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Economy of Bahrain vs China compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank

Bahrain has a GDP of $49B compared to $19.5T for China, ranking 98/197 and 2/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bahrain has $72.3B in government debt (147.6% of GDP), compared to $19.3T (99.2% of GDP) in China.

Bahrain vs China GDP by year

Bahrain
China
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bahrain China
2025 $48,965,725,532 $19,498,039,388,043
2024 $47,210,732,713 $18,729,668,435,848
2023 $46,192,260,638 $18,270,356,654,533
2022 $46,458,191,489 $18,316,765,021,690
2021 $40,840,212,766 $18,201,698,719,564
2020 $35,837,632,979 $14,996,414,166,715
2019 $40,446,808,511 $14,560,167,101,283
2018 $39,567,978,723 $14,147,765,772,964
2017 $37,204,813,830 $12,537,559,062,283
2016 $33,884,680,851 $11,456,024,084,962
2015 $32,523,297,872 $11,280,814,787,469
2014 $34,772,526,596 $10,674,533,168,257
2013 $33,823,324,468 $9,743,124,247,267
2012 $31,963,404,255 $8,673,664,713,189
2011 $29,914,680,851 $7,671,757,207,851
2010 $26,805,984,043 $6,192,564,874,453
2009 $22,938,218,085 $5,189,577,094,998
2008 $25,710,904,255 $4,667,346,414,522
2007 $21,730,000,000 $3,604,055,822,572
2006 $18,504,760,638 $2,791,498,472,804
2005 $15,968,723,404 $2,317,551,298,052
2004 $13,150,159,574 $1,984,196,551,300
2003 $11,074,813,830 $1,683,903,309,844
2002 $9,593,510,638 $1,489,821,682,051
2001 $8,976,196,809 $1,355,036,590,252
2000 $9,062,898,936 $1,223,754,919,971
1999 $7,528,469,149 $1,103,843,203,576
1998 $7,031,309,043 $1,037,134,141,760
1997 $7,219,407,713 $967,753,570,435
1996 $6,938,166,755 $868,523,936,530
1995 $6,651,180,851 $738,190,896,228
1994 $6,330,627,926 $566,929,539,493
1993 $5,913,001,064 $446,557,291,212
1992 $5,402,232,447 $428,502,354,788
1991 $5,248,911,170 $384,510,452,962
1990 $4,809,511,005 $361,560,229,446
1989 $4,393,093,963 $348,380,566,802
1988 $4,209,834,173 $312,888,888,889
1987 $3,856,922,694 $273,455,156,951
1986 $3,470,746,843 $301,310,144,928
1985 $4,152,376,484 $310,064,625,850
1984 $4,440,874,566 $260,442,857,143
1983 $4,247,030,468 $231,130,268,199
1982 $4,145,421,080 $205,480,916,031
1981 $3,943,109,532 $196,218,253,968
1980 $3,493,834,468 $191,487,500,000
1979 $2,710,160,739 $178,573,913,043
1978 $2,272,042,965 $149,788,617,886
1977 $1,989,060,283 $175,226,595,860
1976 $1,581,709,519 $154,196,810,059
1975 $1,099,107,601 $163,687,619,736
1974 $1,042,176,884 $144,418,433,058
1973 $761,132,545 $138,764,340,892
1972 $534,081,184 $113,871,930,714
1971 $422,181,562 $99,959,013,880
1970 $391,577,364 $92,752,930,873
1969 - $79,847,786,729
1968 - $70,980,323,819
1967 - $73,011,350,596
1966 - $76,854,053,259
1965 - $70,565,994,356
1964 - $59,821,862,703
1963 - $50,812,227,919
1962 - $47,310,737,754
1961 - $50,162,299,350
1960 - $59,846,235,025

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/china | CC BY

GDP per capita in Bahrain vs China by year

Bahrain
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
China
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bahrain China
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2025 $30,597 - $13,862 -
2024 $29,717 $66,941 $13,293 $27,105
2023 $29,290 $64,171 $12,951 $25,179
2022 $30,471 $61,678 $12,971 $23,032
2021 $27,148 $54,955 $12,887 $20,843
2020 $24,343 $53,436 $10,627 $18,267
2019 $27,260 $56,600 $10,343 $17,601
2018 $26,324 $51,993 $10,086 $16,298
2017 $24,785 $50,185 $8,980 $15,022
2016 $23,800 $47,429 $8,255 $14,157
2015 $23,734 $48,034 $8,175 $13,463
2014 $26,452 $54,299 $7,781 $12,942
2013 $26,990 $56,310 $7,147 $12,228
2012 $26,439 $56,713 $6,405 $11,420
2011 $25,033 $52,677 $5,704 $10,457
2010 $21,819 $49,255 $4,629 $9,411
2009 $19,465 $48,626 $3,898 $8,448
2008 $23,299 $50,330 $3,523 $7,713
2007 $20,908 $49,347 $2,735 $6,935
2006 $19,267 $48,009 $2,129 $5,946
2005 $17,966 $47,268 $1,778 $5,148
2004 $15,964 $46,317 $1,531 $4,505
2003 $14,486 $45,427 $1,307 $4,007
2002 $13,501 $45,091 $1,164 $3,591
2001 $13,573 $46,162 $1,065 $3,258
2000 $14,214 $45,688 $969 $2,964
1999 $12,123 $43,561 $881 $2,690
1998 $11,625 $42,281 $835 $2,483
1997 $12,255 $40,965 $787 $2,297
1996 $12,092 $40,106 $713 $2,088
1995 $11,901 $38,839 $613 $1,884
1994 $11,629 $37,579 $476 $1,680
1993 $11,152 $37,870 $379 $1,471
1992 $10,460 $33,648 $368 $1,276
1991 $10,434 $31,657 $334 $1,105
1990 $9,343 $26,902 $319 $991
1989 $8,833 - $311 -
1988 $8,772 - $284 -
1987 $8,333 - $252.3 -
1986 $7,777 - $282.4 -
1985 $9,649 - $295 -
1984 $10,697 - $251.2 -
1983 $10,599 - $225.9 -
1982 $10,712 - $203.7 -
1981 $10,557 - $197.4 -
1980 $9,733 - $195.1 -
1979 $7,891 - $184.3 -
1978 $6,926 - $156.7 -
1977 $6,358 - $185.7 -
1976 $5,310 - $165.7 -
1975 $3,880 - $178.6 -
1974 $3,874 - $160.4 -
1973 $2,981 - $157.3 -
1972 $2,206 - $132.1 -
1971 $1,830 - $118.8 -
1970 $1,742 - $113.3 -
1969 - - $100.3 -
1968 - - $91.6 -
1967 - - $96.8 -
1966 - - $104.5 -
1965 - - $98.7 -
1964 - - $85.7 -
1963 - - $74.5 -
1962 - - $71.1 -
1961 - - $76 -
1960 - - $89.7 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/china | CC BY

Bahrain's GDP per capita is $30,597, ranking 44/197, compared to $13,862 in China, ranking 77/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bahrain ranks 26th at $66,941, while China ranks 77th at $27,105.

Economic indicators

Bahrain China
Gross domestic product
$49B
2025
$19.5T
2025
GDP rank
98/197
2025
2/197
2025
GDP growth
3.48%
2024-2025
4.96%
2024-2025
GDP per capita
$30,597
2025
$13,862
2025
GDP per capita rank
44/197
2025
77/197
2025
GDP per capita, PPP
$66,941
2024
$27,105
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
26/197
2024
77/197
2024
Government debt
$72.3B
2025
$19.3T
2025
Debt-to-GDP ratio
147.6%
2025
99.2%
2025
Government debt per person
$45,165
2025
$13,756
2025
Government debt per person rank
13/185
2025
47/185
2025
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,191
2026
$10,414
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$21.3B
2025
$15.5T
2025
Number of millionaires n/a
5,305,000
2026
Number of billionaires n/a
539
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
28.4%
2022
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
3.1%
2022
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.4%
2025
32.9%
2025
Consumer prices inflation
-0.14%
2024-2025
0%
2024-2025
Central bank interest rate
4.25%
2025
3%
2025
Unemployment rate
0.89%
2015
4.57%
2022
Population
1649267
1403335670

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bahrain
Spending

Debt
China
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bahrain China
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2025 29.4% 147.6% 32.9% 99.2%
2024 28.9% 133.7% 32.9% 90.4%
2023 29% 123% 32.7% 84.1%
2022 28.4% 111.6% 32.6% 77.3%
2021 30.6% 122.3% 31.9% 72.1%
2020 34.6% 125.7% 34.8% 70.1%
2019 31.2% 97.1% 33.6% 59.8%
2018 32.1% 90.4% 32.6% 55.9%
2017 30.7% 84% 32% 53.9%
2016 33.3% 77.4% 31.7% 50%
2015 34.8% 63.2% 31% 40.8%
2014 27.3% 42.6% 28.4% 39.3%
2013 32% 42.3% 28.1% 36.4%
2012 31.1% 34.8% 27.7% 33.8%
2011 30.2% 31.6% 26.6% 33.2%
2010 31.1% 28.8% 24.7% 33.3%
2009 24.6% 20.5% 25.2% 34%
2008 22.7% 12.1% 22.2% 26.7%
2007 22.4% 15.7% 17.9% 28.7%
2006 23.1% 19.4% 18.1% 25.2%
2005 23.9% 23.2% 18% 25.9%
2004 25% 28.2% 17.6% 26%
2003 28.1% 31.1% 18% 26.4%
2002 30.6% 27.2% 18.2% 25.6%
2001 26.5% 25% 17.2% 24.3%
2000 22.2% 24.7% 16.1% 22.7%
1999 27.1% 24.7% 14.9% 21.6%
1998 25.7% 20% 12.6% 20.4%
1997 31% 14.8% 11.5% 20.4%
1996 22.7% 13.1% 11% 21.2%
1995 25.1% 13.6% 11.1% 21.4%
1994 26.1% 5.62% 12.4% -
1993 26.7% 5.95% 13.4% -
1992 29.4% 6.45% 14.6% -
1991 28.5% 6.71% 16.5% -
1990 32.4% 7.24% 18.2% -
1989 - - 18.6% -
1988 - - 20.9% 4.46%
1987 - - 23.4% 3.6%
1986 - - 25.6% 3.24%
1985 - - 25.8% 3.31%
1984 - - 26.9% 0.97%
1983 - - 28.3% -
1982 - - 27.9% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/china | CC BY

In 2025, Bahrain's government spending was $14.4B, accounting for 29.4% of its GDP, while China spent $6.41T, or 32.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 147.6% in Bahrain and 99.2% in China, ranking 6/185 and 26/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bahrain

China
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bahrain China
2025 -13% -7.87%
2024 -11% -7.11%
2023 -9.66% -6.71%
2022 -6.03% -7.32%
2021 -10.6% -5.9%
2020 -17.3% -9.56%
2019 -8.57% -6%
2018 -11.3% -4.2%
2017 -13.4% -3.34%
2016 -16.6% -3.33%
2015 -17.5% -2.5%
2014 -3.32% -0.67%
2013 -8.55% -0.82%
2012 -5.77% -0.3%
2011 -4.9% -0.1%
2010 -9.29% -0.36%
2009 -5.36% -1.72%
2008 4.08% -0.02%
2007 1.52% 0.06%
2006 2.24% -1.13%
2005 2.8% -1.38%
2004 0.24% -1.49%
2003 -1.7% -2.36%
2002 -3.27% -2.84%
2001 0.7% -2.56%
2000 7.33% -2.81%
1999 -4.85% -2.3%
1998 -5.49% -1.08%
1997 -6.39% -0.73%
1996 0.24% -0.73%
1995 -3.99% -0.94%
1994 -5.18% -1.68%
1993 -2.77% -0.89%
1992 -5.41% -1.22%
1991 -3.47% -1.04%
1990 -6.79% -0.72%
1989 - -0.91%
1988 - -2.22%
1987 - -2.08%
1986 - -1.82%
1985 - -0.45%
1984 - -1.44%
1983 - -1.61%
1982 - -1.33%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/china | CC BY

In 2025, Bahrain's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $6.35B, equivalent to 13% of GDP. This compares to China's deficit of $1.53T, or 7.87% of GDP.

Over the past 36 years, Bahrain recorded a fiscal deficit in 28 of those years, while China ran a deficit in 35 years. On average, Bahrain posted an annual deficit equal to 5.61% of GDP, compared to deficit of 2.6% of GDP for China.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bahrain

China
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bahrain China
2025 -0.14% 0%
2024 0.92% 0.2%
2023 0.07% 0.2%
2022 3.63% 2%
2021 -0.61% 0.9%
2020 -2.32% 2.5%
2019 1.01% 2.9%
2018 2.09% 2.1%
2017 1.39% 1.6%
2016 2.79% 2%
2015 1.85% 1.4%
2014 2.65% 2%
2013 3.3% 2.6%
2012 2.76% 2.6%
2011 -0.4% 5.4%
2010 1.96% 3.3%
2009 2.8% -0.7%
2008 3.53% 5.8%
2007 3.26% 4.8%
2006 2.01% 1.5%
2005 2.59% 1.8%
2004 2.35% 3.9%
2003 1.59% 1.2%
2002 -0.5% -0.8%
2001 -1.21% 0.7%
2000 -0.7% 0.4%
1999 -1.29% -1.4%
1998 -0.37% -0.8%
1997 2.43% 2.8%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/china | CC BY

Over the past 29 years, Bahrain has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.29%, compared with 1.76% in China. In 2025, inflation was -0.14% in Bahrain and 0% in China.

Top exports between countries

Bahrain
Export category Export value
Chemicals & pharma $29.5M
Machinery & equipment $29M
Metals $16.5M
Textiles & consumer goods $3.15M
Precious metals & jewellery $656K
Raw materials & minerals $612K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $145K
Miscellaneous $95K
Wood & paper products $61K
Raw agricultural goods $17K
China
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $719M
Textiles & consumer goods $224M
Metals $179M
Raw materials & minerals $167M
Chemicals & pharma $123M
Miscellaneous $87.3M
Animal & marine products $59.4M
Wood & paper products $40.4M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $20.4M
Raw agricultural goods $10.9M

Balance of trade

Bahrain China
Current account balance
$2.28B
2024
$735B
2025
Current account balance ranking
43/190
2024
1/190
2025
Current account balance, % of GDP
+4.83%
2024
+3.77%
2025
Goods imports
$20.7B
2024
$2.69T
2025
Goods exports
$24.3B
2024
$3.75T
2025
Service imports
$12.4B
2024
$623B
2025
Service exports
$17B
2024
$385B
2025
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
70%
2024
16.9%
2025
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
87.5%
2024
21.1%
2025

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Bahrain China
Economic freedom 65.7 48.3
Economic freedom ranking 63/197 170/197
Property rights 60.9 40.9
Government integrity 45.9 42.3
Judicial effectiveness 30 38.6
Tax burden 99.9 69.3
Government spending 75 67.8
Fiscal health 0 4.4
Business freedom 75.9 68.7
Labor freedom 55.5 57.9
Monetary freedom 88.8 76.1
Trade freedom 86.8 73.4
Investment freedom 90 20
Financial freedom 80 20

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bahrain
China
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bahrain China
2026 65.7 48.3
2025 65.6 49
2024 63.4 48.5
2023 62.5 48.3
2022 62 48
2021 69.9 58.4
2020 66.3 59.5
2019 66.4 58.4
2018 67.7 57.8
2017 68.5 57.4
2016 74.3 52
2015 73.4 52.7
2014 75.1 52.5
2013 75.5 51.9
2012 75.2 51.2
2011 77.7 52
2010 76.3 51
2009 74.8 53.2
2008 72.2 53.1
2007 71.2 52
2006 71.6 53.6
2005 71.2 53.7
2004 75.1 52.5
2003 76.3 52.6
2002 75.6 52.8
2001 75.9 52.6
2000 75.7 56.4
1999 75.2 54.8
1998 75.6 53.1
1997 76.1 51.7
1996 76.4 51.3
1995 76.2 52

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/china | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Bahrain is 65.7, ranking 63/197, compared to 48.3 for China, ranking 170/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bahrain China
Services, % of GDP
54.3%
2025
57.7%
2025
Industry, % of GDP
41.2%
2025
35.6%
2025
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.24%
2025
6.66%
2025
GNI, Atlas method
$46.1B
2025
$20T
2025
GNI per capita, PPP
$65,500
2025
$29,160
2025
Total reserves including gold
$5.27B
2025
$3.75T
2025
Total reserves ranking
101/177
2025
1/177
2025
Net foreign direct investment
-$2.43B
2024
$77.2B
2025
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.7B
2024
$42.6B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$275M
2024
$192B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI n/a
1.9%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines n/a
0%
2020
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
28.4%
2024
40.5%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bahrain/china | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1982–1989, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.