Skip to content

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

Updated on by Georank

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 796,682 in 2025 vs 1,406,585,000 people in China in 2025. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 805,057 people compared to 1,403,335,670 in China.

Population statistics:

  • China's population is 1,743 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 +0.76% per year vs +0.23% in China.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 805K (20% growth), while China has grown from 1.31B to 1.4B (7.04% growth).

Bhutan vs China: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan China
2100 695,373 633,662,382
2099 700,252 644,307,192
2098 704,725 655,044,881
2097 709,503 665,876,462
2096 714,205 676,803,171
2095 719,429 687,828,883
2094 724,680 698,966,872
2093 729,780 710,235,681
2092 735,358 721,640,723
2091 741,359 733,187,178
2090 747,224 744,903,105
2089 753,299 756,812,472
2088 759,229 768,893,004
2087 765,529 781,128,909
2086 771,180 793,508,970
2085 776,734 806,043,039
2084 782,193 818,709,832
2083 788,231 831,420,518
2082 793,848 844,177,036
2081 799,837 856,996,835
2080 805,584 869,821,040
2079 811,372 882,622,985
2078 816,844 895,372,147
2077 821,563 908,082,676
2076 826,295 920,776,984
2075 831,127 933,459,600
2074 836,339 946,141,456
2073 841,532 958,870,128
2072 846,187 971,639,931
2071 850,589 984,469,009
2070 854,258 997,391,342
2069 858,138 1,010,450,818
2068 861,658 1,023,633,867
2067 865,086 1,036,979,285
2066 868,594 1,050,453,924
2065 871,852 1,064,051,499
2064 874,071 1,077,787,979
2063 876,010 1,091,571,021
2062 878,276 1,105,429,748
2061 880,361 1,119,286,514
2060 882,252 1,133,115,260
2059 883,530 1,146,818,251
2058 884,855 1,160,340,554
2057 884,952 1,173,596,480
2056 886,162 1,186,578,041
2055 886,744 1,199,197,172
2054 886,243 1,211,403,028
2053 886,861 1,223,160,257
2052 886,981 1,234,474,716
2051 885,891 1,245,255,938
2050 884,875 1,255,501,171
2049 884,076 1,265,281,319
2048 882,979 1,274,572,888
2047 881,999 1,283,393,445
2046 880,375 1,291,830,414
2045 878,014 1,299,855,379
2044 875,491 1,307,510,531
2043 872,718 1,314,885,869
2042 869,582 1,322,032,311
2041 866,699 1,328,936,491
2040 863,505 1,335,577,799
2039 860,257 1,341,989,157
2038 856,758 1,348,134,255
2037 852,802 1,354,107,817
2036 848,448 1,359,866,705
2035 843,771 1,365,387,904
2034 840,103 1,370,679,807
2033 835,629 1,375,744,986
2032 830,792 1,380,528,766
2031 825,846 1,385,048,521
2030 821,204 1,389,269,809
2029 816,969 1,393,241,425
2028 812,314 1,396,917,178
2027 807,785 1,400,271,033
2026 802,177 1,403,335,670
2025 796,682 1,406,585,000
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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 57,191 people (a 7.65% growth), while China's population increased by 15,545,670 people (a 1.12% 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 9.91% to 884,875 people and will still be ranked 163rd. The population of China will decrease by 10.5% to 1,255,501,171 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 634M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
China
Factual

Projection
1x
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 0.65% -0.17%
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 (2026–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08); World Bank | Health (1961–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08).

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

In 2025, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while China's population declined by 0.17%.

Live population counters

Bhutan China
Current population
805057
1403335670
Population rank 163/197 2/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 16.9%
One net population change
1.7 hours
13.2 seconds
One birth every
53 minutes
3.31 seconds
One death every
1.83 hours
2.88 seconds
Daily growth/decline +14 -6,548
Annual growth/decline +5,158 -2,390,000
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% -0.17%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 174/197
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

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
China
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan China
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - -268,126
2024 5,113 -277 -1,394,886 -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 2026-07-08).

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

Over the last 10 years, 94.2% of the population change in Bhutan is from natural causes (a gain of 53,619 people) and 5.81% is from migration (a gain of 3,306 people). In China 90.3% is from natural causes (a gain of 31,814,462 people) and 9.66% is from migration (a loss of 3,400,807 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

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
China
City Population
Chongqing 32.1M
Shanghai 24.9M
Beijing 21.9M
Chengdu 20.9M
Guangzhou 18.7M
Shenzhen 17.5M
Tianjin 13.9M
Xi'an 13M
Suzhou 12.7M
Zhengzhou 12.6M

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-07-08); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08).

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/china | 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 2026-07-08)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-07-08)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-07-08)

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.