Bhutan Flag

Bhutan

Population

804,022

Estimated as of Oct 22, 2026View source
Population rank
167th
Share of world
< 0.01%
Annual change
+5,5320.68%

Population of Bhutan

200K400K600K800K1M1.2M1.4M1.6M95% prediction intervalProjected peak2026804K2050 projection882.3K↑ 10% from 202619601980200020202040206020802100

Source: United Nations — World Population Prospects (2024 Revision)

Current population estimate: 804,022. 2050 projection: 882,340.Use the arrow keys on the chart to inspect individual years.

Historical population estimates for Bhutan. Annual change is shown as a percentage.
2026802,2140.68%167
2025796,6820.68%167
2020770,0060.68%166
2019764,8240.67%166
2018759,7590.72%166
2017754,3350.87%166
2015740,6181.09%165
2010701,6321.17%165
2005661,8652.09%165
2000596,8631.72%166

Showing 10 of 19 years.

Population by City

Thimphu is home to 141,076 people, 17.59% of Bhutan's population.

City population100K60K20K
Thimphu 141.1KPhuntsholing 33.0KTshongdue 17.8KSamdrup Jongkhar 11.9KWangdue 10.6KGelaphu 10.4KPunakha 9.2KNganglam 8.7KJakar 7.8KSamtse 5.7K
Largest cities by 2026 population and share of the national population.
1Thimphu141.1K17.59%
2Phuntsholing33.0K4.11%
3Tshongdue17.8K2.22%
4Samdrup Jongkhar11.9K1.48%
5Wangdue10.6K1.33%
6Gelaphu10.4K1.29%
7Punakha9.2K1.15%
8Nganglam8.7K1.09%
9Jakar7.8K0.97%
10Samtse5.7K0.71%

Bhutan by the Numbers

Estimated as of Oct 22, 2026

Population
Bhutan is home to an estimated 804,022 people, the 167th largest population in the world.
Daily change
Bhutan has a net population change of approximately 16 people per day, driven by 27 births, 13 deaths, and net immigration of 2 people.
Share of world
Bhutan makes up < 0.01% of the world's population and 0.02% of Asia's.
Density
21.0 people per km² of land (54.5 per mi²), ranking 199th among countries and territories.
Urban living
43.43% of people live in urban areas.

Bhutan Demographics

Age & longevity

MaleFemale100+ years, male: 4100+ years, female: 795–99 years, male: 4795–99 years, female: 7890–94 years, male: 29890–94 years, female: 42385–89 years, male: 1,04685–89 years, female: 1,28280–84 years, male: 2,53680–84 years, female: 2,88375–79 years, male: 4,61875–79 years, female: 4,80770–74 years, male: 7,67270–74 years, female: 7,80965–69 years, male: 10,56765–69 years, female: 10,24260–64 years, male: 13,78760–64 years, female: 12,44555–59 years, male: 18,11555–59 years, female: 15,56550–54 years, male: 22,04850–54 years, female: 17,99045–49 years, male: 29,71645–49 years, female: 24,28440–44 years, male: 35,95640–44 years, female: 28,89835–39 years, male: 44,05735–39 years, female: 35,11630–34 years, male: 44,43230–34 years, female: 34,80125–29 years, male: 38,52225–29 years, female: 33,81820–24 years, male: 38,13620–24 years, female: 35,42015–19 years, male: 34,51715–19 years, female: 31,35110–14 years, male: 31,94210–14 years, female: 29,0675–9 years, male: 25,2605–9 years, female: 23,9720–4 years, male: 24,8980–4 years, female: 23,795100+95–9990–9485–8980–8475–7970–7465–6960–6455–5950–5445–4940–4435–3930–3425–2920–2415–1910–145–90–420K20K40K40K

Hover or tap an age group to see exact counts. Use the up and down arrow keys to inspect age groups.

Median age

32 yrs

World: 31

Life expectancy

73.8 yrs

World: 73.8

Male

53.37%

Female

46.63%

Life expectancy 72.1Life expectancy 75.8

Ethnicity

50%

Ngalop (Bhote)

  • Ngalop (Bhote)50%
  • ethnic Nepali35%
  • indigenous or migrant tribes15%
Data notes

Source estimate: est.

Religion

75.3%

Lamaistic Buddhist, the largest religion

  • Lamaistic Buddhist75.3%
  • Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism22.1%
  • Other2.6%
Data notes

Source estimate: 2005 est.

Related Pages

Sources

  1. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - United Nations population estimates and projections.
  2. World Population Prospects (2024 Revision) - Bhutan United Nations Graphs/Profiles
  3. World Bank / UN World Urbanization Prospects - 2025: Urban population (% of total population), using national definitions.
  4. Department of Planning