Urban and rural population in Bhutan
Bhutan: Urban and rural population was 346,000 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
346,000
Change on year
up 2.7%
World rank
172nd
of 236 countries
All-time high
346,000
in 2025
All-time low
3,543
in 1950
Years of data
76
1950–2025
Urban and rural population in Bhutan, 1950–2025
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
Bhutan recorded 346,000 for urban and rural population 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, urban and rural population in Bhutan peaked at 346,000 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 3,543, 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.
Urban and rural population in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,543 | — |
| 1951 | 3,694 | +4.2% |
| 1952 | 3,855 | +4.4% |
| 1953 | 4,027 | +4.5% |
| 1954 | 4,210 | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 4,404 | +4.6% |
| 1956 | 4,611 | +4.7% |
| 1957 | 4,830 | +4.8% |
| 1958 | 5,062 | +4.8% |
| 1959 | 5,307 | +4.8% |
| 1960 | 5,563 | +4.8% |
| 1961 | 5,826 | +4.7% |
| 1962 | 6,104 | +4.8% |
| 1963 | 6,402 | +4.9% |
| 1964 | 6,722 | +5.0% |
| 1965 | 7,073 | +5.2% |
| 1966 | 7,463 | +5.5% |
| 1967 | 7,902 | +5.9% |
| 1968 | 8,400 | +6.3% |
| 1969 | 8,968 | +6.8% |
| 1970 | 9,763 | +8.9% |
| 1971 | 11,212 | +14.8% |
| 1972 | 13,524 | +20.6% |
| 1973 | 16,602 | +22.8% |
| 1974 | 20,387 | +22.8% |
| 1975 | 24,807 | +21.7% |
| 1976 | 29,776 | +20.0% |
| 1977 | 35,190 | +18.2% |
| 1978 | 40,927 | +16.3% |
| 1979 | 46,836 | +14.4% |
| 1980 | 52,735 | +12.6% |
| 1981 | 58,430 | +10.8% |
| 1982 | 64,081 | +9.7% |
| 1983 | 70,005 | +9.2% |
| 1984 | 76,211 | +8.9% |
| 1985 | 82,692 | +8.5% |
| 1986 | 89,460 | +8.2% |
| 1987 | 96,512 | +7.9% |
| 1988 | 103,834 | +7.6% |
| 1989 | 111,419 | +7.3% |
| 1990 | 119,051 | +6.8% |
| 1991 | 125,801 | +5.7% |
| 1992 | 125,608 | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 124,796 | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 128,926 | +3.3% |
| 1995 | 131,492 | +2.0% |
| 1996 | 135,726 | +3.2% |
| 1997 | 142,246 | +4.8% |
| 1998 | 149,078 | +4.8% |
| 1999 | 156,659 | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 164,684 | +5.1% |
| 2001 | 172,748 | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 180,848 | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 188,958 | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 197,059 | +4.3% |
| 2005 | 204,768 | +3.9% |
| 2006 | 211,748 | +3.4% |
| 2007 | 218,345 | +3.1% |
| 2008 | 224,874 | +3.0% |
| 2009 | 231,373 | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 237,890 | +2.8% |
| 2011 | 244,478 | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 251,183 | +2.7% |
| 2013 | 258,009 | +2.7% |
| 2014 | 264,903 | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 271,794 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 278,764 | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 285,626 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 292,250 | +2.3% |
| 2019 | 298,853 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | 305,607 | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 312,561 | +2.3% |
| 2022 | 319,679 | +2.3% |
| 2023 | 328,200 | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 336,908 | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 346,000 | +2.7% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 346,000 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.62 million, 5% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 346,000 is below the median for South Asia, which is 12.30 million, 3% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 4,354 | 3,543 | 5,307 | 10 |
| 1960s | 7,042 | 5,563 | 8,968 | 10 |
| 1970s | 24,902 | 9,763 | 46,836 | 10 |
| 1980s | 80,538 | 52,735 | 111,419 | 10 |
| 1990s | 133,938 | 119,051 | 156,659 | 10 |
| 2000s | 199,540 | 164,684 | 231,373 | 10 |
| 2010s | 268,375 | 237,890 | 298,853 | 10 |
| 2020s | 324,826 | 305,607 | 346,000 | 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 urban and rural population in Bhutan?
- Urban and rural population in Bhutan was 346,000 in 2025, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban and rural population recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 346,000 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban and rural population recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,543 in 1950.
- How does Bhutan rank for urban and rural population?
- Bhutan ranks 172nd out of 236 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban and rural population 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Urban and rural population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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