Skip to content

Population in Bhutan compared to Brunei: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 462,721 people in Brunei in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 470,884 in Brunei.

Population statistics:

  • Bhutan's population is 1.71 times bigger than Brunei's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Brunei is the 170th.
  • The countries together account for 0.02% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.006% for Brunei.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +1.08% in Brunei.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Brunei has grown from 365K to 471K (29.1% growth).

Bhutan vs Brunei: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Brunei
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Brunei
2100 695,106 467,416
2099 699,983 468,955
2098 704,455 470,474
2097 709,230 471,886
2096 713,930 473,386
2095 719,152 474,822
2094 724,401 476,324
2093 729,500 477,804
2092 735,075 479,320
2091 741,074 480,794
2090 746,937 482,320
2089 753,010 483,944
2088 758,937 485,580
2087 765,235 487,128
2086 770,883 488,625
2085 776,435 490,259
2084 781,892 491,848
2083 787,929 493,523
2082 793,543 495,200
2081 799,530 496,840
2080 805,275 498,434
2079 811,060 500,007
2078 816,530 501,497
2077 821,247 503,086
2076 825,978 504,597
2075 830,808 506,394
2074 836,017 508,080
2073 841,208 509,613
2072 845,861 511,047
2071 850,262 512,261
2070 853,930 513,446
2069 857,808 514,716
2068 861,327 516,037
2067 864,753 517,358
2066 868,260 518,464
2065 871,517 519,443
2064 873,735 520,281
2063 875,674 520,990
2062 877,938 521,488
2061 880,023 522,004
2060 881,913 522,425
2059 883,191 522,802
2058 884,515 523,135
2057 884,612 523,377
2056 885,822 523,422
2055 886,403 523,432
2054 885,903 523,252
2053 886,520 523,048
2052 886,640 522,679
2051 885,551 522,034
2050 884,535 521,243
2049 883,736 520,307
2048 882,640 519,256
2047 881,660 518,107
2046 880,037 516,871
2045 877,677 515,363
2044 875,155 513,945
2043 872,383 512,420
2042 869,248 510,764
2041 866,366 508,923
2040 863,173 507,093
2039 859,926 505,089
2038 856,429 502,784
2037 852,475 500,639
2036 848,122 498,469
2035 843,447 496,091
2034 839,780 493,656
2033 835,308 491,157
2032 830,472 488,666
2031 825,528 485,865
2030 820,888 482,904
2029 816,655 479,937
2028 812,002 476,756
2027 807,474 473,357
2026 801,869 469,968
2025 796,375 466,440
2024 791,524 462,721
2023 786,385 458,949
2022 780,914 455,370
2021 775,442 451,721
2020 770,006 447,404
2019 764,824 442,680
2018 759,759 437,810
2017 754,335 432,772
2016 747,866 427,564
2015 740,618 422,212
2014 733,139 416,750
2013 725,273 411,202
2012 717,279 405,557
2011 709,377 399,389
2010 701,632 392,332
2009 693,988 384,952
2008 686,351 377,793
2007 678,641 370,873
2006 670,799 364,663
2005 661,865 358,916
2004 650,544 352,911
2003 637,663 346,637
2002 624,409 340,099
2001 610,794 333,345
2000 596,863 326,424
1999 582,579 319,411
1998 569,435 312,385
1997 558,697 305,341
1996 548,784 298,276
1995 547,989 291,195
1994 554,497 284,091
1993 554,673 276,971
1992 577,774 269,839
1991 599,784 262,596
1990 589,287 255,292
1989 573,586 248,064
1988 556,986 240,913
1987 540,557 233,860
1986 524,324 226,495
1985 508,392 218,919
1984 492,784 211,661
1983 477,460 204,741
1982 462,485 198,165
1981 447,836 191,977
1980 433,404 186,111
1979 419,200 180,422
1978 405,243 174,884
1977 391,639 169,277
1976 378,490 163,607
1975 365,791 158,070
1974 353,538 152,656
1973 341,705 147,369
1972 330,264 142,189
1971 319,211 137,921
1970 308,528 135,138
1969 298,214 131,446
1968 288,311 126,222
1967 278,852 121,017
1966 269,820 115,874
1965 261,200 110,838
1964 252,987 105,922
1963 245,156 101,159
1962 237,636 96,719
1961 230,602 92,517
1960 224,084 88,347

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/brunei | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Brunei gained 62,901 people (a 17.2% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Brunei's population increased by 43,320 people (a 10.1% growth).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. Brunei was ranked 169th in 2006 and ranked 170th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bhutan's population will grow by 10.1% to 884,535 people and will still be ranked 163rd. The population of Brunei will increase by 10.7% to 521,243 people and rank change from 170th to 171st.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 523K people in 2055 for Brunei.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Brunei
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Brunei
2100 -0.7% -0.33%
2099 -0.63% -0.32%
2098 -0.67% -0.3%
2097 -0.66% -0.32%
2096 -0.73% -0.3%
2095 -0.72% -0.32%
2094 -0.7% -0.31%
2093 -0.76% -0.32%
2092 -0.81% -0.31%
2091 -0.78% -0.32%
2090 -0.81% -0.34%
2089 -0.78% -0.34%
2088 -0.82% -0.32%
2087 -0.73% -0.31%
2086 -0.72% -0.33%
2085 -0.7% -0.32%
2084 -0.77% -0.34%
2083 -0.71% -0.34%
2082 -0.75% -0.33%
2081 -0.71% -0.32%
2080 -0.71% -0.31%
2079 -0.67% -0.3%
2078 -0.57% -0.32%
2077 -0.57% -0.3%
2076 -0.58% -0.35%
2075 -0.62% -0.33%
2074 -0.62% -0.3%
2073 -0.55% -0.28%
2072 -0.52% -0.24%
2071 -0.43% -0.23%
2070 -0.45% -0.25%
2069 -0.41% -0.26%
2068 -0.4% -0.26%
2067 -0.4% -0.21%
2066 -0.37% -0.19%
2065 -0.25% -0.16%
2064 -0.22% -0.14%
2063 -0.26% -0.1%
2062 -0.24% -0.1%
2061 -0.21% -0.08%
2060 -0.14% -0.07%
2059 -0.15% -0.06%
2058 -0.01% -0.05%
2057 -0.14% -0.009%
2056 -0.07% -0.002%
2055 0.06% 0.03%
2054 -0.07% 0.04%
2053 -0.01% 0.07%
2052 0.12% 0.12%
2051 0.11% 0.15%
2050 0.09% 0.18%
2049 0.12% 0.2%
2048 0.11% 0.22%
2047 0.18% 0.24%
2046 0.27% 0.29%
2045 0.29% 0.28%
2044 0.32% 0.3%
2043 0.36% 0.32%
2042 0.33% 0.36%
2041 0.37% 0.36%
2040 0.38% 0.4%
2039 0.41% 0.46%
2038 0.46% 0.43%
2037 0.51% 0.44%
2036 0.55% 0.48%
2035 0.44% 0.49%
2034 0.54% 0.51%
2033 0.58% 0.51%
2032 0.6% 0.58%
2031 0.57% 0.61%
2030 0.52% 0.62%
2029 0.57% 0.67%
2028 0.56% 0.72%
2027 0.7% 0.72%
2026 0.69% 0.76%
2025 0.61% 0.8%
2024 0.65% 0.82%
2023 0.7% 0.79%
2022 0.71% 0.81%
2021 0.71% 0.96%
2020 0.68% 1.07%
2019 0.67% 1.11%
2018 0.72% 1.16%
2017 0.86% 1.22%
2016 0.98% 1.27%
2015 1.02% 1.31%
2014 1.08% 1.35%
2013 1.11% 1.39%
2012 1.11% 1.54%
2011 1.1% 1.8%
2010 1.1% 1.92%
2009 1.11% 1.89%
2008 1.14% 1.87%
2007 1.17% 1.7%
2006 1.35% 1.6%
2005 1.74% 1.7%
2004 2.02% 1.81%
2003 2.12% 1.92%
2002 2.23% 2.03%
2001 2.33% 2.12%
2000 2.45% 2.2%
1999 2.31% 2.25%
1998 1.92% 2.31%
1997 1.81% 2.37%
1996 0.15% 2.43%
1995 -1.17% 2.5%
1994 -0.03% 2.57%
1993 -4% 2.64%
1992 -3.67% 2.76%
1991 1.78% 2.86%
1990 2.74% 2.91%
1989 2.98% 2.97%
1988 3.04% 3.02%
1987 3.1% 3.25%
1986 3.13% 3.46%
1985 3.17% 3.43%
1984 3.21% 3.38%
1983 3.24% 3.32%
1982 3.27% 3.22%
1981 3.33% 3.15%
1980 3.39% 3.15%
1979 3.44% 3.17%
1978 3.47% 3.31%
1977 3.47% 3.47%
1976 3.47% 3.5%
1975 3.47% 3.55%
1974 3.46% 3.59%
1973 3.46% 3.64%
1972 3.46% 3.09%
1971 3.46% 2.06%
1970 3.46% 2.81%
1969 3.43% 4.14%
1968 3.39% 4.3%
1967 3.35% 4.44%
1966 3.3% 4.54%
1965 3.25% 4.64%
1964 3.19% 4.71%
1963 3.16% 4.59%
1962 3.05% 4.54%
1961 2.91% 4.72%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/brunei | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Brunei's population grew by 0.82%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Brunei
Current population
803385
470884
Population rank 163/197 170/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.006%
One net population change
1.7 hours
2.32 hours
One birth every
52.8 minutes
1.4 hours
One death every
1.82 hours
3.65 hours
Daily growth/decline +14 +10
Annual growth/decline +5,139 +3,772
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +0.82%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 114/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
1.08 years
Annual migration change +455 +0
Net migration rank 69/196 77/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 119,933
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 124/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 25.9%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 21/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Brunei
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Brunei
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - 0
2024 - -277 - 0
2023 5,153 291 3,837 0
2022 5,204 291 3,319 0
2021 5,162 287 3,985 0
2020 5,142 287 4,188 462
2019 4,643 287 4,335 456
2018 4,909 287 4,502 450
2017 5,367 287 4,685 440
2016 6,164 1,116 4,876 415
2015 6,762 450 5,060 356
2014 7,290 452 5,206 303
2013 7,689 309 5,302 285
2012 7,967 20 5,349 346
2011 8,282 -464 5,242 1,399
2010 8,598 -922 5,003 2,479
2009 8,913 -1,305 4,789 2,489
2008 9,200 -1,538 4,624 2,409
2007 9,322 -1,553 4,521 2,291
2006 9,197 -1,283 4,590 1,030
2005 9,102 848 4,703 1,163
2004 9,056 3,642 4,874 1,261
2003 9,132 3,921 5,034 1,383
2002 9,464 3,996 5,169 1,499
2001 9,904 3,874 5,275 1,569
2000 10,142 3,940 5,331 1,660
1999 10,940 3,542 5,388 1,639
1998 11,320 486 5,466 1,566
1997 11,668 -1,994 5,518 1,533
1996 12,153 -1,998 5,606 1,464
1995 12,938 -21,501 5,750 1,348
1994 13,536 -17,997 5,907 1,206
1993 13,915 -9,800 6,045 1,082
1992 15,594 -65,900 6,169 969
1991 15,801 -9,522 6,259 1,087
1990 15,704 -1,000 6,265 992
1989 15,516 1,180 6,202 1,002
1988 15,212 1,286 6,135 962
1987 14,887 1,481 6,017 994
1986 14,516 1,586 5,826 1,897
1985 14,061 1,694 5,620 1,808
1984 13,688 1,779 5,373 1,722
1983 13,284 1,897 5,138 1,602
1982 12,872 1,897 4,931 1,475
1981 12,444 2,096 4,839 1,124
1980 12,016 2,307 4,775 995
1979 11,583 2,493 4,717 899
1978 11,133 2,700 4,668 791
1977 10,679 2,700 4,594 1,157
1976 10,228 2,700 4,518 1,080
1975 9,775 2,700 4,431 1,047
1974 9,324 2,700 4,334 1,011
1973 8,939 2,700 4,216 1,007
1972 8,549 2,700 4,085 1,053
1971 8,161 2,700 3,880 -476
1970 7,791 2,700 3,694 -1,538
1969 7,435 2,700 3,618 1,608
1968 7,085 2,593 3,551 1,677
1967 6,744 2,493 3,477 1,703
1966 6,418 2,407 3,403 1,697
1965 6,109 2,307 3,326 1,655
1964 5,818 2,196 3,264 1,595
1963 5,551 2,096 3,195 1,469
1962 5,297 2,096 3,128 1,088
1961 5,081 1,586 3,175 1,014
1960 4,888 1,481 3,168 982

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/brunei | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 93.3% of the population change in Bhutan is from natural causes (a gain of 55,796 people) and 6.74% is from migration (a gain of 4,035 people). In Brunei 93.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 43,993 people) and 6.15% is from migration (a gain of 2,882 people).

As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 119,933 people or 25.9% in Brunei.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
Brunei
City Population
Kuala Belait 70K
Bandar Seri Begawan 50K
Seria 13.1K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/brunei | CC BY

Help us show the world through your eyes

Share a photo of your city and help others discover what it looks like to live there. Your contribution makes our data come alive.

Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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.