Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Bhutan
Bhutan: Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) was 52.07 thousands in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
52.07 thousands
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
169th
of 233 countries
All-time high
52.07 thousands
in 2025
All-time low
7.23 thousands
in 1970
Years of data
56
1970–2025
Population aged 65 years or older in Bhutan, 1970–2025
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in thousands.
Analysis
Bhutan recorded 52.07 thousands for population aged 65 years or older in 2025. That is the highest value across all 56 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.6% on the previous year and up 26.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, population aged 65 years or older in Bhutan peaked at 52.07 thousands in 2025 and was at its lowest, 7.23 thousands, in 1970.
Bhutan ranks 169th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Population aged 65 years or older (thousands) in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | thousands | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 7.23 thousands | — |
| 1971 | 7.5 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1972 | 7.77 thousands | +3.6% |
| 1973 | 8.05 thousands | +3.7% |
| 1974 | 8.36 thousands | +3.8% |
| 1975 | 8.68 thousands | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 9.03 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 9.39 thousands | +4.0% |
| 1978 | 9.77 thousands | +4.1% |
| 1979 | 10.18 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1980 | 10.62 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 11.07 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 11.54 thousands | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 12.04 thousands | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 12.57 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1985 | 13.13 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1986 | 13.72 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 14.35 thousands | +4.5% |
| 1988 | 15.01 thousands | +4.6% |
| 1989 | 15.7 thousands | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 16.43 thousands | +4.7% |
| 1991 | 17.16 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1992 | 17.69 thousands | +3.1% |
| 1993 | 16.58 thousands | -6.3% |
| 1994 | 17.06 thousands | +2.9% |
| 1995 | 17.32 thousands | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 17.47 thousands | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 18.24 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1998 | 19.04 thousands | +4.4% |
| 1999 | 19.94 thousands | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 21.59 thousands | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 23.31 thousands | +8.0% |
| 2002 | 25.08 thousands | +7.6% |
| 2003 | 26.87 thousands | +7.2% |
| 2004 | 28.68 thousands | +6.7% |
| 2005 | 30.46 thousands | +6.2% |
| 2006 | 31.66 thousands | +3.9% |
| 2007 | 32.5 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 33.38 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2009 | 34.34 thousands | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 35.35 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2011 | 36.42 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2012 | 37.52 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 38.66 thousands | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 39.83 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 41.06 thousands | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 42.38 thousands | +3.2% |
| 2017 | 43.81 thousands | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 44.25 thousands | +1.0% |
| 2019 | 44.9 thousands | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 45.78 thousands | +2.0% |
| 2021 | 46.9 thousands | +2.4% |
| 2022 | 48.12 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2023 | 49.43 thousands | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 50.74 thousands | +2.6% |
| 2025 | 52.07 thousands | +2.6% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 52.07 thousands is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 516.96 thousands, 10% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 52.07 thousands is below the median for South Asia, which is 2,396 thousands, 2% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 8.6 thousands | 7.23 thousands | 10.18 thousands | 10 |
| 1980s | 12.98 thousands | 10.62 thousands | 15.7 thousands | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.69 thousands | 16.43 thousands | 19.94 thousands | 10 |
| 2000s | 28.79 thousands | 21.59 thousands | 34.34 thousands | 10 |
| 2010s | 40.42 thousands | 35.35 thousands | 44.9 thousands | 10 |
| 2020s | 48.84 thousands | 45.78 thousands | 52.07 thousands | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More population data for Bhutan
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.716 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.0644 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate -0.716 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.7852 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 874.29 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5776 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5679 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Population density 18.1 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 27,662 people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is population aged 65 years or older in Bhutan?
- Population aged 65 years or older in Bhutan was 52.07 thousands in 2025, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
- What is the highest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 52.07 thousands in 2025.
- What is the lowest population aged 65 years or older recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.23 thousands in 1970.
- How does Bhutan rank for population aged 65 years or older?
- Bhutan ranks 169th out of 233 countries with data for 2025.
- Is population aged 65 years or older rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 26.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Population aged 65 years or older (thousands). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO (UNESCO Institute for Statistics).
About this data
February 2026 Data Release