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
In 2020, tax revenue as share of gdp in Bahrain stood at 2.8%.
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.
That places Bahrain 184th out of 187 countries with data for 2020, putting it 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% |
| 2013 | 1.0% | -4.0% |
| 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% | 9 |
| 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)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 275.00 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0058 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 173.1 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 2.70 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -62.6 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0572 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1,701 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 6.49 % change on previous year (2025)
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 184th out of 187 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.