Bahrain Ranks Lowest in Total Rice Consumption Among Arab Nations

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Recent data released by World Population Review has revealed that the Kingdom of Bahrain consumes the lowest total volume of rice among Arab nations, with an annual intake of 95,000 tons. However, while Bahrain tops the list for the lowest national total, the figures tell a different story regarding individual dietary habits.

Despite Bahrain's low national total, largely attributed to its smaller population size, the average Bahraini citizen consumes 64.8 kg of rice annually. This per capita figure is significantly higher than that of the Arab world’s largest consumer, Egypt, where the average individual consumes only 49.4 kg, despite the country’s massive national total of 5.48 million tons.

The report highlights Qatar as the Arab leader in individual rice consumption, with a staggering 93.3 kg per person per year. At the other end of the spectrum, North African countries recorded the lowest individual interest in rice. Sudan (3.22 kg), Morocco (4.03 kg), and Algeria (5.9 kg) sit at the bottom of the list, where wheat-based products like couscous and bread typically dominate the diet.

The data reinforces a long-standing cultural trend: rice remains the central staple of the Gulf diet. All GCC nations featured in the study showed significantly higher per capita consumption rates than their neighbors in the Levant and North Africa. While Saudi Arabia ranks third in total volume at 1.75 million tons, its individual consumption remains moderate at 48.2 kg per person, trailing slightly behind the UAE’s 48.3 kg.