Bahrain — Labor participation
Labor Force Participation Rate for Bahrain, 1990–2025.
Labor participation for Bahrain was 70.43% in 2025, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 36 years, from 1990 to 2025. The highest recorded value was 72.39% in 2017. The lowest was 64.91% in 2004 (about 1.1× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.15% per year.
Bahrain ranks 26 of 187 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 14%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 44.99%, so Bahrain sits above it. It peaked in 2017 and has fallen 3% since. Over the last decade (2015–2025) the figure moved down 1%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 4 of 23 economies; Oman (68.38%) is just below it.
Data highlights
World ranking. Climbed: 56th of 187 in 1990 → 62nd of 187 in 2000 → 29th of 187 in 2010 → 27th of 187 in 2020 → 25th of 182 in 2025.
Key figures
Full history — 1990 to 2025
| Year | % of population ages 15+ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 70.43% | -0.1 pp |
| 2024 | 70.57% | -0.1 pp |
| 2023 | 70.7% | +0.4 pp |
| 2022 | 70.29% | +1.3 pp |
| 2021 | 68.94% | -0.3 pp |
| 2020 | 69.23% | -2.2 pp |
| 2019 | 71.41% | -0.7 pp |
| 2018 | 72.07% | -0.3 pp |
| 2017 | 72.39% | +0.4 pp |
| 2016 | 71.98% | +0.6 pp |
| 2015 | 71.36% | +0.2 pp |
| 2014 | 71.17% | -0.4 pp |
| 2013 | 71.55% | -0.0 pp |
| 2012 | 71.59% | +0.4 pp |
| 2011 | 71.19% | -0.6 pp |
| 2010 | 71.75% | +1.0 pp |
| 2009 | 70.71% | +1.4 pp |
| 2008 | 69.31% | +1.4 pp |
| 2007 | 67.95% | +1.2 pp |
| 2006 | 66.72% | +1.0 pp |
| 2005 | 65.69% | +0.8 pp |
| 2004 | 64.91% | -0.1 pp |
| 2003 | 64.99% | -0.2 pp |
| 2002 | 65.24% | -0.3 pp |
| 2001 | 65.52% | +0.0 pp |
| 2000 | 65.51% | +0.2 pp |
| 1999 | 65.29% | +0.1 pp |
| 1998 | 65.16% | +0.0 pp |
| 1997 | 65.14% | -0.1 pp |
| 1996 | 65.23% | -0.2 pp |
| 1995 | 65.43% | -0.3 pp |
| 1994 | 65.71% | -0.3 pp |
| 1993 | 66.04% | -0.3 pp |
| 1992 | 66.37% | -0.0 pp |
| 1991 | 66.4% | -0.3 pp |
| 1990 | 66.72% | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Bahrain’s Labor participation in 1991?
66.4% (1991). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are changes in this series measured in percentage points?
Yes. The series is a share expressed in % of population ages 15+, so year-over-year movements in the Change column are percentage points (pp), not percent.
Is Bahrain’s Labor participation growing or shrinking?
Between 1990 and 2025 the series was growing overall: +5.6% in total — about 0.2% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator SL.TLF.CACT.ZS. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2025: 70.43%; 2024: 70.57%; 2023: 70.7%; 2022: 70.29%; 2021: 68.94%. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
SL.TLF.CACT.ZS — Labor Force Participation Rate. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.