Bahrain

Geography

Bahrain

Area

land

760 sq km

water

0 sq km

total

760 sq km

Climate

arid climate; winters that are mild and enjoyable; summers that are extremely hot and humid

Terrain

predominantly a low desert plain that gradually ascends to a low central escarpment

Land use

other

84.2% (2023 est.)

forest

4.3% (2023 est.)

agricultural land

10.1% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 2.5% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 5% (2023 est.)

Location

Middle East, an archipelago situated in the Persian Gulf, to the east of Saudi Arabia

Coastline

161 km

Elevation

lowest point

Persian Gulf 0 m

highest point

Jabal ad Dukhan 135 m

Irrigated land

40 sq km (2012)

Major aquifers

Arabian Aquifer System

Map references

Middle East

Land boundaries

total

0 km

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

24 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

continental shelf

extending to boundaries to be determined

Natural hazards

occasional droughts; occurrences of dust storms

Geography - note

proximity to key Middle Eastern oil reserves; a strategically significant position in the Persian Gulf, through which a substantial portion of the Western world's oil must pass to reach the open sea

Natural resources

petroleum, both associated and non-associated natural gas, seafood, and pearls

Area - comparative

3.5 times larger than Washington, D.C.

Geographic coordinates

26 00 N, 50 33 E

Population distribution

the smallest population among the Gulf States, yet with an urbanization rate surpassing 90%; the highest concentration of settlements is located at the far northern tip of the island, particularly in and around Manamah and Al Muharraq