The Kingdom of Bahrain is an archipelago in the Persian Gulf composed of over 80 islands. Acclaimed for its socioeconomic growth and development, it ranks within the top 50 food-secure countries worldwide. Today, the state and the private sector hope to improve the resilience of the food import economy further by implementing new animal and agricultural initiatives designed to provide citizens with long-term access to foods and overcome persistent challenges. 

Illustrating the dynamic between existing struggles and state reform are the top 10 facts about hunger in Bahrain.

Top 10 Facts About Hunger in Bahrain

1. Obesity rates increased drastically in recent years, now posing one of the most serious threats to public health in the country. Approximately 40% of adults are considered to be obese. A shift toward more sedentary lifestyles and changing dietary patterns are to blame for this trend. The growing prevalence of obesity is especially alarming as it can result in an increase in chronic non-communicable diseases, like diabetes and cancer.
2. Women are more susceptible to obesity than men. The prevalence of obesity among the Bahraini population is highest in women, with 42.5% classified as obese, with a BMI of 30 or higher.
3. Nearly 12% of the Bahraini population was born with a low birth weight. A low birth weight is considered by WHO to be 5.5 pounds or less. The proportion of infants born with a low birth rate can be an indicator of many major public health problems, including long-term maternal malnutrition and poor health care during pregnancy. Little progress has been made in Bahrain to alleviate this rate within the past decade.
4. In old and new cities alike, green spaces are extremely limited. Coupled with an intensification of sandstorms resulting in desertification, local crops are threatened and many have even become extinct. An estimated 3.6 billion hectares have been lost to the consistent degradation of drylands. To combat this, a new agricultural strategy issued by the government has encouraged farmers to preserve their land and increase the use of greenhouses in agricultural production to ensure food security.
5. An estimated 216,161 tonnes of annual household food is wasted. This number triples during the months of Ramadan, which severely impacts the level of greenhouse gas emissions. Wasted food costs Bahrain approximately $250 million per year and continues to increase exponentially, contributing to municipal issues such as rodent infestation.  
6. Bahrain is listed among the top ten countries that are likely to suffer from a water crisis in the next 25 years. The Middle East is the least water-secure region in the world as it depends on a rapidly dwindling supply of groundwater and desalinated seawater. Bahrain’s response to this crisis has been the construction of desalination plants, which, despite meeting water demands, release large amounts of carbon dioxide, creating adverse environmental impacts that are correlated to lower precipitation and an increase in the average temperature. 
7. Bahrain provides a system of subsidies for basic goods and services. By creating a low, fixed price for goods, the government aids citizens who would otherwise be unable to afford necessities like meat, flour or water – for instance, compensation subsidies on meat are dispersed every three months to all registered citizens. In doing so, the government successfully increases gross consumption by poorer households.
8. Many low-income Bahraini families benefit from migrant worker remittances. These remittances fund essentials, such as food or utilities, for citizens who otherwise cannot provide for themselves. Remittances are especially important as they go directly to those in need. According to the World Bank, $2.71 billion in personal remittances was paid to Bahrain in 2022. 
9. The state provides free health care to all Bahraini citizens. Health care is free for Bahraini citizens at government hospitals and medical centers, and available for a nominal fee for non-citizens. Bahrainis and domestic workers receive free health coverage from the government. Currently, Bahrain is shifting from offering free health care to all nationals and residents to a system of mandatory insurance that provides full government-subsidized insurance to nationals and partially subsidized insurance to expatriates.
10. Bahrain is working to gain self-sufficiency in 10 key food commodities. These key food commodities include wheat, rice, poultry, eggs, and dairy products. Investing in agricultural production, food processing, and packaging industries allows businesses to partner with the state in national food security efforts while increasing economic productivity. Companies such as the Bahrain Sugar Refinery are expected to start operating soon with a production capacity of about 600,000 tonnes per year for sugar, 7,600 tonnes per year for molasses, and 10,000 tonnes per year for yeast – ensuring enough food to sustain the Bahraini population without reliance on imports. 

Though hunger itself is not a prevalent issue, issues stemming from poor nutrition practices continue to affect the country today. Obesity is currently the greatest threat to public health, affecting young and adult populations alike. Government resources used to help fight hunger and malnutrition may further benefit citizens by being apportioned to accessible education on better nutrition and health practices.

– Natalie Marie Abdou
Photo: Flickr

Updated: July 12, 2024