Mobile phone subscriptions in Bahrain
Bahrain: Mobile phone subscriptions was 2.56 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Mobile phone subscriptions in Bahrain, 1980–2024
Source: International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for mobile phone subscriptions in Bahrain is 2.56 million, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 6.1% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, mobile phone subscriptions in Bahrain peaked at 2.99 million in 2016 and was at its lowest, 0, in 1980.
Bahrain ranks 145th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Mobile phone subscriptions in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | — |
| 1986 | 618 | — |
| 1987 | 1,712 | +177.0% |
| 1988 | 2,886 | +68.6% |
| 1989 | 4,251 | +47.3% |
| 1990 | 5,147 | +21.1% |
| 1991 | 7,354 | +42.9% |
| 1992 | 9,683 | +31.7% |
| 1993 | 11,360 | +17.3% |
| 1994 | 17,616 | +55.1% |
| 1995 | 27,600 | +56.7% |
| 1996 | 40,080 | +45.2% |
| 1997 | 58,543 | +46.1% |
| 1998 | 92,063 | +57.3% |
| 1999 | 133,468 | +45.0% |
| 2000 | 205,727 | +54.1% |
| 2001 | 299,587 | +45.6% |
| 2002 | 388,990 | +29.8% |
| 2003 | 443,109 | +13.9% |
| 2004 | 649,764 | +46.6% |
| 2005 | 767,103 | +18.1% |
| 2006 | 907,433 | +18.3% |
| 2007 | 1.12 million | +23.0% |
| 2008 | 1.44 million | +29.1% |
| 2009 | 1.40 million | -2.7% |
| 2010 | 1.57 million | +11.8% |
| 2011 | 1.69 million | +8.1% |
| 2012 | 2.12 million | +25.4% |
| 2013 | 2.21 million | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 2.33 million | +5.4% |
| 2015 | 2.52 million | +8.2% |
| 2016 | 2.99 million | +18.9% |
| 2017 | 2.36 million | -21.0% |
| 2018 | 2.09 million | -11.5% |
| 2019 | 1.92 million | -8.3% |
| 2020 | 1.77 million | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 1.92 million | +8.6% |
| 2022 | 2.14 million | +11.3% |
| 2023 | 2.42 million | +12.8% |
| 2024 | 2.56 million | +6.1% |
Bahrain compared with similar countries
- Bahrain's 2.56 million is below the median for high income countries, which is 4.70 million, 55% of the median. (82 countries reporting)
- Bahrain's 2.56 million is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.65 million, 15% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Mobile phone subscriptions in Bahrain changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | +177.0% | 618 | 1,712 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 946.7 | 0 | 4,251 | 10 |
| 1990s | 40,291 | 5,147 | 133,468 | 10 |
| 2000s | 762,044 | 205,727 | 1.44 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.18 million | 1.57 million | 2.99 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.16 million | 1.77 million | 2.56 million | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
More science & technology data for Bahrain
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 159.54 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.61 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 2.56 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 3,020 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate 3.66 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 6.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 718.3 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0005 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is mobile phone subscriptions in Bahrain?
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Bahrain was 2.56 million in 2024, according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 2.99 million in 2016.
- What is the lowest mobile phone subscriptions recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 in 1980.
- How does Bahrain rank for mobile phone subscriptions?
- Bahrain ranks 145th out of 212 countries with data for 2024.
- Is mobile phone subscriptions rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bahrain data come from?
- The figures come from International Telecommunication Union (ITU), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Mobile phone subscriptions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).