Discover Bahrain : Population

Bahrain's demographics are truly exceptional in the Gulf. While the archipelago is home to a large foreign population, it nevertheless retains a relative majority of Bahraini citizens, representing over 45% of the population - a striking contrast with neighboring countries such as Dubai or Qatar, where expatriates generally exceed 85%. This demographic singularity can be explained by several factors: a historically larger indigenous population, active "Bahrainization" policies imposing employment quotas for nationals, and a political will to preserve Bahrain's distinctive culture. Bahrain's society is a reflection of its history: a commercial crossroads since antiquity, its population is a mix of Shiites and Sunnis, Arabs and Persians, caravan-dwelling Bedouins and sedentary fishermen... A social complexity that has made this small country so rich, and which undoubtedly sets it apart from other destinations in the region.

Bahrain, land of the Bahrainis

Today, the Arab cities of the Persian Gulf are a veritable showcase for the globalized society of the ^21st century: the entire planet has gathered here, attracted by the bright lights of capitalism. But unlike its Emirati neighbors, Bahrain has managed to retain a strong local population: over 45% of the population is of Bahraini origin, whereas in Dubai or Qatar, over 87% of the inhabitants are foreigners. A true anomaly in the region, explained by several factors.

National preference

The Kingdom of Bahrain has long been more populous than its Gulf neighbors, and therefore less in need of foreign labor, when in the ^20th century this part of the world developed at great speed thanks to the financial manna of hydrocarbons. So the Bahraini state sought to favor its own citizens. By law, for example, at least half of a company's employees must be of Bahraini origin. This national preference is now bearing fruit. Whereas in Dubai, a tourist will probably never come across an Emirati, Bahrainis are everywhere on the archipelago. More numerous than in the Emirates, they receive fewer state subsidies and therefore do not have the same economic opportunities. They work in occupations that their neighbors have long since abandoned, such as cab drivers, waiters and fishermen.

With just over 1.5 million inhabitants, Bahrain is one of the smallest countries in the Arab world in terms of surface area, but its population density is one of the highest in the region. Nearly 90% of the population live in urban areas, mainly in the capital and surrounding towns on the archipelago's main island. This urban concentration reinforces contrasts between communities and accentuates already complex social dynamics.

A complex Arab-Persian society

But don't be fooled: the population itself is more diverse than you might think. 70% of Bahrainis are Shiites, and they themselves are divided into two distinct ethnic groups. Firstly, the Baharnas, who make up the majority of Bahrain's Shiites and are heirs to the country's ancient history. Semites, they embraced Shi'ism in the ^17th and ^18th centuries. The Ajam are the descendants of Persian immigrants who arrived in Bahrain in the ^19th century. A people of tradesmen and craftsmen, they have preserved their traditions and their language, Persian, which they practice in the privacy of their homes. Sunnis, who account for 30% of the archipelago's Muslims, originate from the Arabian Peninsula and followed Emir Al-Fatih when he conquered the island in 1783. These desert Bedouins are descended from the tribes who populated the east coast of Saudi Arabia, and who made their living from livestock farming, fishing, trade and the numerous raids they carried out against caravans. The social organization of these peoples, divided and subdivided into clans and tribes, is still present today. Hereditary royal power is therefore inseparable from the social and economic fabric of the kingdom, to the extent that it is virtually impossible to dissociate the ruling family from the state. But Bedouins are not the only Sunni Arabs in Bahrain. They are not to be confused with the Afro-Arabs who immigrated to Bahrain from the Horn of Africa, nor with the Uwalas, Iranian Sunnis who left their homeland in the ^19th century to work in Bahrain. An ethnic and religious mix that has lived in relative harmony for centuries.

Languages and multiple identities

This mosaic of cultures and peoples is reflected in the kingdom's linguistic diversity. Arabic is the official language and the one most commonly used in the public sphere. It is a dialectal Arabic, specific to the Persian Gulf region, which will not necessarily be understood by someone from the Levant or the Maghreb. Literary Arabic is the language of the Koran. But there are several other languages that echo through the streets of Manama. English, the language of education and commerce, is omnipresent in companies, administrations and private schools. Most Bahrainis speak English, at least enough to make themselves understood. Persian is still spoken within the Ajam communities, although its use is becoming less and less common. But in the streets of Manama, mainly in the Old City, visitors will hear languages from the Indian subcontinent, mainly Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and Urdu. This linguistic plurality reflects the country's image as an archipelago where local traditions and foreign influences coexist.

A religious and ethnic melting pot

Over the previous two centuries, trade had attracted large Indian and Persian communities to the archipelago, which explains the large population of immigrant workers. Manama's dazzling development was accompanied by a growing need for manpower, and at the same time attracted a large number of capital and investors, seduced by the kingdom's potential. Foreigners do not benefit from the same laws as the native population. This status quo explains the relative social divide between locals and foreigners. The vast majority of foreigners living in Bahrain come from the Indian subcontinent, i.e. Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Other major communities include Filipinos and Egyptians. This cheap foreign labor keeps the archipelago's economy going: they generally hold low-skilled jobs in hotels and restaurants. Western expatriates, mainly Europeans and Americans, work in key sectors such as hydrocarbons and banking. Bahrain is also home to the Gulf's only Jewish community. Enjoying total freedom of worship, its members coexist in perfect harmony with their Muslim compatriots, despite some upheavals after the Second World War. One of them, Houda Nonoo, even became a member of the Upper House.