Higher payouts

TDT | Manama

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Public sector retirees paid 59% more than private counterparts

Nearly a quarter of all monthly pensions paid in Bahrain now go to the families of deceased retirees, according to new figures, while those who spent their working lives in the public sector receive markedly higher payouts than their private-sector counterparts.

The Social Insurance Organisation’s report, published for the first quarter of 2025, puts the total number of pension recipients at 109,885.

Of these, 84,862 are living pensioners, making up 77 per cent.

The remaining 25,023 are surviving dependants, including widows, children, parents, siblings and grandchildren.

The average pension for a living retiree stands at BD825, but behind that number lies a clear gap.

Average

Former government employees draw an average of BD1,046 a month, compared to 657 for those who retired from private firms.

Although payouts are lower in the private sector, it accounts for the majority of retirees.

A total of 48,254 former employees from private companies receive monthly pensions, making up 57 per cent of the total. The public sector accounts for 36,608.

Among the dependants receiving monthly support, children form the largest group.

There are 11,746 child beneficiaries receiving an average of BD337.

Widows follow with 10,345 receiving 471.

Dependants

The remaining dependants include parents, siblings and grandchildren.

Their number stands at 2,932, with average monthly support of BD192.

Retirees are most commonly in their sixties.

Thirty per cent fall into the 60 to 69 age range.

Those in their fifties make up 29 per cent, followed by 24 per cent in their forties.

These figures suggest a steady intake of new pensioners, many of them close to or just reaching retirement age.

Majority

Men make up the majority of pensioners in the private sector. They account for 67 per cent, while women account for 33 per cent.

In the public sector, the split is less stark.

Men form 58 per cent of that group, women 42 per cent.

Differences These proportions point to differences in employment patterns, career length and earnings before retirement. P

ension amounts vary widely. Around 26 per cent of recipients receive over BD1,000 a month.

Another 26 per cent fall within the 400 to 599 range.

A further 24 per cent receive between 200 and 399.