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Population density: Bhutan vs India compared

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a population density of 54.5 people per square mile compared to 1,287 people in India. Bhutan has 522,119 sq ft of land per person vs 24,387 sq ft in India. Bhutan and India rank 168th and 19th by population density, respectively.

Population density is calculated as the ratio of population to land area. Bhutan has 0.01% of the world's population and 0.03% of all countries' land area, compared to 17.9% of the population and 2% of the land area for India, making the population density in Bhutan 95.8% lower than in India.

Population density by year

Bhutan
India

people per square mile

1x
Year Population density
Bhutan India
2026 54.5 1,287
2025 54.1 1,275
2024 53.8 1,264
2023 53.4 1,253
2022 53 1,242
2021 52.7 1,232
2020 52.3 1,222
2019 51.9 1,210
2018 51.6 1,197
2017 51.2 1,184
2016 50.8 1,171
2015 50.3 1,157
2014 49.8 1,143
2013 49.3 1,129
2012 48.7 1,114
2011 48.2 1,099
2010 47.7 1,083
2009 47.2 1,068
2008 46.6 1,052
2007 46.1 1,037
2006 45.6 1,022
2005 45 1,006
2004 44.2 990
2003 41.5 973
2002 40.6 956
2001 39.7 939
2000 38.8 922
1999 37.9 904
1998 37.1 887
1997 36.4 870
1996 35.7 853
1995 35.7 837
1994 36.1 820
1993 30.7 803
1992 32 787
1991 33.2 770
1990 32.7 753
1989 31.8 737
1988 30.9 721
1987 30 705
1986 29.1 689
1985 28.2 673
1984 27.3 658
1983 26.5 642
1982 25.6 627
1981 24.8 613
1980 24 599
1979 23.2 585
1978 22.5 571
1977 21.7 558
1976 21 545
1975 20.3 533
1974 19.6 520
1973 18.9 508
1972 18.3 497
1971 17.7 486
1970 17.1 476
1969 16.5 465
1968 16 455
1967 15.5 446
1966 15 436
1965 14.5 427
1964 14 417
1963 13.6 408
1962 13.2 398
1961 12.8 389

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bhutan/india | CC BY

From 2006 to 2026, population density in Bhutan increased by 19.5%, compared to a 25.9% growth in India.

In 2006, Bhutan ranked 160th by population density and is 168th now. India was 17th in 2006 and ranks 19th out of 197 currently.

Share of urban population by year

Bhutan
India
1x
Year Urban population
Bhutan India
2024 42.6% 35.4%
2023 41.7% 35.1%
2022 40.9% 34.8%
2021 40.3% 34.4%
2020 39.7% 34.1%
2019 39.1% 33.8%
2018 38.5% 33.5%
2017 37.9% 33.2%
2016 37.3% 32.9%
2015 36.7% 32.5%
2014 36.1% 32.2%
2013 35.6% 31.9%
2012 35% 31.6%
2011 34.5% 31.3%
2010 33.9% 30.9%
2009 33.3% 30.5%
2008 32.8% 30.1%
2007 32.2% 29.8%
2006 31.6% 29.4%
2005 30.9% 29.1%
2004 30.3% 28.8%
2003 29.6% 28.5%
2002 29% 28.2%
2001 28.3% 27.9%
2000 27.6% 27.6%
1999 26.9% 27.4%
1998 26.2% 27.2%
1997 25.5% 27%
1996 24.7% 26.8%
1995 24% 26.6%
1994 23.3% 26.4%
1993 22.5% 26.2%
1992 21.7% 26%
1991 21% 25.8%
1990 20.2% 25.6%
1989 19.4% 25.4%
1988 18.6% 25.2%
1987 17.9% 25%
1986 17.1% 24.8%
1985 16.3% 24.7%
1984 15.5% 24.5%
1983 14.7% 24.3%
1982 13.9% 24%
1981 13% 23.8%
1980 12.2% 23.5%
1979 11.2% 23.2%
1978 10.1% 22.8%
1977 8.99% 22.4%
1976 7.87% 21.9%
1975 6.78% 21.5%
1974 5.77% 21%
1973 4.86% 20.6%
1972 4.09% 20.3%
1971 3.51% 20%
1970 3.16% 19.7%
1969 3.01% 19.5%
1968 2.91% 19.2%
1967 2.83% 19%
1966 2.77% 18.8%
1965 2.71% 18.6%
1964 2.66% 18.4%
1963 2.61% 18.3%
1962 2.57% 18.1%
1961 2.53% 18%
1960 2.48% 17.9%

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

GeoRank.org/population-density/bhutan/india | CC BY

From 2004 to 2024, the share of urban population changed from 30.3% to 42.6% in Bhutan and from 28.8% to 35.4% in India.

Densely populated cities

India
City Population
Delhi 26.5M
Mumbai 15.4M
Bangalore 12.3M
Hyderabad 9.3M
Ahmedabad 7.64M
Chennai 6.6M
Pune 5.94M
Surat 5.94M
Kolkata 4.5M
Lucknow 3.38M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population density in other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population-density/bhutan/india | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Agriculture & Rural Development (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1961–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2011–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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