Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Bhutan
Bhutan: Refugee population by country or territory of origin was 7,257 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Bhutan, 1991–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Bhutan recorded 7,257 for refugee population by country or territory of origin in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.4% on the previous year and down 59.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, refugee population by country or territory of origin in Bhutan peaked at 112,524 in 2002 and was at its lowest, 6,676, in 2023.
That places Bhutan 69th out of 205 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 9,504 | — |
| 1992 | 75,442 | +693.8% |
| 1993 | 85,334 | +13.1% |
| 1994 | 103,270 | +21.0% |
| 1995 | 104,746 | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 106,820 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 108,702 | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 105,690 | -2.8% |
| 1999 | 107,619 | +1.8% |
| 2000 | 108,943 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 110,844 | +1.7% |
| 2002 | 112,524 | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 103,977 | -7.6% |
| 2004 | 105,259 | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 106,539 | +1.2% |
| 2006 | 108,069 | +1.4% |
| 2007 | 110,593 | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 104,960 | -5.1% |
| 2009 | 89,064 | -15.1% |
| 2010 | 75,062 | -15.7% |
| 2011 | 57,980 | -22.8% |
| 2012 | 41,582 | -28.3% |
| 2013 | 31,556 | -24.1% |
| 2014 | 23,633 | -25.1% |
| 2015 | 17,709 | -25.1% |
| 2016 | 11,757 | -33.6% |
| 2017 | 7,954 | -32.3% |
| 2018 | 7,100 | -10.7% |
| 2019 | 6,839 | -3.7% |
| 2020 | 6,741 | -1.4% |
| 2021 | 6,702 | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 6,688 | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 6,676 | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 7,433 | +11.3% |
| 2025 | 7,257 | -2.4% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 7,257 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,568, 76% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 7,257 is below the median for South Asia, which is 19,940, 36% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Bhutan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | +693.8% | 9,504 | 75,442 |
| 2016 | -33.6% | 17,709 | 11,757 |
| 2017 | -32.3% | 11,757 | 7,954 |
| 2012 | -28.3% | 57,980 | 41,582 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 89,681 | 9,504 | 108,702 | 9 |
| 2000s | 106,077 | 89,064 | 112,524 | 10 |
| 2010s | 28,117 | 6,839 | 75,062 | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,916 | 6,676 | 7,433 | 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)
- Population growth rate -0.739 (2100)
- Population density 18.1 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 27,662 (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is refugee population by country or territory of origin in Bhutan?
- Refugee population by country or territory of origin in Bhutan was 7,257 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 112,524 in 2002.
- What is the lowest refugee population by country or territory of origin recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 6,676 in 2023.
- How does Bhutan rank for refugee population by country or territory of origin?
- Bhutan ranks 69th out of 205 countries with data for 2025.
- Is refugee population by country or territory of origin rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 59.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Refugee population by country or territory of origin. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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