Bahrain

Bahrain

Arabian Peninsula

Middle East
32
Overall score
Limited overall · Penalty applied · 94% data coverage
Language
Arabic
Currency
BHD
Citizenship
10 years for Arab applicants; 20 for others
Personal tax
No personal income tax
Cost of living
$1,500 / mo (single)
Overall scoring rubric
72
Access

How easy it is to get in, stay, and build status.

17% of Overall
93Residence12%
21Citizenship and passport5%
83
Earning power

How far local income goes after prices.

25% of Overall
81Salary and work12%
84Buying power13%
72
Business and wealth

How friendly the country is for taxes, companies, and investing.

20% of Overall
94Taxes7%
72Business8%
43Investment5%
72
Daily life

How comfortable everyday life is for families and long stays.

25% of Overall
73Quality of life18%
68Education7%
41
Rights and institutions

How reliable freedoms and institutions are.

13% of Overall
19Freedom6%
60Rule of law7%

Safety (74) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Healthcare (64) clears the 40 floor, so no penalty applies.

Penalty: Severe environmental risk (0) cut the overall score from 70 to 32. Environment measures air quality (PM2.5 exposure) and freshwater stress.

Rights and institutions (41) clears the 30 floor, so no penalty applies.

Overall score
Final weighted result
32

A low-tax Middle Eastern country with widely spoken English and residence by investment, but a long 10-year naturalisation wait and no dual citizenship.

Pros

  • Widely spoken English
  • Residence by investment

Cons

  • A long 10-year naturalisation wait
  • No dual citizenship

Best for

Low-tax relocatorsInvestorsEnglish speakers

Score profile

Access
Residence
93
Citizenship
13
Passport
62
Earning power
Salary & work
81
Buying power
84
Cost of living
77
Economy
82
Business and wealth
Taxes
94
Personal tax
100
Corporate tax
100
Business
72
Investment
43
Wealth building
74
Daily life
Safety
74
Healthcare
64
Environment
0
Infrastructure
85
Education
68
HDI
90
Rights and institutions
Freedom
19
Rule of law
60

Access

Residence

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any residence / visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Openness to residents
Excellent
93
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines international migrant stock (40%), regulatory quality (20%), the breadth of named residence pathways (25%), and time to permanent residence (15%). Available indicators are reweighted.

Migrant stock52.3% of population (2024)
Regulatory quality0.95 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways
EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible
StudentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
WorkRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employedRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
PermanentRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Citizenship

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any citizenship decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Citizenship accessibility
Low
13
Years required10 years for Arab applicants; 20 for others
Dual allowedfalse
LanguageCheck the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
ResidenceTypical headline route: 10 years for Arab applicants; 20 for others; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
NotesRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Passport

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any travel or visa decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Passport power
Moderate
62

Passport-index style mobility for the Bahrain passport. The score above is its world reach: the share of 198 destinations reachable without a prior visa.

122 / 198
Mobility
#47
Global rank
Yes
Biometric
  • Visa-free75
  • On arrival41
  • eTA6
  • Visa required76

Passport Index style mobility data (2024–2025 estimate). Placeholder figures; verify current entry rules with each destination’s authority before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work
Labour-market strength
Excellent
81
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines output per worker (a proxy for wage potential at 40%), unemployment (35%) and labour-force participation (25%). Available indicators are reweighted; the curated profile fields remain below.

Output per worker$103,794 PPP (2024)
Unemployment1.1% (2025)
Participation70.4% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tech salary (estimate)Varies substantially by city, seniority, and employer
FreelanceMarket access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job marketUse current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.
Buying power
Purchasing power score
Excellent
84
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score estimates how far money goes for the typical person here. It combines GNI per capita at PPP (30%) and actual household consumption per person at PPP (15%) with a price-advantage term from the local price level (25%) that rewards lower prices, then adjusts for income equality via the Gini index (20%), so unequal economies don't ride a high average, plus price stability via consumer inflation (10%). Available indicators are reweighted; it is a comparison, not a personal budget estimate.

GNI / person$65,500 PPP (2025)
Consumption / person$23,427 PPP (2024)
Price level49 (US = 100) (2025)
Inflation-0.1% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living
Affordability
Good
77

Our 0–100 affordability score is derived from the local consumer price level (World Bank, US = 100): the cheaper everyday prices are, the higher it scores. Lower price level means your money goes further here.

Price level49 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

RentVaries substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly$1,500 / mo (single)
CitiesManama, Riffa, Muharraq
Economy
Economic strength
Excellent
82
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines income level (GDP and GNI per capita, output per worker), growth momentum (real GDP growth), price stability (inflation) and labour utilisation (unemployment). Available indicators are reweighted; the sector split and industry profile below are descriptive, not scored.

Output & income
GDP$49B (2025)
GDP / person$30,597 (2025)
GNI / person$65,500 PPP (2025)
GDP growth2.6% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour
Inflation-0.1% / yr (2025)
Unemployment1.1% (2025)
Output per worker$103,794 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition
Agriculture0.2% of GDP (2025)
Industry41.2% of GDP (2025)
Services54.3% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries
Finance & bankingOil refiningAluminiumTourism
Top exports
Refined fuelsAluminiumFinancial services
TypeHigh-income, finance- and energy-led
Key sectorsIslamic & offshore banking, Aluminium smelting (Alba), Refining
SummaryA diversified Gulf economy and regional banking centre, with aluminium and refining beyond its modest oil output.
CurrencyBahraini dinar (pegged to the US dollar)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Tax friendliness
Excellent
94
PersonalNo personal income tax
CorporateNo general corporate income tax outside the oil and gas sector
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign cosManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Personal tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Personal tax
Excellent
100
PersonalNo personal income tax
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit taxCheck current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Corporate tax

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Corporate tax
Excellent
100
CorporateNo general corporate income tax outside the oil and gas sector
Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
DividendsRates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign cosManagement, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply
Business
Business friendliness
Good
72
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures the operating environment without counting tax a second time: company formation and ownership rules contribute 40%, regulatory quality 30%, and government effectiveness 30%. Available indicators are reweighted; the values are shown below.

Regulation & bureaucracy
Regulatory quality0.95 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Government effectiveness0.60 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules
Foreign co.Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local co.Available company forms and capital requirements vary
FreelanceRegistration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Investment

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any investment / tax decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Investing environment
Limited
43
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score measures market access without counting tax a second time: broker availability contributes 50%, equity-market depth 30%, and private credit depth 20%. Available indicators are reweighted.

Market cap44% of GDP (2025)
Private credit71% of GDP (2015)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gainsTreatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
DividendsData not available yet
ETFs & fundsData not available yet
Wealth taxCheck current national and subnational rules
BrokersLocal and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign accessData not available yet
Tax-advantagedData not available yet
Wealth building

Rules change often and depend on your situation. Confirm any tax / investment decision with a qualified professional, or do your own research, before acting.

Wealth accumulation
Good
74
How this score is calculated

How favourable Bahrain is for building wealth: earnings and business/investment upside, tax drag, and how much a typical income keeps after living costs. Estimated from the factors below.

Salary & work
Excellent
81
Business
Good
72
Investment
Limited
43
Tax friendliness
Excellent
94
Cost of living
Good
77

Daily life

Safety
Safety & stability
Good
74
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines personal safety (intentional homicide rate at 50%), political stability and absence of violence (30%), and control of corruption (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below. Always check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Personal safety
Homicide rate0.2 per 100,000 (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability
Control of corruption0.25 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)
Political stability-0.28 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Healthcare
Healthcare score
Moderate
64
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines health outcomes (life expectancy at 25% and under-5 mortality at 20%) with system capacity (physicians at 20% and hospital beds at 15% per 1,000 people) and health spending per capita (20%). Available indicators are reweighted; the published values are shown below.

Outcomes
Life expectancy81.4 years (2024)
Under-5 mortality8.8 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing
Physicians0.74 per 1,000 (2020)
Hospital beds1.84 per 1,000 (2022)
Health spending$2,555 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs
SystemPublic/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
InsuranceCheck residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Avg costDepends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage
Environment
Environment score
Low
0
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines annual population-weighted PM2.5 exposure at 60% with freshwater stress at 40%. Lower exposure and lower water stress score better. Air quality alone can produce a score because it covers most countries; water stress alone cannot.

Environmental pressure
PM2.5 exposure56.6 μg/m³ annually (2023)
Water stress133.7% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure
Infrastructure score
Excellent
85
How this score is calculated

The score combines digital access, resilience and download performance (30%), electricity access and network losses (30%), and transport infrastructure covering rail, logistics and aviation (40%). Available inputs are reweighted, but a country needs both digital and transport data to receive a score.

Digital infrastructure
Internet use100.0% (2024)
Internet resilience70 / 100 (2026)
Fixed speed82 / 100 download index (2026)
Mobile speed86 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities
Electricity access100.0% (2023)
Grid losses2.7% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport
Transport quality3.60 / 5 (2022)
Air connectivity37,543 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education
Education score
Good
68
How this score is calculated

Our 0–100 score combines attainment (expected schooling at 30% and mean schooling at 25%) with participation (tertiary enrolment at 25%) and public investment (government education spending at 20%). Available indicators are reweighted; tuition and study rules remain separate profile fields below.

Attainment
Expected schooling15.9 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment
Tertiary enrolment58% gross (2024)
Education spending1.9% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition$5,000-20,000 / yr
Public uniVaries by institution, programme, and student nationality
LanguagesArabic
Student workRules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
HDI
Human development score
Excellent
90
How this score is calculated

The UN Human Development Index is the geometric mean of three dimension indices (a long and healthy life, knowledge, and a decent standard of living), shown on a 0–100 map scale (HDI × 100). The 2023 UNDP inputs behind each dimension are listed below.

HDI0.899 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life
Life expectancy81.3 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge
Expected schooling15.9 years (2023)
Mean schooling11.1 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Standard of living
GNI / person$52,819 PPP (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Rights and institutions

Freedom
Freedom score
Low
19
How this score is calculated

The score weights Freedom House’s 0–100 Freedom in the World score at 60% and its Freedom on the Net score at 40%. If either report does not cover a country, the available score is used alone. Scores of 70 and above are rated “Free”, 40–69 “Partly free”, and below 40 “Not free”.

Freedom in the World11 / 100 (Not free)
Freedom on the Net30 / 100 (Not free)
Rule of law
Rule of law score
Moderate
60
How this score is calculated

The World Bank’s Rule of Law indicator captures how well contracts are enforced and how independent and effective the courts, police and property-rights regime are. We show its 0–100 percentile rank, where higher means stronger, more predictable institutions.

Rule of Law percentile60 / 100
Resources

Mock data for demonstration only. Not legal or tax advice.