Over 109,000 People Receive Monthly Pensions in Bahrain, Says Latest Report

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A new report by the Social Insurance Organization (SIO) has revealed that a total of 109,885 individuals in Bahrain are receiving monthly pension payments, as of the first quarter of 2025.

According to the report, 84,862 are living retirees — making up 77% of the total — while the remaining 25,023 beneficiaries (23%) are family members of deceased retirees, including widows, orphans, and other eligible relatives.

Public vs. Private Sector Retirees
The report highlighted that the private sector accounts for the majority of retirees, with 48,254 individuals (57%). In contrast, the public sector has 36,608 retirees.

Despite the smaller number of retirees in the public sector, they receive higher pensions on average. The average monthly pension for public sector retirees is BD 1,046, which is 59% higher than the BD 657 average for private sector retirees. Overall, the average pension for living retirees across both sectors is BD 825.

25,000 Family Members Receiving Pensions
In addition to the retirees, the report revealed that 25,023 family members of deceased retirees — including children, spouses, parents, siblings, and grandchildren — receive monthly pensions.

Among them:

Children make up the largest group with 11,746 beneficiaries (47%), receiving an average of BD 337.

Widows account for 10,345 beneficiaries (41%), with an average pension of BD 471.

Other relatives (parents, siblings, grandchildren) make up 12% (2,932 people), with an average pension of BD 192.

Age and Gender Breakdown
The largest segment of retirees (30%) falls within the 60–69 age range, followed closely by the 50–59 group (29%), and the 40–49 group (24%) — indicating a steady flow of recent or near-retirement-age individuals entering the pension system.

The gender distribution shows that men dominate in the private sector, comprising 67% of retirees, compared to 33% women. In the public sector, the gap is smaller, with 58% male and 42% female retirees. This reflects broader trends in workforce participation, years of service, and pre-retirement wages.

Pension Ranges
The report also noted that:

26% of retirees receive pensions above BD 1,000,

24% receive between BD 200 and BD 399, and

Another 26% fall in the BD 400–599 range.

This detailed data provides a clear picture of the demographics and economic support structure of Bahrain's retirement community, highlighting differences in sectoral benefits, gender participation, and generational transitions within the pension system.