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Bahrain vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Bahrain has a population of 1.59M (ranked 151/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Bahrain's land area is 309 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 174th vs. 24th).

By GDP, Bahrain ranks 96/197 ($47.1B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Bahrain ranks 42/197 ($29,654), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Bahrain South Africa
Population
1669503
65683993
Population rank 151/197 24/197
GDP
$47.1B
2024
$401B
2024
GDP rank 96/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$29,654
2024
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 42/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$66,941
2024
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$62.8B
2024
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
133.4%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$39,552
2024
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 14/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$23,253
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 309 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
5,378 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.82
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
34.2 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
81.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Bahrain and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Bahrain and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Bahrain

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Bahrain South Africa
2024 $47,109,734,309 $401,144,998,374
2023 $46,192,260,638 $381,440,724,491
2022 $46,458,191,489 $407,596,043,068
2021 $40,840,212,766 $419,986,284,375
2020 $35,837,632,979 $337,974,655,408
2019 $40,446,808,511 $389,330,032,224
2018 $39,567,978,723 $405,260,723,893
2017 $37,204,813,830 $381,448,814,653
2016 $33,884,680,851 $323,585,509,674
2015 $32,523,297,872 $346,709,790,459
2014 $34,772,526,596 $381,198,869,776
2013 $33,823,324,468 $400,886,013,596
2012 $31,963,404,255 $434,400,545,086
2011 $29,914,680,851 $458,199,494,831
2010 $26,805,984,043 $417,363,822,802
2009 $22,938,218,085 $329,754,060,647
2008 $25,710,904,255 $316,131,258,616
2007 $21,730,000,000 $333,077,117,254
2006 $18,504,760,638 $303,858,675,364
2005 $15,968,723,404 $288,867,217,197
2004 $13,150,159,574 $255,806,908,595
2003 $11,074,813,830 $197,018,965,309
2002 $9,593,510,638 $129,087,556,612
2001 $8,976,196,809 $135,429,905,923
2000 $9,062,898,936 $151,752,757,215
1999 $7,528,469,149 $151,516,957,079
1998 $7,031,309,043 $152,982,984,557
1997 $7,219,407,713 $168,978,057,328
1996 $6,938,166,755 $163,234,925,381
1995 $6,651,180,851 $171,735,933,897
1994 $6,330,627,926 $153,512,712,382
1993 $5,913,001,064 $147,194,747,566
1992 $5,402,232,447 $146,956,150,987
1991 $5,248,911,170 $135,203,698,238
1990 $4,809,511,005 $126,048,140,142
1989 $4,393,093,963 $108,055,624,082
1988 $4,209,834,173 $103,976,831,871
1987 $3,856,922,694 $96,535,763,418
1986 $3,470,746,843 $73,354,771,399
1985 $4,152,376,484 $64,459,376,087
1984 $4,440,874,566 $84,870,163,366
1983 $4,247,030,468 $96,204,110,942
1982 $4,145,421,080 $85,904,057,409
1981 $3,943,109,532 $93,141,472,164
1980 $3,493,834,468 $89,411,864,402
1979 $2,710,160,739 $63,038,658,089
1978 $2,272,042,965 $51,607,412,902
1977 $1,989,060,283 $45,328,411,332
1976 $1,581,709,519 $41,150,460,288
1975 $1,099,107,601 $42,906,905,672
1974 $1,042,176,884 $41,389,186,095
1973 $761,132,545 $33,262,772,008
1972 $534,081,184 $24,515,919,217
1971 $422,181,562 $23,411,076,638
1970 $391,577,364 $21,218,391,513
1969 - $19,256,992,297
1968 - $17,124,793,150
1967 - $15,821,393,671
1966 - $14,211,394,315
1965 - $13,068,994,772
1964 - $11,955,995,218
1963 - $10,854,195,658
1962 - $9,813,996,074
1961 - $9,225,996,310
1960 - $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bahrain/south-africa | CC BY

Bahrain and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Bahrain

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Bahrain South Africa
2024 $29,654 $6,267
2023 $29,290 $6,034
2022 $30,471 $6,534
2021 $27,148 $6,829
2020 $24,343 $5,581
2019 $27,260 $6,534
2018 $26,324 $6,914
2017 $24,785 $6,618
2016 $23,800 $5,651
2015 $23,734 $6,112
2014 $26,452 $6,857
2013 $26,990 $7,332
2012 $26,439 $8,077
2011 $25,033 $8,646
2010 $21,819 $7,973
2009 $19,465 $6,375
2008 $23,299 $6,185
2007 $20,908 $6,592
2006 $19,267 $6,077
2005 $17,966 $5,837
2004 $15,964 $5,221
2003 $14,486 $4,062
2002 $13,501 $2,688
2001 $13,573 $2,847
2000 $14,214 $3,218
1999 $12,123 $3,242
1998 $11,625 $3,310
1997 $12,255 $3,700
1996 $12,092 $3,618
1995 $11,901 $3,856
1994 $11,629 $3,489
1993 $11,152 $3,400
1992 $10,460 $3,462
1991 $10,434 $3,243
1990 $9,343 $3,093
1989 $8,833 $2,727
1988 $8,772 $2,702
1987 $8,333 $2,586
1986 $7,777 $2,027
1985 $9,649 $1,839
1984 $10,697 $2,504
1983 $10,599 $2,938
1982 $10,712 $2,717
1981 $10,557 $3,050
1980 $9,733 $3,029
1979 $7,891 $2,202
1978 $6,926 $1,852
1977 $6,358 $1,671
1976 $5,310 $1,559
1975 $3,880 $1,670
1974 $3,874 $1,656
1973 $2,981 $1,369
1972 $2,206 $1,038
1971 $1,830 $1,020
1970 $1,742 $952
1969 - $891
1968 - $817
1967 - $779
1966 - $722
1965 - $685
1964 - $646
1963 - $605
1962 - $563
1961 - $546
1960 - $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bahrain/south-africa | CC BY

Bahrain vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Bahrain

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Bahrain South Africa
2026 81.7 66.7
2025 81.6 66.5
2024 81.4 66.3
2023 81.3 66.1
2022 81 65.5
2021 78.1 62
2020 78.7 65.2
2019 80.5 66.1
2018 80.4 65.7
2017 80.4 65.4
2016 80.4 64.7
2015 80.3 64.1
2014 80.2 63.2
2013 80 62.4
2012 79.6 61.7
2011 79.1 60.6
2010 78.6 58.9
2009 78 57.4
2008 77.5 56
2007 77 54.9
2006 76.5 54.2
2005 76.1 53.9
2004 75.8 54
2003 75.5 54.2
2002 75.2 55.6
2001 74.9 57.2
2000 74.7 58.4
1999 74.4 59.2
1998 74.1 59.9
1997 73.9 60.5
1996 73.6 61.1
1995 73.4 61.6
1994 73.1 62.1
1993 72.9 62.6
1992 72.8 62.8
1991 72.7 63
1990 72.6 62.9
1989 72.5 63
1988 72.5 62.9
1987 72.4 62.7
1986 72.3 62.4
1985 72.1 62.2
1984 71.9 61.8
1983 71.6 61.4
1982 71.4 60.9
1981 71 60.4
1980 70.7 60
1979 70.3 59.5
1978 69.9 59
1977 69.4 58.5
1976 68.9 58
1975 68.3 57.6
1974 67.6 57.1
1973 66.9 56.7
1972 66.1 56.4
1971 65.3 56
1970 64.4 55.7
1969 63.4 55.4
1968 62.3 55.2
1967 61 55
1966 59.7 54.7
1965 58.4 54.4
1964 56.9 54.2
1963 55.4 53.9
1962 53.9 53.6
1961 52.3 53.1
1960 50.6 52.6
1959 49 51.9
1958 47.3 51.1
1957 45.7 50.2
1956 44.1 49.2
1955 42.8 48.2
1954 41.6 47.1
1953 40.7 46.1
1952 39.9 45
1951 39.3 44.1
1950 38.6 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/bahrain/south-africa | CC BY

Bahrain and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Bahrain

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Bahrain South Africa
2024 1,588,670 64,007,187
2023 1,577,059 63,212,384
2022 1,524,693 62,378,410
2021 1,504,365 61,502,603
2020 1,472,204 60,562,381
2019 1,483,756 59,587,885
2018 1,503,091 58,613,001
2017 1,501,116 57,635,162
2016 1,423,726 57,259,551
2015 1,370,322 56,723,537
2014 1,314,562 55,594,838
2013 1,253,191 54,678,791
2012 1,208,964 53,782,567
2011 1,195,020 52,995,205
2010 1,228,543 52,344,051
2009 1,178,415 51,728,516
2008 1,103,496 51,114,599
2007 1,039,295 50,528,584
2006 960,424 49,998,277
2005 888,822 49,490,033
2004 823,741 48,991,421
2003 764,517 48,500,348
2002 710,553 48,019,415
2001 661,316 47,566,800
2000 637,582 47,159,719
1999 620,989 46,730,335
1998 604,842 46,223,880
1997 589,115 45,666,838
1996 573,792 45,123,018
1995 558,879 44,541,554
1994 544,366 44,004,139
1993 530,225 43,297,156
1992 516,458 42,443,509
1991 503,052 41,687,898
1990 514,797 40,746,268
1989 497,327 39,628,575
1988 479,929 38,480,649
1987 462,854 37,326,190
1986 446,286 36,180,515
1985 430,358 35,042,093
1984 415,154 33,892,788
1983 400,707 32,739,304
1982 386,983 31,615,339
1981 373,524 30,541,044
1980 358,978 29,518,857
1979 343,457 28,634,162
1978 328,046 27,869,507
1977 312,823 27,118,952
1976 297,863 26,395,450
1975 283,243 25,690,940
1974 269,038 24,989,108
1973 255,320 24,294,263
1972 242,113 23,609,456
1971 230,733 22,942,143
1970 224,809 22,279,984
1969 222,469 21,614,676
1968 219,337 20,957,287
1967 214,189 20,314,066
1966 207,543 19,690,087
1965 200,866 19,089,380
1964 193,816 18,511,361
1963 186,501 17,954,564
1962 179,349 17,418,522
1961 172,346 16,908,035
1960 165,477 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bahrain/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Bahrain and South Africa

Fertility rate
Bahrain

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bahrain South Africa
2023 1.82 2.22
2022 1.84 2.23
2021 1.85 2.25
2020 1.86 2.26
2019 1.84 2.26
2018 1.91 2.27
2017 1.98 2.28
2016 2.04 2.26
2015 2.11 2.36
2014 2.15 2.42
2013 2.17 2.43
2012 2.11 2.45
2011 2.03 2.44
2010 1.99 2.44
2009 2.05 2.5
2008 2.15 2.68
2007 2.28 2.55
2006 2.46 2.55
2005 2.67 2.51
2004 2.77 2.44
2003 2.78 2.36
2002 2.7 2.32
2001 2.65 2.37
2000 2.8 2.41
1999 2.9 2.56
1998 2.89 2.63
1997 2.92 2.73
1996 2.99 2.99
1995 3.13 3.17
1994 3.29 3.26
1993 3.46 3.37
1992 3.55 3.48
1991 3.63 3.62
1990 3.82 3.72
1989 3.96 3.98
1988 4.04 4.18
1987 4.13 4.35
1986 4.25 4.41
1985 4.28 4.5
1984 4.3 4.57
1983 4.41 4.63
1982 4.51 4.7
1981 4.6 4.71
1980 4.76 4.78
1979 4.94 4.82
1978 5.12 4.85
1977 5.29 4.94
1976 5.45 5.07
1975 5.62 5.19
1974 5.79 5.3
1973 5.97 5.41
1972 6.14 5.49
1971 6.28 5.57
1970 6.43 5.63
1969 6.57 5.72
1968 6.71 5.78
1967 6.84 5.85
1966 6.94 5.91
1965 7.03 5.89
1964 7.09 5.96
1963 7.14 6.01
1962 7.19 6.05
1961 7.23 6.08
1960 7.26 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bahrain/south-africa | CC BY

Bahrain and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Bahrain

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Bahrain South Africa
2024 34.2 29.5
2023 33.8 29.2
2022 32.6 28.9
2021 31.6 28.6
2020 31.9 28.3
2019 32.2 27.9
2018 31.8 27.5
2017 31.4 27
2016 31.2 26.7
2015 31.1 26.4
2014 30.9 26
2013 30.8 25.7
2012 30.5 25.3
2011 30.2 25
2010 30 24.6
2009 29.6 24.3
2008 28.9 24
2007 28.3 23.8
2006 27.8 23.5
2005 27.4 23.3
2004 27 23.1
2003 26.8 22.8
2002 26.8 22.4
2001 26.8 22.2
2000 26.6 21.9
1999 26.2 21.6
1998 25.8 21.4
1997 25.5 21.2
1996 25.4 21.2
1995 25.3 21.5
1994 25.2 22
1993 25.2 21.9
1992 25.2 21.5
1991 25.1 21.5
1990 24.6 21.3
1989 24.2 21.1
1988 23.9 20.9
1987 23.6 20.7
1986 23.3 20.5
1985 23 20.4
1984 22.8 20.2
1983 22.6 20
1982 22.4 19.8
1981 22.2 19.6
1980 21.8 19.4
1979 21.3 19.3
1978 20.7 19.2
1977 20.2 19.1
1976 19.6 19
1975 19.2 18.9
1974 18.7 18.9
1973 18.3 18.8
1972 17.9 18.8
1971 17.6 18.8
1970 17.4 18.8
1969 17.2 18.8
1968 17.2 18.8
1967 17.4 18.8
1966 17.7 18.8
1965 17.9 18.8
1964 18.2 18.9
1963 18.4 18.9
1962 18.5 18.9
1961 18.7 19
1960 18.8 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bahrain/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

Use the buttons below to switch between world maps comparing statistics for Bahrain and South Africa.

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Bahrain South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$44.6B
2024
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
29.1%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
1.89%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP
2.89%
2024
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
19,000
2020
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-10.6%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
1.2%
2012
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
53.2%
2024
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
42.3%
2024
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
65.7
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10% n/a
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10% n/a
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies
39
2024
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$20.4B
2024
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$4.95B
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received n/a
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
1,909,000
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
2.82%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
82.3%
2024
81.1%
2024

Energy

Bahrain South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
10,702 kg
2022
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$5.76
2022
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
38 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
23.9 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
100%
2022
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
0%
2021
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share
0.03%
2022
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share
-45.5%
2022
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita
22,689 kWh
2022
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
0.04%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
0%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Bahrain South Africa
% of world population
0.02%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+18,128
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
90.9%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
62:38
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.67 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.19 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
72.6
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
50
2025
41
2025
Higher education index
47
2026
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
0.2
2022
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
5.2
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
99
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
97.8%
2024
91.2%
2024
English speaking
80%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
100%
2024
75.7%
2023

Health

Bahrain South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$1,176
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$337
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
81.7 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
0%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.74
2020
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
17
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
8.6
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
37.3%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
22.1%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
13
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
15%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
1.25 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Bahrain South Africa
% of world land
0.0005%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
194.4 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
31.3 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
2.93 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
2,561 mi
2010
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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