| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| ISO 3166 alpha-2 | BHISO 3166 [2024] |
| ISO 3166 alpha-3 | BHRISO 3166 [2024] |
| Capital | ManamaGeoNames [2024] |
| Continent | AsiaGeoNames [2024] |
| Common name | BahrainCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Official name | Kingdom of BahrainCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Local name | Al BahraynCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Etymology | the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies on each side of the archipelagoCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Government type | Constitutional monarchyCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Independence | 15 August 1971 (from the UK)CIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National holiday | National Day, 16 December (1971); note: 15 August 1971 was the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 was the date of independence from British protectionCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Head of state | HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (King)CIA World Leaders [2025] |
| Currency code (ISO 4217) | BHDISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Currency | Bahraini DinarISO 4217 Currency Codes [2026] |
| Administrative subdivisions | 4ISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Subdivision names | Al Janūbīyah / Al Muḩarraq / Al ‘Āşimah / Ash ShamālīyahISO 3166-2 Subdivisions [2026] |
| Historical overview | No authoritative open source found |
| National symbols | a white serrated band with five white points on top of a red fieldCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National anthem | title: "Bahrainona" (Our Bahrain); lyrics/music: unknown; history: adopted 1971; Mohamed Sudqi AYYASH wrote the original lyrics, but they were changed in 2002 after Bahrain became a kingdomCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| National colors | red, whiteCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
| Citizenship rules | citizenship by birth: no; citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bahrain; dual citizenship recognized: no; residency requirement for naturalization: 25 years; 15 years for Arab nationalsCIA World Factbook [2025] · 2026 archive |
the name means "the two seas" in Arabic and refers to the water bodies on each side of the archipelago
description: red, with a white serrated band of five white points on the left side meaning: red is the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam history: until 2002, the flag had eight white points, but this was reduced to five to avoid confusion with the Qatari flag
Source: CIA World Factbook (Historical Archive — final edition) · CC0 · Edition 2026-05
