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Bhutan

Asia · Southern Asia · BTN · 38,394 km²
Population
791,524
Year 2024

Total number of people living in the country.

Population Density
20.6/km²

How many people live per square kilometer of land.

Life Expectancy
73.0 years
♂ 71.3 / ♀ 75.0

How long a newborn baby can expect to live on average.

Fertility Rate (TFR)
1.46
children per woman

Average number of children born to each woman. About 2.1 is needed to keep population stable.

Median Age
35.0 years

Half the population is younger and half is older than this age.

Net Migration
-277

Difference between people moving in and out. Positive means more arrivals.

Key demographic indicators for Bhutan as of 2024. These numbers give a quick overview of the country's population size, density, birth rates, life expectancy, and migration patterns.

Population Trend

How the total population has changed over the decades. A rising line means the country has been growing, a flat or falling line indicates stagnation or decline.

Population Projection to 2100

Estimated future population based on current trends in birth rates, death rates, and migration. The dashed line shows this is a projection, not actual data.

Birth Rate vs Death Rate

Birth rate (green) vs. death rate (red) per 1,000 people per year. When the birth rate is higher than the death rate, the population grows naturally.

Life Expectancy (Male vs Female)

Average number of years a newborn can expect to live. Blue shows men, red shows women. Women typically live longer in most countries.

Fertility Rate Trend

Total Fertility Rate — the average number of children per woman. A rate of about 2.1 is needed to maintain the population without immigration.

Population Pyramid

Shows the age distribution of the population. Blue bars (left) represent men, red bars (right) represent women. A wide base means a young population, a wide top means an aging population.

Historical Data

Detailed numbers for selected years showing how the country's key indicators have changed over time. Click column headers to sort.

Year Population Growth Rate Fertility Rate (TFR) Life Expectancy Median Age Birth Rate Death Rate
1960 224,084 0.00% 6.70 36.4 22.0 48.8‰ 27.0‰
1965 261,200 3.19% 6.68 38.3 22.4 48.5‰ 25.1‰
1970 308,528 3.40% 6.65 41.2 22.3 47.7‰ 22.5‰
1975 365,791 3.41% 6.62 44.5 22.0 46.4‰ 19.6‰
1980 433,404 3.33% 6.51 48.2 21.6 44.5‰ 16.8‰
1985 508,392 3.12% 6.18 52.0 21.3 41.6‰ 14.0‰
1990 589,287 2.70% 5.60 55.8 21.6 38.2‰ 11.6‰
1995 547,989 -1.18% 4.62 59.3 22.5 33.3‰ 9.7‰
2000 596,863 2.42% 3.38 61.8 24.9 25.2‰ 8.2‰
2005 661,865 1.73% 2.73 65.9 28.5 21.1‰ 7.4‰
2010 701,632 1.10% 2.25 68.8 30.7 18.9‰ 6.6‰
2015 740,618 1.01% 1.84 70.8 32.1 15.7‰ 6.5‰
2020 770,006 0.68% 1.50 72.3 33.9 13.0‰ 6.3‰
2024 791,524 0.65% 1.46 73.0 35.0 12.7‰ 6.1‰
2025 796,680 0.65% 1.46 73.1 35.0 12.7‰ 6.1‰
2030 821,902 0.61% 1.48 73.6 35.1 12.5‰ 6.3‰
2035 846,095 0.56% 1.51 74.1 35.2 12.3‰ 6.5‰
2040 869,121 0.52% 1.53 74.6 35.2 12.1‰ 6.7‰
2045 890,848 0.48% 1.55 75.1 35.3 12.0‰ 6.9‰
2050 911,146 0.43% 1.57 75.6 35.3 11.8‰ 7.1‰
2055 929,895 0.39% 1.60 76.1 35.4 11.6‰ 7.3‰
2060 946,979 0.35% 1.62 76.6 35.5 11.4‰ 7.5‰
2065 962,292 0.30% 1.64 77.1 35.5 11.2‰ 7.7‰
2070 975,738 0.26% 1.66 77.6 35.6 11.1‰ 7.8‰
2075 987,232 0.22% 1.69 78.1 35.6 10.9‰ 8.0‰
2080 996,700 0.17% 1.71 78.6 35.7 10.7‰ 8.2‰
2085 1,004,079 0.13% 1.73 79.1 35.7 10.5‰ 8.4‰
2090 1,009,323 0.09% 1.75 79.6 35.8 10.4‰ 8.6‰
2095 1,012,394 0.04% 1.78 80.1 35.9 10.2‰ 8.8‰
2100 1,013,274 0.00% 1.80 80.6 35.9 10.0‰ 9.0‰

About Country — Bhutan

Bhutan is a country in Asia (Southern Asia) with a total population of 791,524 as of 2024. It covers an area of 38,394 km², resulting in a population density of 20.6 people per km².

The average life expectancy is 73.0 years (71.3 for men, 75.0 for women). The fertility rate stands at 1.46 children per woman, and the median age of the population is 35.0 years.

The country's population growth rate is 0.65% per year. Net migration is -277 people, indicating that more people are leaving the country than arriving. The infant mortality rate is 18.5 per 1,000 live births.

Demographic Profile

Bhutan is located in Southern Asia, a part of Asia, and covers an area of 38,394 km². With a population of 791,524, the country has a population density of 20.6 inhabitants per square kilometer, which is below the global average of approximately 60 people per km².

The demographic structure of Bhutan reveals an aging population. The median age of 35.0 years means that half of the population is younger and half is older than this age. This aging population structure poses challenges for pension systems, healthcare provision, and the labor market, as the ratio of working-age to retired individuals continues to decline.

Health and Longevity

Life expectancy in Bhutan stands at 73.0 years overall — 71.3 years for men and 75.0 years for women. This is close to the global average, indicating ongoing improvements in healthcare and living conditions. The infant mortality rate is 18.5 per 1,000 live births, which reflects moderate healthcare conditions with room for improvement.

Fertility and Population Growth

The total fertility rate (TFR) of 1.46 children per woman is below the replacement level of 2.1, which without immigration leads to population decline over time. The population is growing at a rate of 0.65% per year. This moderate growth rate reflects a balance between natural increase and migration patterns.

Migration

Net migration in Bhutan is -277 people, meaning more people are leaving the country than arriving. Emigration may reflect economic challenges or conflict, and can lead to brain drain as skilled workers seek opportunities elsewhere.

Outlook

Based on current demographic trends, Bhutan's population dynamics reflect broader patterns seen across Southern Asia. As the population ages, adapting social security systems and healthcare to serve a growing elderly population will be a key challenge.

Year Reviews

2024

In 2024, Bhutan had a population of 791,524. Located in Asia (Southern Asia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 0.65%.

The total fertility rate stood at 1.46 children per woman. Life expectancy was 73.0 years overall, with men averaging 71.3 years and women 75.0 years. The median age of the population was 35.0 years.

The crude birth rate was 12.7 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 6.1 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to -277 people. The infant mortality rate was 18.5 per 1,000 live births.

2000

In 2000, Bhutan had a population of 596,863. Located in Asia (Southern Asia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 2.42%.

The total fertility rate stood at 3.38 children per woman. Life expectancy was 61.8 years overall, with men averaging 60.5 years and women 63.4 years. The median age of the population was 24.9 years.

The crude birth rate was 25.2 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 8.2 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 3,940 people. The infant mortality rate was 60.1 per 1,000 live births.

1974

In 1974, Bhutan had a population of 353,538. Located in Asia (Southern Asia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 3.40%.

The total fertility rate stood at 6.62 children per woman. Life expectancy was 43.8 years overall, with men averaging 42.9 years and women 44.8 years. The median age of the population was 22.1 years.

The crude birth rate was 46.6 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 20.2 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 2,700 people. The infant mortality rate was 168.0 per 1,000 live births.

1964

In 1964, Bhutan had a population of 252,987. Located in Asia (Southern Asia), the country experienced a population growth rate of 3.14%.

The total fertility rate stood at 6.68 children per woman. Life expectancy was 37.8 years overall, with men averaging 36.9 years and women 38.8 years. The median age of the population was 22.4 years.

The crude birth rate was 48.6 per 1,000 people, while the crude death rate was 25.6 per 1,000 people. Net migration amounted to 2,196 people. The infant mortality rate was 0.0 per 1,000 live births.

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