Tax revenue as share of GDP in Bahrain
Bahrain: Tax revenue as share of GDP was 2.8% in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Bahrain, 1980–2020
Source: UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for tax revenue as share of gdp in Bahrain is 2.8%, measured in 2020.
The figure is down 1.9% on the previous year and up 150.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, tax revenue as share of gdp in Bahrain peaked at 8.2% in 1986 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2014.
Bahrain ranks 188th of 192 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Tax revenue as share of GDP in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 3.6% | — |
| 1981 | 3.9% | +9.8% |
| 1982 | 4.5% | +14.6% |
| 1983 | 5.7% | +25.8% |
| 1984 | 5.8% | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 6.1% | +5.1% |
| 1986 | 8.2% | +34.9% |
| 1987 | 7.1% | -14.4% |
| 1988 | 5.8% | -18.3% |
| 1989 | 6.3% | +8.8% |
| 1990 | 4.2% | -32.3% |
| 1991 | 4.3% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 4.5% | +5.4% |
| 1993 | 4.5% | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 4.3% | -3.3% |
| 1995 | 4.0% | -8.0% |
| 1996 | 4.2% | +5.5% |
| 1997 | 4.2% | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 4.8% | +13.2% |
| 1999 | 4.2% | -12.6% |
| 2000 | 3.6% | -14.7% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +7.4% |
| 2002 | 3.4% | -10.7% |
| 2003 | 3.2% | -7.6% |
| 2004 | 4.0% | +27.5% |
| 2005 | 1.1% | -72.4% |
| 2006 | 1.1% | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 1.1% | -1.8% |
| 2008 | 1.2% | +7.9% |
| 2009 | 1.3% | +10.3% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | -13.7% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | -5.0% |
| 2012 | 1.1% | +6.4% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | -9.7% |
| 2014 | 0.8% | -23.0% |
| 2015 | 1.0% | +24.9% |
| 2016 | 0.8% | -18.3% |
| 2017 | 0.9% | +15.8% |
| 2018 | 1.1% | +16.7% |
| 2019 | 2.9% | +163.4% |
| 2020 | 2.8% | -1.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5.7% | 3.6% | 8.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.3% | 4.0% | 4.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.4% | 1.1% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.2% | 0.8% | 2.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | 1 |
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)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 4.78 % change on previous year (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 0.1498 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (current LCU) 4,453 current LCU per person (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 3.72 % change on previous year (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 0.3892 constant 2015 US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Households and NPISHs Final consumption expenditure (constant 2015) 11,566 constant 2015 US$ per person (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2024)
- Final consumption expenditure (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.5393 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is tax revenue as share of gdp in Bahrain?
- Tax revenue as share of gdp in Bahrain was 2.8% in 2020, according to UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 8.2% in 1986.
- What is the lowest tax revenue as share of gdp recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2014.
- How does Bahrain rank for tax revenue as share of gdp?
- Bahrain ranks 188th out of 192 countries with data for 2020.
- Is tax revenue as share of gdp rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 150.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bahrain data come from?
- The figures come from UNU-WIDER Government Revenue Dataset (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Tax revenue as share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Direct and indirect taxes as well as social contributions included.