Military spending in Bahrain
Bahrain: Military spending was 1.75 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.75 billion constant 2022 US$
Change on year
up 5.7%
World rank
71st
of 172 countries
All-time high
1.85 billion constant 2022 US$
in 2019
All-time low
39.62 million constant 2022 US$
in 1971
Years of data
53
1971–2023
Military spending in Bahrain, 1971–2023
Source: Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in constant 2022 US$.
Analysis
In 2023, military spending in Bahrain stood at 1.75 billion constant 2022 US$.
That represents a change of up 5.7% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, military spending in Bahrain peaked at 1.85 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019 and was at its lowest, 39.62 million constant 2022 US$, in 1971.
Bahrain ranks 71st of 172 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Military spending in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | constant 2022 US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 39.62 million constant 2022 US$ | — |
| 1972 | 40.13 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1973 | 60.53 million constant 2022 US$ | +50.8% |
| 1974 | 70.19 million constant 2022 US$ | +16.0% |
| 1975 | 75.42 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.4% |
| 1976 | 104.14 million constant 2022 US$ | +38.1% |
| 1977 | 155.41 million constant 2022 US$ | +49.2% |
| 1978 | 259.33 million constant 2022 US$ | +66.9% |
| 1979 | 329.27 million constant 2022 US$ | +27.0% |
| 1980 | 407.69 million constant 2022 US$ | +23.8% |
| 1981 | 484.44 million constant 2022 US$ | +18.8% |
| 1982 | 557.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +15.1% |
| 1983 | 486.11 million constant 2022 US$ | -12.8% |
| 1984 | 439.37 million constant 2022 US$ | -9.6% |
| 1985 | 365.03 million constant 2022 US$ | -16.9% |
| 1986 | 344.14 million constant 2022 US$ | -5.7% |
| 1987 | 336.02 million constant 2022 US$ | -2.4% |
| 1988 | 359.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.1% |
| 1989 | 367.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 397.87 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.3% |
| 1991 | 450.63 million constant 2022 US$ | +13.3% |
| 1992 | 460.93 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.3% |
| 1993 | 460.85 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.0% |
| 1994 | 467.04 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.3% |
| 1995 | 479.36 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 1996 | 493.89 million constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 530.90 million constant 2022 US$ | +7.5% |
| 1998 | 576.06 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.5% |
| 1999 | 573.06 million constant 2022 US$ | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 564.35 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 544.62 million constant 2022 US$ | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 538.99 million constant 2022 US$ | -1.0% |
| 2003 | 542.70 million constant 2022 US$ | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 658.28 million constant 2022 US$ | +21.3% |
| 2005 | 668.32 million constant 2022 US$ | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 726.98 million constant 2022 US$ | +8.8% |
| 2007 | 742.51 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 762.10 million constant 2022 US$ | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 895.23 million constant 2022 US$ | +17.5% |
| 2010 | 943.67 million constant 2022 US$ | +5.4% |
| 2011 | 1.12 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.4% |
| 2012 | 1.23 billion constant 2022 US$ | +10.5% |
| 2013 | 1.47 billion constant 2022 US$ | +18.9% |
| 2014 | 1.58 billion constant 2022 US$ | +7.8% |
| 2015 | 1.71 billion constant 2022 US$ | +8.2% |
| 2016 | 1.78 billion constant 2022 US$ | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 1.83 billion constant 2022 US$ | +2.7% |
| 2018 | 1.80 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.7% |
| 2019 | 1.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | +3.0% |
| 2020 | 1.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | -0.7% |
| 2021 | 1.81 billion constant 2022 US$ | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 1.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | -9.0% |
| 2023 | 1.75 billion constant 2022 US$ | +5.7% |
Bahrain compared with similar countries
- Bahrain's 1.75 billion constant 2022 US$ is below the median for high income countries, which is 6.50 billion constant 2022 US$, 27% of the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Bahrain's 1.75 billion constant 2022 US$ is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 5.51 billion constant 2022 US$, 32% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Military spending in Bahrain changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | +66.9% | 155.41 million constant 2022 US$ | 259.33 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1973 | +50.8% | 40.13 million constant 2022 US$ | 60.53 million constant 2022 US$ |
| 1977 | +49.2% | 104.14 million constant 2022 US$ | 155.41 million constant 2022 US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 126.00 million constant 2022 US$ | 39.62 million constant 2022 US$ | 329.27 million constant 2022 US$ | 9 |
| 1980s | 414.75 million constant 2022 US$ | 336.02 million constant 2022 US$ | 557.36 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 489.06 million constant 2022 US$ | 397.87 million constant 2022 US$ | 576.06 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 664.41 million constant 2022 US$ | 538.99 million constant 2022 US$ | 895.23 million constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.53 billion constant 2022 US$ | 943.67 million constant 2022 US$ | 1.85 billion constant 2022 US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.76 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.65 billion constant 2022 US$ | 1.84 billion constant 2022 US$ | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
- 68 Bulgaria 1.99 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 69 Uzbekistan 1.78 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 70 Angola 1.77 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 72 Kazakhstan 1.65 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 73 Uruguay 1.62 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
- 74 Croatia 1.60 billion constant 2022 US$ compare
More reference data data for Bahrain
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.001 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0108 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0191 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.0191 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0034 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0013 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0528 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.0873 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is military spending in Bahrain?
- Military spending in Bahrain was 1.75 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2023, according to Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest military spending recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 1.85 billion constant 2022 US$ in 2019.
- What is the lowest military spending recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was 39.62 million constant 2022 US$ in 1971.
- How does Bahrain rank for military spending?
- Bahrain ranks 71st out of 172 countries with data for 2023.
- Is military spending rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bahrain data come from?
- The figures come from Barnum et al. – Global Military Spending Dataset (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Military spending. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 53 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
This data is expressed in US dollars. It is adjusted for inflation but does not account for differences in the cost of living between countries.