Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Bahrain
Bahrain: Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education was 95.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Bahrain, 1971–2024
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Bahrain is 95.9%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and down 3.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Bahrain peaked at 100.0% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 65.3%, in 1971.
That places Bahrain 78th out of 190 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Bahrain, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 65.3% | — |
| 1972 | 66.9% | +2.5% |
| 1973 | 67.4% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 67.6% | +0.4% |
| 1975 | 72.3% | +6.8% |
| 1976 | 72.7% | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 74.4% | +2.5% |
| 1978 | 74.4% | -0.1% |
| 1979 | 75.7% | +1.8% |
| 1980 | 76.4% | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 73.5% | -3.8% |
| 1982 | 69.8% | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 72.7% | +4.2% |
| 1984 | 77.7% | +6.8% |
| 1985 | 84.1% | +8.3% |
| 1986 | 89.4% | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 91.3% | +2.2% |
| 1988 | 94.2% | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 94.2% | +0.1% |
| 1991 | 90.5% | -3.9% |
| 1992 | 84.8% | -6.3% |
| 1993 | 85.2% | +0.4% |
| 1994 | 86.3% | +1.2% |
| 1995 | 88.7% | +2.9% |
| 1996 | 90.0% | +1.4% |
| 1997 | 91.3% | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 95.8% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 97.9% | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 96.0% | -1.9% |
| 2001 | 94.8% | -1.2% |
| 2002 | 92.0% | -3.0% |
| 2003 | 90.1% | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 90.2% | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 89.9% | -0.2% |
| 2006 | 96.0% | +6.8% |
| 2011 | 94.3% | -1.8% |
| 2012 | 100.0% | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 98.9% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 98.8% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 98.7% | -0.1% |
| 2018 | 97.6% | -1.1% |
| 2019 | 97.4% | -0.2% |
| 2022 | 97.1% | -0.3% |
| 2023 | 93.9% | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 95.9% | +2.2% |
Bahrain compared with similar countries
- Bahrain's 95.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 97.4%, 99% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Bahrain's 95.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 96.2%, 100% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 70.7% | 65.3% | 75.7% | 9 |
| 1980s | 82.3% | 69.8% | 94.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 90.1% | 84.8% | 97.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 92.7% | 89.9% | 96.0% | 7 |
| 2010s | 98.0% | 94.3% | 100.0% | 7 |
| 2020s | 95.7% | 93.9% | 97.1% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Bahrain
- 75 United States 96.2% compare
- 76 Greece 96.0% compare
- 77 Papua New Guinea 96.0% compare
- 79 Cayman Islands 95.9% compare
- 80 Ghana 95.9% compare
- 81 Madagascar 95.8% compare
More education data for Bahrain
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 8,964 (2024)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 23 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 15,546 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 14,992 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 109,221 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 122,305 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 4.09 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.077 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Bahrain?
- Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education in Bahrain was 95.9% in 2024, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Bahrain?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 2012.
- What is the lowest gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education recorded in Bahrain?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.3% in 1971.
- How does Bahrain rank for gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education?
- Bahrain ranks 78th out of 190 countries with data for 2024.
- Is gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education rising or falling in Bahrain?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bahrain data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics (2026); Lee and Lee (2016) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gender gap in primary, secondary and tertiary education. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of girls of primary school age (typically 6–11 years) who are enrolled in primary education.