Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Bahrain
Bahrain: Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP was 5.7% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Bahrain, 1973–2024
Source: IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Bahrain is 5.7%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 63.4% on the previous year and up 31.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Bahrain peaked at 29.5% in 1996 and was at its lowest, -12.0%, in 1980.
Bahrain ranks 37th of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 0.4% | — |
| 1974 | 0.0% | -97.6% |
| 1975 | 0.1% | +1037.8% |
| 1976 | 0.2% | +69.0% |
| 1977 | 0.0% | -83.9% |
| 1978 | 1.0% | +2993.8% |
| 1979 | 5.4% | +429.8% |
| 1980 | -12.0% | -323.4% |
| 1981 | 0.1% | -100.9% |
| 1982 | 0.7% | +552.3% |
| 1983 | 1.5% | +119.8% |
| 1984 | 3.2% | +109.9% |
| 1985 | 2.4% | -23.0% |
| 1986 | -0.9% | -137.7% |
| 1987 | -0.9% | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 5.3% | -666.7% |
| 1989 | 4.1% | -22.0% |
| 1990 | 1.9% | -53.7% |
| 1991 | 11.8% | +518.6% |
| 1992 | 16.1% | +36.3% |
| 1993 | -4.7% | -128.9% |
| 1994 | 3.3% | -170.7% |
| 1995 | 6.5% | +96.8% |
| 1996 | 29.5% | +356.0% |
| 1997 | 4.6% | -84.5% |
| 1998 | 2.6% | -44.0% |
| 1999 | 6.0% | +136.1% |
| 2000 | 4.0% | -33.4% |
| 2001 | 0.9% | -77.7% |
| 2002 | 2.3% | +152.6% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | +106.3% |
| 2004 | 6.6% | +41.0% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 15.8% | +139.9% |
| 2007 | 8.1% | -48.7% |
| 2008 | 7.0% | -13.7% |
| 2009 | 1.1% | -83.9% |
| 2010 | 0.6% | -48.2% |
| 2011 | 2.6% | +349.2% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | +85.1% |
| 2013 | 11.0% | +128.1% |
| 2014 | 4.4% | -60.4% |
| 2015 | 0.2% | -95.4% |
| 2016 | 0.7% | +259.9% |
| 2017 | 3.8% | +433.7% |
| 2018 | 4.2% | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 2.3% | -44.3% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | +22.4% |
| 2021 | 4.4% | +52.9% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | -3.6% |
| 2023 | 15.6% | +272.4% |
| 2024 | 5.7% | -63.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1.0% | 0.0% | 5.4% | 7 |
| 1980s | 0.3% | -12.0% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.8% | -4.7% | 29.5% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.7% | 0.9% | 15.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.5% | 0.2% | 11.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.6% | 2.8% | 15.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
More economy & growth data for Bahrain
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.99 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2.81 Percent per annum (2029)
- Manufacturing, value added (constant LCU), per capita 1,482 constant LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), annual 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 0.4121 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current US$), per 12,609 current US$ per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), annual 1.34 % change on previous year (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 0.155 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (current LCU), per 4,741 current LCU per person (2025)
- Industry (including construction), value added (constant 2015 US$) 2.31 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Bahrain?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp in Bahrain was 5.7% in 2024, according to IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 29.5% in 1996.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was -12.0% in 1980.
- How does Bahrain rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp?
- Bahrain ranks 37th out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of gdp rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bahrain data come from?
- The figures come from IMF International Financial Statistics and Balance of Payments; World Bank International Debt Statistics and GDP estimates; and OECD GDP estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Net inflows of foreign direct investment from foreign investors to the reporting economy.