The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 1,408,975,000 people in China in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 1,402,578,808 in China.
Population statistics:
- China's population is 1,746 times bigger than Bhutan's.
- Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while China is the 2nd.
- The countries together account for 16.9% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 16.9% for China.
- For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +0.3% in China.
- Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (6.98% growth).
Bhutan vs China: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Bhutan
|
China
|
|
| 2100 | 695,106 | 633,320,628 |
| 2099 | 699,983 | 643,959,697 |
| 2098 | 704,455 | 654,691,595 |
| 2097 | 709,230 | 665,517,335 |
| 2096 | 713,930 | 676,438,150 |
| 2095 | 719,152 | 687,457,915 |
| 2094 | 724,401 | 698,589,897 |
| 2093 | 729,500 | 709,852,629 |
| 2092 | 735,075 | 721,251,520 |
| 2091 | 741,074 | 732,791,748 |
| 2090 | 746,937 | 744,501,355 |
| 2089 | 753,010 | 756,404,299 |
| 2088 | 758,937 | 768,478,316 |
| 2087 | 765,235 | 780,707,622 |
| 2086 | 770,883 | 793,081,006 |
| 2085 | 776,435 | 805,608,315 |
| 2084 | 781,892 | 818,268,277 |
| 2083 | 787,929 | 830,972,107 |
| 2082 | 793,543 | 843,721,746 |
| 2081 | 799,530 | 856,534,631 |
| 2080 | 805,275 | 869,351,919 |
| 2079 | 811,060 | 882,146,959 |
| 2078 | 816,530 | 894,889,246 |
| 2077 | 821,247 | 907,592,919 |
| 2076 | 825,978 | 920,280,380 |
| 2075 | 830,808 | 932,956,157 |
| 2074 | 836,017 | 945,631,173 |
| 2073 | 841,208 | 958,352,980 |
| 2072 | 845,861 | 971,115,895 |
| 2071 | 850,262 | 983,938,054 |
| 2070 | 853,930 | 996,853,418 |
| 2069 | 857,808 | 1,009,905,851 |
| 2068 | 861,327 | 1,023,081,790 |
| 2067 | 864,753 | 1,036,420,010 |
| 2066 | 868,260 | 1,049,887,382 |
| 2065 | 871,517 | 1,063,477,623 |
| 2064 | 873,735 | 1,077,206,695 |
| 2063 | 875,674 | 1,090,982,303 |
| 2062 | 877,938 | 1,104,833,556 |
| 2061 | 880,023 | 1,118,682,849 |
| 2060 | 881,913 | 1,132,504,136 |
| 2059 | 883,191 | 1,146,199,736 |
| 2058 | 884,515 | 1,159,714,746 |
| 2057 | 884,612 | 1,172,963,523 |
| 2056 | 885,822 | 1,185,938,083 |
| 2055 | 886,403 | 1,198,550,408 |
| 2054 | 885,903 | 1,210,749,681 |
| 2053 | 886,520 | 1,222,500,569 |
| 2052 | 886,640 | 1,233,808,926 |
| 2051 | 885,551 | 1,244,584,333 |
| 2050 | 884,535 | 1,254,824,040 |
| 2049 | 883,736 | 1,264,598,914 |
| 2048 | 882,640 | 1,273,885,471 |
| 2047 | 881,660 | 1,282,701,271 |
| 2046 | 880,037 | 1,291,133,690 |
| 2045 | 877,677 | 1,299,154,327 |
| 2044 | 875,155 | 1,306,805,350 |
| 2043 | 872,383 | 1,314,176,710 |
| 2042 | 869,248 | 1,321,319,298 |
| 2041 | 866,366 | 1,328,219,755 |
| 2040 | 863,173 | 1,334,857,481 |
| 2039 | 859,926 | 1,341,265,381 |
| 2038 | 856,429 | 1,347,407,165 |
| 2037 | 852,475 | 1,353,377,505 |
| 2036 | 848,122 | 1,359,133,287 |
| 2035 | 843,447 | 1,364,651,508 |
| 2034 | 839,780 | 1,369,940,557 |
| 2033 | 835,308 | 1,375,003,005 |
| 2032 | 830,472 | 1,379,784,204 |
| 2031 | 825,528 | 1,384,301,522 |
| 2030 | 820,888 | 1,388,520,533 |
| 2029 | 816,655 | 1,392,490,007 |
| 2028 | 812,002 | 1,396,163,778 |
| 2027 | 807,474 | 1,399,515,824 |
| 2026 | 801,869 | 1,402,578,808 |
| 2025 | 796,375 | 1,405,826,385 |
| 2024 | 791,524 | 1,408,975,000 |
| 2023 | 786,385 | 1,410,710,000 |
| 2022 | 780,914 | 1,412,175,000 |
| 2021 | 775,442 | 1,412,360,000 |
| 2020 | 770,006 | 1,411,100,000 |
| 2019 | 764,824 | 1,407,745,000 |
| 2018 | 759,759 | 1,402,760,000 |
| 2017 | 754,335 | 1,396,215,000 |
| 2016 | 747,866 | 1,387,790,000 |
| 2015 | 740,618 | 1,379,860,000 |
| 2014 | 733,139 | 1,371,860,000 |
| 2013 | 725,273 | 1,363,240,000 |
| 2012 | 717,279 | 1,354,190,000 |
| 2011 | 709,377 | 1,345,035,000 |
| 2010 | 701,632 | 1,337,705,000 |
| 2009 | 693,988 | 1,331,260,000 |
| 2008 | 686,351 | 1,324,655,000 |
| 2007 | 678,641 | 1,317,885,000 |
| 2006 | 670,799 | 1,311,020,000 |
| 2005 | 661,865 | 1,303,720,000 |
| 2004 | 650,544 | 1,296,075,000 |
| 2003 | 637,663 | 1,288,400,000 |
| 2002 | 624,409 | 1,280,400,000 |
| 2001 | 610,794 | 1,271,850,000 |
| 2000 | 596,863 | 1,262,645,000 |
| 1999 | 582,579 | 1,252,735,000 |
| 1998 | 569,435 | 1,241,935,000 |
| 1997 | 558,697 | 1,230,075,000 |
| 1996 | 548,784 | 1,217,550,000 |
| 1995 | 547,989 | 1,204,855,000 |
| 1994 | 554,497 | 1,191,835,000 |
| 1993 | 554,673 | 1,178,440,000 |
| 1992 | 577,774 | 1,164,970,000 |
| 1991 | 599,784 | 1,150,780,000 |
| 1990 | 589,287 | 1,135,185,000 |
| 1989 | 573,586 | 1,118,650,000 |
| 1988 | 556,986 | 1,101,630,000 |
| 1987 | 540,557 | 1,084,035,000 |
| 1986 | 524,324 | 1,066,790,000 |
| 1985 | 508,392 | 1,051,040,000 |
| 1984 | 492,784 | 1,036,825,000 |
| 1983 | 477,460 | 1,023,310,000 |
| 1982 | 462,485 | 1,008,630,000 |
| 1981 | 447,836 | 993,885,000 |
| 1980 | 433,404 | 981,235,000 |
| 1979 | 419,200 | 969,005,000 |
| 1978 | 405,243 | 956,165,000 |
| 1977 | 391,639 | 943,455,000 |
| 1976 | 378,490 | 930,685,000 |
| 1975 | 365,791 | 916,395,000 |
| 1974 | 353,538 | 900,350,000 |
| 1973 | 341,705 | 881,940,000 |
| 1972 | 330,264 | 862,030,000 |
| 1971 | 319,211 | 841,105,000 |
| 1970 | 308,528 | 818,315,000 |
| 1969 | 298,214 | 796,025,000 |
| 1968 | 288,311 | 774,510,000 |
| 1967 | 278,852 | 754,550,000 |
| 1966 | 269,820 | 735,400,000 |
| 1965 | 261,200 | 715,185,000 |
| 1964 | 252,987 | 698,355,000 |
| 1963 | 245,156 | 682,335,000 |
| 1962 | 237,636 | 665,770,000 |
| 1961 | 230,602 | 660,330,000 |
| 1960 | 224,084 | 667,070,000 |
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/china | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while China gained 76,770,000 people (a 5.86% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while China's population increased by 14,788,808 people (a 1.07% growth).
Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. China was ranked 1st in 2006 and ranked 2nd 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 China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,254,824,040 people and will still be ranked 2nd.
Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people, while China's population already peaked in 2021 at 1.41B people and is projected to decrease to 633M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bhutan
|
China
|
|
| 2100 | -0.7% | -1.65% |
| 2099 | -0.63% | -1.64% |
| 2098 | -0.67% | -1.63% |
| 2097 | -0.66% | -1.61% |
| 2096 | -0.73% | -1.6% |
| 2095 | -0.72% | -1.59% |
| 2094 | -0.7% | -1.59% |
| 2093 | -0.76% | -1.58% |
| 2092 | -0.81% | -1.57% |
| 2091 | -0.78% | -1.57% |
| 2090 | -0.81% | -1.57% |
| 2089 | -0.78% | -1.57% |
| 2088 | -0.82% | -1.57% |
| 2087 | -0.73% | -1.56% |
| 2086 | -0.72% | -1.56% |
| 2085 | -0.7% | -1.55% |
| 2084 | -0.77% | -1.53% |
| 2083 | -0.71% | -1.51% |
| 2082 | -0.75% | -1.5% |
| 2081 | -0.71% | -1.47% |
| 2080 | -0.71% | -1.45% |
| 2079 | -0.67% | -1.42% |
| 2078 | -0.57% | -1.4% |
| 2077 | -0.57% | -1.38% |
| 2076 | -0.58% | -1.36% |
| 2075 | -0.62% | -1.34% |
| 2074 | -0.62% | -1.33% |
| 2073 | -0.55% | -1.31% |
| 2072 | -0.52% | -1.3% |
| 2071 | -0.43% | -1.3% |
| 2070 | -0.45% | -1.29% |
| 2069 | -0.41% | -1.29% |
| 2068 | -0.4% | -1.29% |
| 2067 | -0.4% | -1.28% |
| 2066 | -0.37% | -1.28% |
| 2065 | -0.25% | -1.27% |
| 2064 | -0.22% | -1.26% |
| 2063 | -0.26% | -1.25% |
| 2062 | -0.24% | -1.24% |
| 2061 | -0.21% | -1.22% |
| 2060 | -0.14% | -1.19% |
| 2059 | -0.15% | -1.17% |
| 2058 | -0.01% | -1.13% |
| 2057 | -0.14% | -1.09% |
| 2056 | -0.07% | -1.05% |
| 2055 | 0.06% | -1.01% |
| 2054 | -0.07% | -0.96% |
| 2053 | -0.01% | -0.92% |
| 2052 | 0.12% | -0.87% |
| 2051 | 0.11% | -0.82% |
| 2050 | 0.09% | -0.77% |
| 2049 | 0.12% | -0.73% |
| 2048 | 0.11% | -0.69% |
| 2047 | 0.18% | -0.65% |
| 2046 | 0.27% | -0.62% |
| 2045 | 0.29% | -0.59% |
| 2044 | 0.32% | -0.56% |
| 2043 | 0.36% | -0.54% |
| 2042 | 0.33% | -0.52% |
| 2041 | 0.37% | -0.5% |
| 2040 | 0.38% | -0.48% |
| 2039 | 0.41% | -0.46% |
| 2038 | 0.46% | -0.44% |
| 2037 | 0.51% | -0.42% |
| 2036 | 0.55% | -0.4% |
| 2035 | 0.44% | -0.39% |
| 2034 | 0.54% | -0.37% |
| 2033 | 0.58% | -0.35% |
| 2032 | 0.6% | -0.33% |
| 2031 | 0.57% | -0.3% |
| 2030 | 0.52% | -0.29% |
| 2029 | 0.57% | -0.26% |
| 2028 | 0.56% | -0.24% |
| 2027 | 0.7% | -0.22% |
| 2026 | 0.69% | -0.23% |
| 2025 | 0.61% | -0.22% |
| 2024 | 0.65% | -0.12% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 0.71% | -0.01% |
| 2021 | 0.71% | 0.09% |
| 2020 | 0.68% | 0.24% |
| 2019 | 0.67% | 0.36% |
| 2018 | 0.72% | 0.47% |
| 2017 | 0.86% | 0.61% |
| 2016 | 0.98% | 0.57% |
| 2015 | 1.02% | 0.58% |
| 2014 | 1.08% | 0.63% |
| 2013 | 1.11% | 0.67% |
| 2012 | 1.11% | 0.68% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | 0.55% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | 0.48% |
| 2009 | 1.11% | 0.5% |
| 2008 | 1.14% | 0.51% |
| 2007 | 1.17% | 0.52% |
| 2006 | 1.35% | 0.56% |
| 2005 | 1.74% | 0.59% |
| 2004 | 2.02% | 0.6% |
| 2003 | 2.12% | 0.62% |
| 2002 | 2.23% | 0.67% |
| 2001 | 2.33% | 0.73% |
| 2000 | 2.45% | 0.79% |
| 1999 | 2.31% | 0.87% |
| 1998 | 1.92% | 0.96% |
| 1997 | 1.81% | 1.03% |
| 1996 | 0.15% | 1.05% |
| 1995 | -1.17% | 1.09% |
| 1994 | -0.03% | 1.14% |
| 1993 | -4% | 1.16% |
| 1992 | -3.67% | 1.23% |
| 1991 | 1.78% | 1.37% |
| 1990 | 2.74% | 1.48% |
| 1989 | 2.98% | 1.54% |
| 1988 | 3.04% | 1.62% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | 1.62% |
| 1986 | 3.13% | 1.5% |
| 1985 | 3.17% | 1.37% |
| 1984 | 3.21% | 1.32% |
| 1983 | 3.24% | 1.46% |
| 1982 | 3.27% | 1.48% |
| 1981 | 3.33% | 1.29% |
| 1980 | 3.39% | 1.26% |
| 1979 | 3.44% | 1.34% |
| 1978 | 3.47% | 1.35% |
| 1977 | 3.47% | 1.37% |
| 1976 | 3.47% | 1.56% |
| 1975 | 3.47% | 1.78% |
| 1974 | 3.46% | 2.09% |
| 1973 | 3.46% | 2.31% |
| 1972 | 3.46% | 2.49% |
| 1971 | 3.46% | 2.78% |
| 1970 | 3.46% | 2.8% |
| 1969 | 3.43% | 2.78% |
| 1968 | 3.39% | 2.65% |
| 1967 | 3.35% | 2.6% |
| 1966 | 3.3% | 2.83% |
| 1965 | 3.25% | 2.41% |
| 1964 | 3.19% | 2.35% |
| 1963 | 3.16% | 2.49% |
| 1962 | 3.05% | 0.82% |
| 1961 | 2.91% | -1.01% |
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/china | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while China's population declined by 0.12%.
Live population counters
|
Bhutan
|
China
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
803385
|
1402578808
|
| Population rank | 163/197 | 2/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.01% | 16.9% |
| One net population change |
1.7 hours
|
18.2 seconds
|
| One birth every |
52.8 minutes
|
3.5 seconds
|
| One death every |
1.82 hours
|
2.84 seconds
|
| Daily growth/decline | +14 | -4,753 |
| Annual growth/decline | +5,139 | -1,735,000 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.65% | -0.12% |
| Population growth rate rank | 120/197 | 173/197 |
| One migration net change every |
19.3 hours
|
1.97 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +455 | -268,126 |
| Net migration rank | 69/196 | 189/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 55,705 | 1,638,718 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 146/195 | 43/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 7% | 0.1% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 80/195 | 192/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bhutan
|
China
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 455 | - | -268,126 |
| 2024 | - | -277 | - | -318,992 |
| 2023 | 5,153 | 291 | -2,087,851 | -567,724 |
| 2022 | 5,204 | 291 | -847,305 | -293,846 |
| 2021 | 5,162 | 287 | 480,203 | -379,749 |
| 2020 | 5,142 | 287 | 2,046,095 | -91,577 |
| 2019 | 4,643 | 287 | 4,673,713 | -656,091 |
| 2018 | 4,909 | 287 | 5,302,433 | -198,206 |
| 2017 | 5,367 | 287 | 7,790,880 | -94,625 |
| 2016 | 6,164 | 1,116 | 9,062,269 | -153,056 |
| 2015 | 6,762 | 450 | 6,788,911 | -646,941 |
| 2014 | 7,290 | 452 | 9,205,180 | -371,108 |
| 2013 | 7,689 | 309 | 8,043,116 | -188,951 |
| 2012 | 7,967 | 20 | 10,075,174 | -58,864 |
| 2011 | 8,282 | -464 | 8,245,065 | -416,189 |
| 2010 | 8,598 | -922 | 6,407,607 | -184,144 |
| 2009 | 8,913 | -1,305 | 6,483,236 | -177,135 |
| 2008 | 9,200 | -1,538 | 6,729,247 | -764,370 |
| 2007 | 9,322 | -1,553 | 6,813,465 | -1,042,019 |
| 2006 | 9,197 | -1,283 | 6,922,185 | -759,559 |
| 2005 | 9,102 | 848 | 7,678,911 | -103,701 |
| 2004 | 9,056 | 3,642 | 7,607,960 | -770,977 |
| 2003 | 9,132 | 3,921 | 7,743,284 | -613,223 |
| 2002 | 9,464 | 3,996 | 8,258,580 | -761,291 |
| 2001 | 9,904 | 3,874 | 8,839,358 | -176,419 |
| 2000 | 10,142 | 3,940 | 9,570,849 | -62,622 |
| 1999 | 10,940 | 3,542 | 10,247,372 | -96,102 |
| 1998 | 11,320 | 486 | 11,351,286 | -40,472 |
| 1997 | 11,668 | -1,994 | 12,374,554 | -279,251 |
| 1996 | 12,153 | -1,998 | 12,686,872 | -250,750 |
| 1995 | 12,938 | -21,501 | 12,711,220 | -365,986 |
| 1994 | 13,536 | -17,997 | 13,360,470 | -723,641 |
| 1993 | 13,915 | -9,800 | 13,493,138 | -373,316 |
| 1992 | 15,594 | -65,900 | 13,548,601 | -142,985 |
| 1991 | 15,801 | -9,522 | 14,937,124 | -544,650 |
| 1990 | 15,704 | -1,000 | 16,335,313 | -11,187 |
| 1989 | 15,516 | 1,180 | 16,824,495 | -313,476 |
| 1988 | 15,212 | 1,286 | 17,328,640 | -282,194 |
| 1987 | 14,887 | 1,481 | 18,005,821 | -169,170 |
| 1986 | 14,516 | 1,586 | 16,609,920 | -79,190 |
| 1985 | 14,061 | 1,694 | 14,987,830 | -60,929 |
| 1984 | 13,688 | 1,779 | 13,561,671 | -51,961 |
| 1983 | 13,284 | 1,897 | 13,599,789 | -43,756 |
| 1982 | 12,872 | 1,897 | 15,815,318 | -36,181 |
| 1981 | 12,444 | 2,096 | 14,461,027 | -28,016 |
| 1980 | 12,016 | 2,307 | 11,647,260 | -20,129 |
| 1979 | 11,583 | 2,493 | 11,250,148 | -13,704 |
| 1978 | 11,133 | 2,700 | 11,473,980 | -9,916 |
| 1977 | 10,679 | 2,700 | 11,378,068 | -15,323 |
| 1976 | 10,228 | 2,700 | 11,782,472 | -55,109 |
| 1975 | 9,775 | 2,700 | 14,378,237 | -115,173 |
| 1974 | 9,324 | 2,700 | 15,738,118 | -175,239 |
| 1973 | 8,939 | 2,700 | 18,423,727 | -214,997 |
| 1972 | 8,549 | 2,700 | 19,102,585 | -215,650 |
| 1971 | 8,161 | 2,700 | 19,622,980 | -180,153 |
| 1970 | 7,791 | 2,700 | 21,137,076 | -126,510 |
| 1969 | 7,435 | 2,700 | 20,760,332 | -72,836 |
| 1968 | 7,085 | 2,593 | 21,206,083 | -37,290 |
| 1967 | 6,744 | 2,493 | 19,263,662 | 1,246,654 |
| 1966 | 6,418 | 2,407 | 19,282,187 | 4,165 |
| 1965 | 6,109 | 2,307 | 20,296,950 | -130,900 |
| 1964 | 5,818 | 2,196 | 19,302,532 | -1,250,441 |
| 1963 | 5,551 | 2,096 | 22,742,225 | -31,383 |
| 1962 | 5,297 | 2,096 | 17,969,132 | -31,305 |
| 1961 | 5,081 | 1,586 | 2,496,047 | -25,578 |
| 1960 | 4,888 | 1,481 | -3,048,510 | -16,927 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/china | 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 China 92.5% is from natural causes (a gain of 42,414,528 people) and 7.53% is from migration (a loss of 3,452,923 people).
As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 1,638,718 people or 0.1% in China.
Biggest cities by population
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Population differences between Bhutan and China
|
Bhutan
|
China
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 73.8 years | 79 years |
| Average age | 32.4 years | 40.5 years |
| Median age | 30.9 years | 40.6 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.4:46.6 | 50.9:49.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 births per woman | 1 births per woman |
| Population density | 54.5 ppl/mi² | 387 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/china | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
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