The amount of pension benefits and contributions dispensed across Bahrain’s public and private retirement funds have been outlined to Parliament.
The Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) showed comparative statistics in an official written reply. In 2023, total contributions reached BD418.857 million and in 2024 this increased to BD437.448m.
The SIO noted that financial data for 2025 is still under audit. However, on the SIO’s website until yesterday it shows the figure stands at BD465.585m.
This is compared to pension benefits of BD810.112m in 2023, BD785.040m in 2024 and an unchanged amount from 2024 on the SIO’s website.
It also shows that total assets stand at around BD1.9 billion and the net change in assets being BD254.373m.
The SIO clarified that expatriates working in the private sector are fully subject to social insurance contributions, while those in the public sector fall under the work injury insurance branch, for which government entities pay consolidated monthly contributions.
The response was issued following a parliamentary question submitted by MP Jalal Kadhem Al Mahfoodh and formally transmitted to Parliament by Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, who politically oversees the SIO.
In a detailed memorandum to Parliament, SIO chief executive officer Sahar Al Mannai outlined the figures covering Bahrainis and expatriates insured under the system, total contributions, retirement numbers, end-of-service payments and wage classifications used to calculate contributions.
“The data reflects the scale and complexity of the national social insurance system and underlines the importance of continued co-operation between the executive and legislative branches to strengthen the fund’s financial sustainability,” Ms Al Mannai said in the reply.
The report also highlighted the number of Bahrainis referred to retirement and currently receiving pensions.
The SIO explained that end-of-service benefits paid to Bahrainis and expatriates are included within its jurisdiction, noting that expatriate end-of-service bonuses were formally brought under the authority’s remit from March 1, 2024, under a Cabinet decision.
Detailed wage bands were also shared, as these form the basis for calculating contributions and entitlements.
“Classifications are essential for accurately calculating insurance contributions and benefits and reflect the structure of the labour market,” Ms Al Mannai explained.
The SIO chief stressed that a series of legislative reforms introduced in recent years were designed to control pension expenditure and enhance the fund’s long-term viability.
She referenced amendments to pension and social insurance laws, including reforms introduced under Law No 21 of 2000 and Law No 14 of 2002, which strengthened the regulatory framework for retirement benefits and insurance governance.
“The general environment of social insurance today is built on reform, oversight and financial discipline to ensure the system remains sustainable for future generations,” she said.
The figures were submitted as part of Parliament’s oversight role under Article 91 of the Constitution, giving MPs the right to request detailed data from government entities.
Expatriate workers made up the overwhelming majority of contributors to the SIO in 2025, with more than 477,000 foreigners registered in Bahrain’s private sector by year-end.
According to the SIO Statistical Report - Quarter Four, a total of 636,303 employees were registered with the organisation last year.
Most contributors – 583,958 individuals – were employed in the private sector, while 52,345 worked in the public sector.
Out of the total contributors, 158,645 were Bahrainis with 106,300 (around 67 per cent) working in the private sector and 477,658 being expatriates.
In total, the number of Bahrainis registered has also seen a 2pc growth rate since 2024.
By the end of 2025, the SIO had 86,337 registered pensioners, with 58pc from the private sector and 42pc from the public sector.
Additionally, 25,679 beneficiaries, including children, widows and other dependents, were recorded, with 13,582 in the private sector and 12,097 in the public sector.
In terms of salaries, 33pc of the Bahraini public sector workforce last year – 17,283 – earn more than BD1,000.
In contrast, in the private sector, only 22pc of Bahrainis earn BD1,000 or more (23,899 workers). The majority of Bahrainis (34,061 or 32pc) earn between BD200 and BD399.
Meanwhile, Among expatriates, more than 71pc (341,456 employees) earn less than BD200 per month.
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