As of June 2026, the population of Bahrain is 1.5 million. The number of inhabitants has increased by 13 thousand in the last year, representing a growth of 0.85%. The median age of the population has increased in recent years, rising from 30.1 years in 2016 to 34.4 years in 2026. Currently, life expectancy at birth is 81.2 years and population density is 1.9 thousand inhabitants per square kilometer.
The population growth rate of Bahrain peaked in 2004, reaching around 8.18% annually, but has since declined to approximately 0.83% in 2026. The annual increase in the number of people has also decreased from a peak of around 69.84 thousand in 2008 to nearly 12.71 thousand in 2026.
In Bahrain, life expectancy at birth has been increasing, with the indicator rising from 77.2 years in 2006 to 81.2 years in 2026, representing an increase de 4 years over the past 2 decades.
The cities of Bahrain are mostly small, but 4 stand out with more than 100 thousand inhabitants. The most populous city is Al Muharraq, Muharraq, with approximately 176.6 thousand inhabitants. It is followed by Manama with 147.1 thousand and Madīnat Ḩamad, Northern with 133.6 thousand.
These are the 10 most populous cities in Bahrain:
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Al Muharraq, Muharraq | 176,583 |
| 2 | Manama | 147,074 |
| 3 | Madīnat Ḩamad, Northern | 133,550 |
| 4 | Ar Rifā‘, Southern Governorate | 115,495 |
| 5 | Sitrah, Manama | 72,601 |
| # | City | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Jidd Ḩafş, Manama | 66,588 |
| 7 | Dār Kulayb, Southern Governorate | 65,466 |
| 8 | Madīnat ‘Īsá, Southern Governorate | 38,090 |
| 9 | Al Ḩadd, Muharraq | 12,797 |
| 10 | Sanābis, Manama | 6,564 |