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Economy of Bhutan vs Thailand compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a GDP of $3.01B compared to $527B for Thailand, ranking 170/197 and 31/197 by economy size, respectively.

Bhutan has $3.53B in government debt (110.4% of GDP), compared to $333B (63.2% of GDP) in Thailand.

Bhutan vs Thailand GDP by year

Bhutan
Thailand
1x
Year GDP, current $
Bhutan Thailand
2024 - $526,517,658,842
2023 $3,012,896,789 $515,906,283,941
2022 $2,898,227,744 $495,644,697,588
2021 $2,768,802,960 $506,194,668,790
2020 $2,457,604,334 $500,461,898,480
2019 $2,735,683,570 $543,976,691,794
2018 $2,583,335,722 $506,754,208,404
2017 $2,591,358,009 $456,356,813,537
2016 $2,357,504,761 $413,366,349,748
2015 $2,187,815,803 $401,296,238,228
2014 $2,089,079,571 $407,339,040,198
2013 $1,943,696,952 $420,333,654,593
2012 $1,973,387,228 $397,558,325,279
2011 $1,977,728,659 $370,818,739,624
2010 $1,708,880,730 $341,104,766,329
2009 $1,331,343,798 $281,710,630,187
2008 $1,317,517,835 $291,382,982,431
2007 $1,255,767,964 $262,942,621,455
2006 $942,879,879 $221,758,296,022
2005 $860,391,000 $189,318,408,469
2004 $735,348,490 $172,895,685,155
2003 $651,935,430 $152,280,615,246
2002 $559,345,264 $134,300,904,400
2001 $496,110,226 $120,296,476,180
2000 $460,733,418 $126,392,224,254
1999 $399,311,200 $126,669,211,779
1998 $363,458,381 $113,675,596,788
1997 $352,229,077 $150,180,456,566
1996 $303,408,346 $183,035,237,429
1995 $290,490,984 $169,278,916,593
1994 $258,954,708 $146,683,778,959
1993 $225,973,693 $128,889,262,951
1992 $240,233,531 $111,452,746,518
1991 $240,294,286 $98,234,714,971
1990 $287,765,007 $85,343,190,719
1989 $264,798,626 $72,250,748,100
1988 $272,298,067 $61,667,253,471
1987 $242,742,766 $50,535,446,555
1986 $191,218,115 $43,096,773,981
1985 $163,288,815 $38,900,711,333
1984 $160,423,494 $41,797,647,776
1983 $156,704,290 $40,042,798,388
1982 $141,439,317 $36,589,772,404
1981 $139,174,178 $34,846,039,194
1980 $128,669,201 $32,353,514,989
1979 $105,377,995 $27,371,650,825
1978 $94,086,228 $24,006,566,637
1977 $97,884,434 $19,779,312,261
1976 $88,461,263 $16,985,208,648
1975 $86,820,762 $14,882,770,594
1974 $92,901,784 $13,702,998,512
1973 $78,900,289 $10,838,587,358
1972 $70,139,867 $8,177,873,151
1971 $66,289,450 $7,375,000,024
1970 $61,812,113 $7,086,538,438
1969 - $6,695,336,567
1968 - $6,081,009,428
1967 - $5,638,461,442
1966 - $5,279,230,817
1965 - $4,388,937,649
1964 - $3,889,129,942
1963 - $3,540,403,457
1962 - $3,308,912,797
1961 - $3,034,037,811
1960 - $2,760,750,861

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/thailand | CC BY

GDP per capita in Bhutan vs Thailand by year

Bhutan
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Thailand
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Bhutan Thailand
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 - - $7,347 $24,712
2023 $3,831 $16,215 $7,195 $23,519
2022 $3,711 $15,064 $6,909 $22,243
2021 $3,571 $13,459 $7,057 $20,243
2020 $3,192 $12,475 $6,986 $19,164
2019 $3,577 $12,909 $7,606 $19,963
2018 $3,400 $11,970 $7,100 $18,876
2017 $3,435 $11,677 $6,413 $17,573
2016 $3,152 $11,273 $5,834 $16,671
2015 $2,954 $10,214 $5,689 $15,791
2014 $2,849 $9,323 $5,801 $15,365
2013 $2,680 $8,667 $6,018 $15,216
2012 $2,751 $8,577 $5,726 $14,617
2011 $2,788 $7,935 $5,374 $13,227
2010 $2,436 $7,246 $4,974 $12,932
2009 $1,918 $6,466 $4,135 $11,964
2008 $1,920 $6,035 $4,309 $12,062
2007 $1,850 $5,729 $3,919 $11,723
2006 $1,406 $4,860 $3,331 $10,912
2005 $1,300 $4,523 $2,868 $10,169
2004 $1,130 $4,173 $2,642 $9,545
2003 $1,022 $3,942 $2,348 $8,824
2002 $896 $3,663 $2,090 $8,148
2001 $812 $3,338 $1,890 $7,632
2000 $772 $3,113 $2,006 $7,289
1999 $685 $3,017 $2,033 $6,901
1998 $638 $2,819 $1,848 $6,590
1997 $630 $2,683 $2,473 $7,148
1996 $553 $2,548 $3,055 $7,322
1995 $530 $2,374 $2,864 $6,901
1994 $467 $2,146 $2,518 $6,341
1993 $407 $2,001 $2,245 $5,834
1992 $416 $1,840 $1,972 $5,347
1991 $401 $1,657 $1,766 $4,914
1990 $488 $1,638 $1,559 $4,451
1989 $462 - $1,342 -
1988 $489 - $1,164 -
1987 $449 - $970 -
1986 $365 - $842 -
1985 $321 - $774 -
1984 $326 - $847 -
1983 $328 - $827 -
1982 $306 - $770 -
1981 $311 - $748 -
1980 $296.9 - $709 -
1979 $251.4 - $612 -
1978 $232.2 - $548 -
1977 $249.9 - $462 -
1976 $233.7 - $405 -
1975 $237.4 - $364 -
1974 $262.8 - $343 -
1973 $230.9 - $278.3 -
1972 $212.4 - $215.6 -
1971 $207.7 - $199.7 -
1970 $200.3 - $197.1 -
1969 - - $191.4 -
1968 - - $178.8 -
1967 - - $170.7 -
1966 - - $164.5 -
1965 - - $140.9 -
1964 - - $128.6 -
1963 - - $120.7 -
1962 - - $116.2 -
1961 - - $109.7 -
1960 - - $102.8 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/thailand | CC BY

Bhutan's GDP per capita is $3,831, ranking 132/197, compared to $7,347 in Thailand, ranking 100/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Bhutan ranks 109th at $16,215, while Thailand ranks 85th at $24,712.

Economic indicators

Bhutan Thailand
Gross domestic product
$3.01B
2023
$527B
2024
GDP rank
170/197
2023
31/197
2024
GDP growth
4.63%
2022-2023
2.54%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$3,831
2023
$7,347
2024
GDP per capita rank
132/197
2023
100/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,215
2023
$24,712
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
109/197
2023
85/197
2024
Government debt
$3.53B
2023
$333B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
110.4%
2024
63.2%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,485
2023
$4,643
2024
Government debt per person rank
87/185
2023
84/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,506
2026
$6,733
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$520B
2024
Number of millionaires n/a
100,001
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
25
2025
Income share by richest 10%
22.7%
2022
26.1%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2022
3.4%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
22.7%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
4.3%
2023-2024
1.37%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
1.5%
2025
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2024
0.78%
2024
Population
803385
71571743

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Bhutan
Spending

Debt
Thailand
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Bhutan Thailand
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 27.1% 110.4% 22.7% 63.2%
2023 28.8% 117.1% 22.8% 62.3%
2022 32.1% 119.9% 24.7% 60.5%
2021 36.6% 124.5% 26.8% 58.3%
2020 30.9% 116% 24.9% 49.4%
2019 24.2% 100.8% 20.6% 41.1%
2018 31.7% 103.4% 21.2% 41.9%
2017 30.6% 104.1% 21.5% 41.8%
2016 30.5% 103% 21.4% 41.7%
2015 27.5% 90.2% 22.3% 42.6%
2014 28.9% 89.8% 22.2% 43.3%
2013 32.5% 87.4% 21.6% 42.2%
2012 35.1% 71.5% 22.3% 41.9%
2011 36.1% 62.3% 21.1% 39.1%
2010 41.5% 55.8% 22% 39.8%
2009 39.3% 61% 21.7% 42.4%
2008 36.1% 60.6% 19.2% 34.9%
2007 33.2% 67.3% 20% 36%
2006 33.4% 80.1% 18.7% 39.2%
2005 36.4% 80.8% 19.6% 45.5%
2004 31% 76% 19.3% 46.3%
2003 34.7% 68.5% 18.3% 47.5%
2002 39.3% 57.7% 25.7% 54.9%
2001 50.3% 52.4% 20.8% 57.5%
2000 43% 44% 19.3% 57.8%
1999 40.2% 39.2% 26.5% 56.6%
1998 31.1% 36.4% 23.9% 49.9%
1997 37.8% 33% 21.6% 40.5%
1996 37.9% 36.8% 18% 15.2%
1995 38.6% 38.7% 17.2% 5.12%
1994 37.9% 53.2% 16% 6.69%
1993 35.2% 60.2% 18.8% 9.14%
1992 34.5% 35.6% 17.8% 11.4%
1991 30.8% 33.5% 17% 14.1%
1990 35.8% 27.4% 16.6% 18%
1989 46.8% 26.4% 16.5% 23.7%
1988 45.3% 24.7% 15.1% 30.3%
1987 47.5% 17.3% 17.5% 38.8%
1986 - - 19.5% 40.1%
1985 - - 20.5% 36.8%
1984 - - 19.3% 30.6%
1983 - - 19.5% 28.9%
1982 - - 20.2% 27.1%
1981 - - 19.1% 24.4%
1980 - - 18.7% 22.1%
1979 - - 16.9% 23.7%
1978 - - 16.6% 22.8%
1977 - - 16.1% 22.4%
1976 - - 15.6% 22%
1975 - - 14.2% 15.8%
1974 - - 13.2% 16.3%
1973 - - 15.9% 21.2%
1972 - - 18.5% 26.8%
1971 - - 18.8% 21.5%
1970 - - 17.6% 18.5%
1969 - - 15.9% 17.7%
1968 - - 16% 15.5%
1967 - - 15.5% 15%
1966 - - 14.7% 14.4%
1965 - - 14.7% 14.8%
1964 - - 13.3% 13.3%
1963 - - 12% 12.6%
1962 - - 11.9% 13.4%
1961 - - 9.58% 12.9%
1960 - - 12.1% 14.3%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/thailand | CC BY

In 2024, Bhutan's government spending was $869M, accounting for 27.1% of its GDP, while Thailand spent $120B, or 22.7% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 110.4% in Bhutan and 63.2% in Thailand, ranking 17/185 and 74/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Bhutan

Thailand
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Bhutan Thailand
2024 -0.17% -1.29%
2023 -4.73% -1.98%
2022 -6.95% -4.61%
2021 -5.76% -6.74%
2020 -1.81% -4.47%
2019 -1.49% 0.43%
2018 -1.52% 0.2%
2017 -4.49% -0.42%
2016 -2.31% 0.41%
2015 -0.49% 0.19%
2014 2.46% -0.7%
2013 -4.55% 0.6%
2012 -2.1% -0.86%
2011 -3.02% 0.09%
2010 1.92% -1.07%
2009 -0.8% -2.21%
2008 -2.57% 0.8%
2007 0.79% 0.22%
2006 -0.07% 1.87%
2005 -6.96% 2.17%
2004 1.8% 1.11%
2003 -10.2% 1.98%
2002 -4.33% -6.72%
2001 -12.2% -1.77%
2000 -3.39% -1.79%
1999 -1.28% -9.02%
1998 1.28% -6.29%
1997 -1.92% -1.68%
1996 2.55% 2.75%
1995 -0.88% 3.05%
1994 -0.13% 2.78%
1993 4.71% 6.67%
1992 -3.47% -0.18%
1991 -0.48% 1.6%
1990 -7.21% 1.41%
1989 -10.1% 0.16%
1988 1.33% 0.58%
1987 -0.56% -2.38%
1986 - -4.32%
1985 - -5.11%
1984 - -3.85%
1983 - -4.02%
1982 - -6.18%
1981 - -4.07%
1980 - -4.41%
1979 - -3.62%
1978 - -3.31%
1977 - -2.91%
1976 - -3.35%
1975 - -1.73%
1974 - 1.29%
1973 - -2.7%
1972 - -4.81%
1971 - -5.47%
1970 - -3.73%
1969 - -2.53%
1968 - -2.79%
1967 - -2.1%
1966 - -1.13%
1965 - -1.05%
1964 - -1.01%
1963 - -0.81%
1962 - -0.27%
1961 - 0.05%
1960 - 0.48%
1959 - -1.15%
1958 - -0.91%
1957 - -1.31%
1956 - -1.38%
1955 - -1.65%
1954 - -3.46%
1953 - -3.56%
1952 - -2.4%
1951 - -3.54%
1950 - -0.7%
1949 - 0.7%
1948 - -0.1%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1948–1994, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/thailand | CC BY

In 2023, Bhutan's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $142M, equivalent to 4.73% of GDP. This compares to Thailand's deficit of $10.2B, or 1.98% of GDP.

Over the past 37 years, Bhutan recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while Thailand ran a deficit in 17 years. On average, Bhutan posted an annual deficit equal to 2.4% of GDP, compared to deficit of 0.64% of GDP for Thailand.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Bhutan

Thailand
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Bhutan Thailand
2024 4.3% 1.37%
2023 4.5% 8.48%
2022 5.9% -1.61%
2021 8.2% 1.23%
2020 3% -0.85%
2019 2.8% 0.71%
2018 3.6% 1.06%
2017 4.3% 0.67%
2016 3.3% 0.19%
2015 6.7% -0.9%
2014 9.6% 1.9%
2013 8.1% 2.18%
2012 10.1% 3.01%
2011 8.6% 3.81%
2010 4.8% 3.25%
2009 7.1% -0.85%
2008 6.3% 5.47%
2007 5.2% 2.24%
2006 4.9% 4.64%
2005 4.8% 4.54%
2004 3.3% 2.76%
2003 2.5% 1.8%
2002 2.9% 0.7%
2001 3.7% 1.63%
2000 7.2% 1.59%
1999 9.1% 0.28%
1998 7.6% 7.99%
1997 8.6% 5.63%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/thailand | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Bhutan has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 5.75%, compared with 2.25% in Thailand. In 2024, inflation was 4.3% in Bhutan and 1.37% in Thailand.

Top exports between countries

Bhutan
Export category Export value
Raw agricultural goods $139K
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $25K
Textiles & consumer goods $10K
Animal & marine products $2K
Wood & paper products $1K
Thailand
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $5.67M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $4.12M
Textiles & consumer goods $4.02M
Chemicals & pharma $988K
Raw materials & minerals $200K
Animal & marine products $189K
Raw agricultural goods $171K
Precious metals & jewellery $150K
Miscellaneous $98K
Wood & paper products $92K

Balance of trade

Bhutan Thailand
Current account balance
-$670M
2024
$11.6B
2024
Current account balance ranking
114/190
2024
23/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
-32%
2023
+2.21%
2024
Goods imports
$1.29B
2024
$276B
2024
Goods exports
$656M
2024
$297B
2024
Service imports
$228M
2024
$74B
2024
Service exports
$288M
2024
$71.9B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
53.3%
2023
66.7%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
28.4%
2023
70%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Bhutan Thailand
Economic freedom 57.5 62.2
Economic freedom ranking 115/197 88/197
Property rights 69.2 41.8
Government integrity 72.2 38.9
Judicial effectiveness 61.8 35
Tax burden 83.4 80.8
Government spending 74.1 83.6
Fiscal health 25.8 81
Business freedom 67.8 69.9
Labor freedom 60.1 56.4
Monetary freedom 71.6 73.3
Trade freedom 63.4 70.2
Investment freedom 20 55
Financial freedom 20 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Bhutan
Thailand
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Bhutan Thailand
2026 57.5 62.2
2025 57.5 60.6
2024 55.4 59
2023 59 60.6
2022 59.3 63.2
2021 58.3 69.7
2020 62.1 69.4
2019 62.9 68.3
2018 61.8 67.1
2017 58.4 66.2
2016 59.5 63.9
2015 57.4 62.4
2014 56.7 63.3
2013 55 64.1
2012 56.6 64.9
2011 57.6 64.7
2010 57 64.1
2009 57.7 63
2008 - 62.3
2007 - 63.5
2006 - 63.3
2005 - 62.5
2004 - 63.7
2003 - 65.8
2002 - 69.1
2001 - 68.9
2000 - 66.6
1999 - 66.9
1998 - 67.3
1997 - 66.1
1996 - 71
1995 - 71.3

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/thailand | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Bhutan is 57.5, ranking 115/197, compared to 62.2 for Thailand, ranking 88/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Bhutan Thailand
Services, % of GDP
52.8%
2023
59.2%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2023
32.1%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
15%
2023
8.71%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$2.93B
2023
$509B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$15,320
2023
$23,960
2024
Total reserves including gold
$941M
2024
$237B
2024
Total reserves ranking
143/177
2024
15/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
-$22.8M
2024
-$6.95B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$2.82M
2024
$14.3B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$0
2024
$7.36B
2024
Servicing debt to the IMF, % of GNI
4.96%
2023
3.52%
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
12.4%
2022
5.4%
2022
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
45.3%
2023
21.6%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/bhutan/thailand | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1948–1995, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  6. TradeMap (2021–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  7. United Nations | World Population Prospects (2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  8. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)

Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.

The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Principal and interest payments to the IMF in currency, goods, or services on long-term debt expressed as a share of GNI.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.