Urban population in Bhutan
Bhutan: Urban population was 346,000 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Urban population in Bhutan, 1960–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban population in Bhutan is 346,000, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 66 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 population in Bhutan peaked at 346,000 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 5,563, in 1960.
Bhutan ranks 170th of 218 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban population in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5,563 | — |
| 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 | 96,513 | +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 | 142,247 | +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 | 278,763 | +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 12.15 million, 3% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 climate change data for Bhutan
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 2.70 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 581.26 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 78.23 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 503.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 0.2952 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 17.97 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 129 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 40.23 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 88.77 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 0.1518 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is urban population in Bhutan?
- Urban population in Bhutan was 346,000 in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest urban population recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 346,000 in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban population recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,563 in 1960.
- How does Bhutan rank for urban population?
- Bhutan ranks 170th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban 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 World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Urban population. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 66 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
Urban population refers to people living in urban areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated using World Bank population estimates and urban ratios from the United Nations World Urbanization Prospects. Aggregation of urban and rural population may not add up to total population because of different country coverages.