Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahrain

Bahrain: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 0.9% in 2015. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2015)
0.9%
Change on year
down 25.4%
World rank
182nd
of 187 countries
All-time high
43.2%
in 1998
All-time low
0.0%
in 1985
Years of data
18
1979–2015

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahrain, 1979–2015

0102030401979199720151979: 3.31981: 3.11985: 01987: 01991: 6.31998: 43.21999: 41.32001: 5.52004: 9.32005: 02006: 02007: 5.62008: 3.72009: 42010: 1.12011: 1.22012: 1.22015: 0.894

Source: Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).

Analysis

In 2015, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahrain stood at 0.9%.

That represents a change of down 25.4% on the previous year and down 20.7% over five years.

Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahrain peaked at 43.2% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1985.

That places Bahrain 182nd out of 187 countries with data for 2015, putting it in the bottom quarter.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahrain, year by year

Annual values for Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate) in Bahrain, 1979 to 2015.
Year Value Change
1979 3.3%
1981 3.1% -5.0%
1985 0.0% -100.0%
1987 0.0%
1991 6.3%
1998 43.2% +579.7%
1999 41.3% -4.3%
2001 5.5% -86.7%
2004 9.3% +68.4%
2005 0.0% -100.0%
2006 0.0%
2007 5.6%
2008 3.7% -33.9%
2009 4.0% +8.1%
2010 1.1% -71.8%
2011 1.2% +9.3%
2012 1.2% -2.8%
2015 0.9% -25.4%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1970s 3.3% 3.3% 3.3% 1
1980s 1.0% 0.0% 3.1% 3
1990s 30.3% 6.3% 43.2% 3
2000s 4.0% 0.0% 9.3% 7
2010s 1.1% 0.9% 1.2% 4

Countries ranked near Bahrain

  1. 179 Republic of Moldova 1.3% compare
  2. 180 Lao People's Democratic Republic 1.2% compare
  3. 181 Burundi 1.0% compare
  4. 183 Thailand 0.6% compare
  5. 184 Niger 0.4% compare
  6. 185 Cambodia 0.3% compare

See the full ranking of 220 places →

More work & labour data for Bahrain

All data for Bahrain →

Frequently asked questions

What is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahrain?
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahrain was 0.9% in 2015, according to Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO).
What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bahrain?
The highest recorded value was 43.2% in 1998.
What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bahrain?
The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1985.
How does Bahrain rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
Bahrain ranks 182nd out of 187 countries with data for 2015.
Where does this Bahrain data come from?
The figures come from Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bahrain. Statizoid, drawing on Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://labour.statizoid.com/stat/unemployment-total-percent-of-total-labor-force-national-estimate/bahrain/

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About this data

Indicator
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate)
Source
Labour Force Statistics database (LFS), International Labour Organization (ILO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
220 places, 6,054 data points, 1960–2025
Last refreshed

Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment. Definitions of labor force and unemployment differ by country.