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Population density: Bahrain vs Iran compared

Updated on by Georank team

Bahrain has a population density of 5,378 people per square mile compared to 148.9 people in Iran. Bahrain has 5,329 sq ft of land per person vs 193,748 sq ft in Iran. Bahrain and Iran rank 4th and 134th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Bahrain has 0.02% of the world's population and 0.0005% of all countries' land area, compared to 1.13% of the population and 1.09% of the land area for Iran, making the population density in Bahrain 3,512% higher than in Iran.

Population density by year

Bahrain
Iran

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Bahrain Iran
2026 5,378 148.9
2025 5,268 147.6
2024 5,143 146.2
2023 5,106 144.6
2022 4,999 142.9
2021 4,932 141.2
2020 4,857 140
2019 4,927 139
2018 5,004 137.5
2017 4,984 135.7
2016 4,734 133.3
2015 4,562 131.4
2014 4,416 129.6
2013 4,215 127.9
2012 4,066 126.2
2011 4,035 124.6
2010 4,176 123.1
2009 4,016 121.6
2008 3,761 120.1
2007 3,589 118.6
2006 3,361 116.7
2005 3,111 114.2
2004 2,923 111.7
2003 2,750 109.4
2002 2,592 108.1
2001 2,412 107.3
2000 2,326 105.6
1999 2,265 104.1
1998 2,206 102.6
1997 2,149 101.2
1996 2,093 100
1995 2,039 98.9
1994 1,986 97.8
1993 1,934 97.6
1992 1,884 97.3
1991 1,888 95.4
1990 1,932 92.8
1989 1,867 90.2
1988 1,801 87.6
1987 1,737 84.8
1986 1,675 81.8
1985 1,615 78.8
1984 1,558 76
1983 1,504 73.2
1982 1,453 70.4
1981 1,402 66.8
1980 1,347 63.4
1979 1,289 61.1
1978 1,231 59
1977 1,174 57.1
1976 1,118 55.4
1975 1,063 53.8
1974 1,010 52.2
1973 958 50.6
1972 909 49.2
1971 866 47.8
1970 844 46.3
1969 835 45
1968 823 43.6
1967 804 42.3
1966 779 41.1
1965 754 39.8
1964 728 38.6
1963 700 37.4
1962 673 36.3
1961 647 35.2

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bahrain/iran | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Bahrain increased by 60%, compared to a 27.6% growth in Iran.

In 2006, Bahrain ranked 4th by population density and is 4th still. Iran was 130th in 2006 and ranks 134th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Bahrain
Iran
1x
Year Urban population
Bahrain Iran
2024 90.9% 77%
2023 90.8% 76.7%
2022 90.7% 76.3%
2021 90.6% 76%
2020 90.5% 75.6%
2019 90.4% 75.2%
2018 90.3% 74.8%
2017 90.2% 74.4%
2016 90.2% 73.9%
2015 90.1% 73.4%
2014 90% 72.8%
2013 90% 72.3%
2012 89.9% 71.8%
2011 89.8% 71.2%
2010 89.8% 70.6%
2009 89.6% 70%
2008 89.4% 69.4%
2007 89.1% 68.8%
2006 88.9% 68.3%
2005 88.7% 67.9%
2004 88.6% 67.3%
2003 88.4% 66.6%
2002 88.3% 65.9%
2001 88.3% 65.2%
2000 88.3% 64.5%
1999 88.3% 63.7%
1998 88.3% 62.9%
1997 88.3% 62.1%
1996 88.4% 61.1%
1995 88.4% 60.4%
1994 88.4% 59.6%
1993 88.4% 58.7%
1992 88.4% 57.9%
1991 88.3% 56.9%
1990 88.1% 56.5%
1989 87.9% 55.9%
1988 87.6% 55.4%
1987 87.4% 54.8%
1986 87.1% 54.2%
1985 86.7% 53.6%
1984 86.4% 52.8%
1983 86.1% 52.1%
1982 85.8% 51.4%
1981 85.5% 50.7%
1980 85.3% 49.9%
1979 85% 49.2%
1978 84.7% 48.5%
1977 84.5% 47.8%
1976 84.2% 46.8%
1975 84% 46.1%
1974 83.7% 45.2%
1973 83.5% 44.3%
1972 83.2% 43.3%
1971 83% 42.4%
1970 82.8% 41.5%
1969 82.7% 40.6%
1968 82.7% 39.7%
1967 82.7% 38.9%
1966 82.6% 37.7%
1965 82.5% 37.1%
1964 82.4% 36.6%
1963 82.4% 35.9%
1962 82.4% 35.3%
1961 82.3% 34.6%
1960 82.3% 34%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/bahrain/iran | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 88.6% to 90.9% in Bahrain and from 67.3% to 77% in Iran.

Densely populated cities

Bahrain
City Population
Manama 298K
Riffa 115K
Isa Town 61.3K
Iran
City Population
Tehran 8.69M
Mashhad 3M
Isfahan 1.96M
Karaj 1.59M
Shiraz 1.57M
Tabriz 1.56M
Qom 1.2M
Ahvaz 1.18M
Kermanshah 947K
Urmia 736K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bahrain/iran | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2012–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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