Most of the population of Bahrain is concentrated in the two principal cities, Manama and Al Muharraq. The indigenous people—66 percent of the population—are from the Arabian Peninsula and Iran. The most numerous minorities are Europeans and South and East Asians.

April 4, 1981 census

Islam is the official religion. Though Shi'a Muslims make up more than two-thirds of the population, Sunni Islam is the prevailing belief held by those in the government, military, and corporate sectors. Roman Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as a tiny indigenous Jewish community, also exist in Bahrain.

Bahrain has traditionally boasted an advanced educational system. Schooling and related costs are entirely paid for by the government, and, although not compulsory, primary and secondary attendance rates are high. Bahrain also encourages institutions of higher learning, drawing on expatriate talent and the increasing pool of Bahrainis returning from abroad with advanced degrees. Bahrain University has been established for standard undergraduate and graduate study, and the College of Health Sciences--operating under the direction of the Ministry of Health--trains physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and paramedics.

Demographic data from the CIA World Factbook

Population
698,585
Note: Includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)

Age structure
0-14 years: 27.4% (male 96,567/female 94,650)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 280,272/female 202,451)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 12,753/female 11,892) (2006 est.)

Median age
Total: 29.4 years
Male: 32.4 years
Female: 25.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate
1.45% (2006 est.)

Birth rate
17.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate
4.14 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate
0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
Under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.38 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 16.8 deaths/1,000 live births
Male: 19.65 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 13.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 74.45 years
Male: 71.97 years
Female: 77 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate
2.6 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS
Adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2001 est.)
People living with HIV/AIDS: Less than 600 (2003 est.)
Deaths: Less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Bahraini(s)
Adjective: Bahraini

Ethnic groups
Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6 (2001 census)

Religions
Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)
Roman Catholicism in Bahrain

Languages
Arabic.

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 89.1%
Male: 91.9%
Female: 85% (2003 est.)