Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bhutan
Bhutan: Number of people living in urban and rural areas was 346,000 people in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
346,000 people
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
172nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
346,000 people
in 2025
All-time low
3,543 people
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bhutan, 1950–2025
Source: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Bhutan recorded 346,000 people for number of people living in urban and rural areas in 2025. That is the highest value across all 76 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.7% on the previous year and up 27.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bhutan peaked at 346,000 people in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,543 people, in 1950.
That places Bhutan 172nd out of 236 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.
Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,543 people | — |
| 1951 | 3,694 people | +4.2% |
| 1952 | 3,855 people | +4.4% |
| 1953 | 4,027 people | +4.5% |
| 1954 | 4,210 people | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 4,404 people | +4.6% |
| 1956 | 4,611 people | +4.7% |
| 1957 | 4,830 people | +4.8% |
| 1958 | 5,062 people | +4.8% |
| 1959 | 5,307 people | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 5,563 people | +4.8% |
| 1961 | 5,826 people | +4.7% |
| 1962 | 6,104 people | +4.8% |
| 1963 | 6,402 people | +4.9% |
| 1964 | 6,722 people | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 7,073 people | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 7,463 people | +5.5% |
| 1967 | 7,902 people | +5.9% |
| 1968 | 8,400 people | +6.3% |
| 1969 | 8,968 people | +6.8% |
| 1970 | 9,763 people | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 11,212 people | +14.8% |
| 1972 | 13,524 people | +20.6% |
| 1973 | 16,602 people | +22.8% |
| 1974 | 20,387 people | +22.8% |
| 1975 | 24,807 people | +21.7% |
| 1976 | 29,776 people | +20.0% |
| 1977 | 35,190 people | +18.2% |
| 1978 | 40,927 people | +16.3% |
| 1979 | 46,836 people | +14.4% |
| 1980 | 52,735 people | +12.6% |
| 1981 | 58,430 people | +10.8% |
| 1982 | 64,081 people | +9.7% |
| 1983 | 70,005 people | +9.2% |
| 1984 | 76,211 people | +8.9% |
| 1985 | 82,692 people | +8.5% |
| 1986 | 89,460 people | +8.2% |
| 1987 | 96,512 people | +7.9% |
| 1988 | 103,834 people | +7.6% |
| 1989 | 111,419 people | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 119,051 people | +6.8% |
| 1991 | 125,801 people | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 125,608 people | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 124,796 people | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 128,926 people | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 131,492 people | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 135,726 people | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 142,246 people | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 149,078 people | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 156,659 people | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 164,684 people | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 172,748 people | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 180,848 people | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 188,958 people | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 197,059 people | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 204,768 people | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 211,748 people | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 218,345 people | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 224,874 people | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 231,373 people | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 237,890 people | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 244,478 people | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 251,183 people | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 258,009 people | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 264,903 people | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 271,794 people | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 278,764 people | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 285,626 people | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 292,250 people | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 298,853 people | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 305,607 people | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 312,561 people | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 319,679 people | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 328,200 people | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 336,908 people | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 346,000 people | +2.7% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 346,000 people is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million people, 5% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 346,000 people is below the median for South Asia, which is 12.30 million people, 3% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4,354 people | 3,543 people | 5,307 people | 10 |
| 1960s | 7,042 people | 5,563 people | 8,968 people | 10 |
| 1970s | 24,902 people | 9,763 people | 46,836 people | 10 |
| 1980s | 80,538 people | 52,735 people | 111,419 people | 10 |
| 1990s | 133,938 people | 119,051 people | 156,659 people | 10 |
| 2000s | 199,540 people | 164,684 people | 231,373 people | 10 |
| 2010s | 268,375 people | 237,890 people | 298,853 people | 10 |
| 2020s | 324,826 people | 305,607 people | 346,000 people | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More population data for Bhutan
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate -0.7852 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population long run 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 regions with projections, annual growth rate -0.716 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate, by level of development -0.7% (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 27,662 people (2100)
- Population density 18.1 people per km² (2100)
- World population growth -0.7% (2100)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate -0.5679 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.5776 Percent per annum (2030)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bhutan?
- Number of people living in urban and rural areas in Bhutan was 346,000 people in 2025, according to United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 346,000 people in 2025.
- What is the lowest number of people living in urban and rural areas recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,543 people in 1950.
- How does Bhutan rank for number of people living in urban and rural areas?
- Bhutan ranks 172nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of people living in urban and rural areas rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in urban and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Number of people living in urban areas, based on each country's national definition.