682 | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 46,615 | +2.0% |
| 2007 | 47,500 | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 47,674 | +0.4% |
| 2009 | 46,467 | -2.5% |
| 2010 | -19,329 | -141.6% |
| 2011 | -26,107 | +35.1% |
| 2012 | 12,801 | -149.0% |
| 2013 | 35,574 | +177.9% |
| 2014 | 40,815 | +14.7% |
| 2015 | 36,809 | -9.8% |
| 2016 | 46,833 | +27.2% |
| 2017 | 21,958 | -53.1% |
| 2018 | -25,978 | -218.3% |
| 2019 | -31,967 | +23.1% |
| 2020 | -5,048 | -84.2% |
| 2021 | 11,882 | -335.4% |
| 2022 | 18,975 | +59.7% |
| 2023 | 20,002 | +5.4% |
| 2024 | 22,699 | +13.5% |
| 2025 | 18,128 | -20.1% |
Bahrain compared with similar countries
- Bahrain's 18,128 is above the median for high income countries, which is 843, 21.5× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Bahrain's 18,128 is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is -581. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Bahrain changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +1091.0% | 2,886 | 34,371 |
| 1968 | -376.7% | -829 | -3,952 |
| 2021 | +335.4% | -5,048 | 11,882 |
| 2018 | -218.3% | 21,958 | -25,978 |
| 1965 | -184.5% | 491 | -415 |
| 2013 | +177.9% | 12,801 | 35,574 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -619.5 | -4,638 | 1,266 | 10 |
| 1970s | 5,236 | -4,939 | 7,017 | 10 |
| 1980s | 4,920 | 3,980 | 6,741 | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,756 | 2,768 | 5,090 | 10 |
| 2000s | 40,813 | 2,886 | 47,674 | 10 |
| 2010s | 9,141 | -31,967 | 46,833 | 10 |
| 2020s | 14,440 | -5,048 | 22,699 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
More financial sector data for Bahrain
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0038 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 116.55 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0028 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 85.11 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0038 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 116.55 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Bahrain?
- Net migration in Bahrain was 18,128 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 47,674 in 2008.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was -31,967 in 2019.
- How does Bahrain rank for net migration?
- Bahrain ranks 33rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 50.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bahrain data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.