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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 123,975,371 people in Japan in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 122,677,250 in Japan.

Population statistics:

  • Japan's population is 152.7 times bigger than Bhutan's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Japan is the 12th.
  • The countries together account for 1.49% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 1.48% for Japan.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs -0.25% in Japan.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Japan has declined from 128M to 123M (4.05% decline).

Bhutan vs Japan: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Japan
2100 695,106 76,978,998
2099 699,983 77,363,458
2098 704,455 77,742,445
2097 709,230 78,118,375
2096 713,930 78,498,614
2095 719,152 78,875,245
2094 724,401 79,250,325
2093 729,500 79,628,057
2092 735,075 80,007,967
2091 741,074 80,383,529
2090 746,937 80,760,724
2089 753,010 81,140,553
2088 758,937 81,521,696
2087 765,235 81,908,373
2086 770,883 82,304,497
2085 776,435 82,709,534
2084 781,892 83,123,058
2083 787,929 83,544,006
2082 793,543 83,980,325
2081 799,530 84,429,305
2080 805,275 84,899,768
2079 811,060 85,387,247
2078 816,530 85,897,934
2077 821,247 86,434,291
2076 825,978 86,993,007
2075 830,808 87,577,777
2074 836,017 88,190,392
2073 841,208 88,834,763
2072 845,861 89,499,356
2071 850,262 90,184,464
2070 853,930 90,899,136
2069 857,808 91,625,421
2068 861,327 92,367,969
2067 864,753 93,113,499
2066 868,260 93,869,240
2065 871,517 94,633,430
2064 873,735 95,391,433
2063 875,674 96,148,081
2062 877,938 96,902,907
2061 880,023 97,654,031
2060 881,913 98,400,894
2059 883,191 99,144,216
2058 884,515 99,868,968
2057 884,612 100,585,601
2056 885,822 101,295,868
2055 886,403 101,989,736
2054 885,903 102,683,462
2053 886,520 103,359,083
2052 886,640 104,036,901
2051 885,551 104,706,698
2050 884,535 105,377,283
2049 883,736 106,053,011
2048 882,640 106,731,207
2047 881,660 107,419,237
2046 880,037 108,115,358
2045 877,677 108,820,982
2044 875,155 109,529,333
2043 872,383 110,245,586
2042 869,248 110,968,174
2041 866,366 111,704,629
2040 863,173 112,438,759
2039 859,926 113,175,948
2038 856,429 113,915,783
2037 852,475 114,662,374
2036 848,122 115,410,956
2035 843,447 116,162,381
2034 839,780 116,911,001
2033 835,308 117,652,676
2032 830,472 118,393,188
2031 825,528 119,127,425
2030 820,888 119,856,131
2029 816,655 120,574,242
2028 812,002 121,287,543
2027 807,474 121,989,133
2026 801,869 122,677,250
2025 796,375 123,339,586
2024 791,524 123,975,371
2023 786,385 124,516,650
2022 780,914 125,124,989
2021 775,442 125,681,593
2020 770,006 126,261,000
2019 764,824 126,633,000
2018 759,759 126,811,000
2017 754,335 126,972,000
2016 747,866 127,076,000
2015 740,618 127,141,000
2014 733,139 127,276,000
2013 725,273 127,445,000
2012 717,279 127,629,000
2011 709,377 127,833,000
2010 701,632 128,070,000
2009 693,988 128,047,000
2008 686,351 128,063,000
2007 678,641 128,001,000
2006 670,799 127,854,000
2005 661,865 127,773,000
2004 650,544 127,761,000
2003 637,663 127,718,000
2002 624,409 127,445,000
2001 610,794 127,149,000
2000 596,863 126,843,000
1999 582,579 126,631,000
1998 569,435 126,400,000
1997 558,697 126,057,000
1996 548,784 125,757,000
1995 547,989 125,472,000
1994 554,497 125,178,000
1993 554,673 124,829,000
1992 577,774 124,425,000
1991 599,784 123,964,000
1990 589,287 123,478,000
1989 573,586 123,069,000
1988 556,986 122,578,000
1987 540,557 122,069,000
1986 524,324 121,482,000
1985 508,392 120,837,000
1984 492,784 120,083,000
1983 477,460 119,307,000
1982 462,485 118,480,000
1981 447,836 117,661,000
1980 433,404 116,807,000
1979 419,200 115,890,000
1978 405,243 114,913,000
1977 391,639 113,872,000
1976 378,490 112,775,000
1975 365,791 111,573,000
1974 353,538 110,162,000
1973 341,705 108,707,000
1972 330,264 107,188,000
1971 319,211 105,697,000
1970 308,528 103,403,000
1969 298,214 102,219,000
1968 288,311 101,011,000
1967 278,852 99,879,000
1966 269,820 98,851,000
1965 261,200 97,952,000
1964 252,987 96,903,000
1963 245,156 95,900,000
1962 237,636 94,933,000
1961 230,602 94,055,000
1960 224,084 93,216,000

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/japan | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Japan lost 778,000 people (a 0.61% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Japan's population decreased by 4,398,750 people (a 3.46% decline).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. Japan was ranked 10th in 2006 and ranked 12th 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 Japan will decrease by 14.1% to 105,377,283 people and rank change from 12th to 17th.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people, while Japan's population already peaked in 2010 at 128M people and is projected to decrease to 77M people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Japan
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Japan
2100 -0.7% -0.5%
2099 -0.63% -0.49%
2098 -0.67% -0.48%
2097 -0.66% -0.48%
2096 -0.73% -0.48%
2095 -0.72% -0.47%
2094 -0.7% -0.47%
2093 -0.76% -0.47%
2092 -0.81% -0.47%
2091 -0.78% -0.47%
2090 -0.81% -0.47%
2089 -0.78% -0.47%
2088 -0.82% -0.47%
2087 -0.73% -0.48%
2086 -0.72% -0.49%
2085 -0.7% -0.5%
2084 -0.77% -0.5%
2083 -0.71% -0.52%
2082 -0.75% -0.53%
2081 -0.71% -0.55%
2080 -0.71% -0.57%
2079 -0.67% -0.59%
2078 -0.57% -0.62%
2077 -0.57% -0.64%
2076 -0.58% -0.67%
2075 -0.62% -0.69%
2074 -0.62% -0.73%
2073 -0.55% -0.74%
2072 -0.52% -0.76%
2071 -0.43% -0.79%
2070 -0.45% -0.79%
2069 -0.41% -0.8%
2068 -0.4% -0.8%
2067 -0.4% -0.81%
2066 -0.37% -0.81%
2065 -0.25% -0.79%
2064 -0.22% -0.79%
2063 -0.26% -0.78%
2062 -0.24% -0.77%
2061 -0.21% -0.76%
2060 -0.14% -0.75%
2059 -0.15% -0.73%
2058 -0.01% -0.71%
2057 -0.14% -0.7%
2056 -0.07% -0.68%
2055 0.06% -0.68%
2054 -0.07% -0.65%
2053 -0.01% -0.65%
2052 0.12% -0.64%
2051 0.11% -0.64%
2050 0.09% -0.64%
2049 0.12% -0.64%
2048 0.11% -0.64%
2047 0.18% -0.64%
2046 0.27% -0.65%
2045 0.29% -0.65%
2044 0.32% -0.65%
2043 0.36% -0.65%
2042 0.33% -0.66%
2041 0.37% -0.65%
2040 0.38% -0.65%
2039 0.41% -0.65%
2038 0.46% -0.65%
2037 0.51% -0.65%
2036 0.55% -0.65%
2035 0.44% -0.64%
2034 0.54% -0.63%
2033 0.58% -0.63%
2032 0.6% -0.62%
2031 0.57% -0.61%
2030 0.52% -0.6%
2029 0.57% -0.59%
2028 0.56% -0.58%
2027 0.7% -0.56%
2026 0.69% -0.54%
2025 0.61% -0.51%
2024 0.65% -0.43%
2023 0.7% -0.49%
2022 0.71% -0.44%
2021 0.71% -0.46%
2020 0.68% -0.29%
2019 0.67% -0.14%
2018 0.72% -0.13%
2017 0.86% -0.08%
2016 0.98% -0.05%
2015 1.02% -0.11%
2014 1.08% -0.13%
2013 1.11% -0.14%
2012 1.11% -0.16%
2011 1.1% -0.19%
2010 1.1% 0.02%
2009 1.11% -0.01%
2008 1.14% 0.05%
2007 1.17% 0.11%
2006 1.35% 0.06%
2005 1.74% 0.009%
2004 2.02% 0.03%
2003 2.12% 0.21%
2002 2.23% 0.23%
2001 2.33% 0.24%
2000 2.45% 0.17%
1999 2.31% 0.18%
1998 1.92% 0.27%
1997 1.81% 0.24%
1996 0.15% 0.23%
1995 -1.17% 0.23%
1994 -0.03% 0.28%
1993 -4% 0.32%
1992 -3.67% 0.37%
1991 1.78% 0.39%
1990 2.74% 0.33%
1989 2.98% 0.4%
1988 3.04% 0.42%
1987 3.1% 0.48%
1986 3.13% 0.53%
1985 3.17% 0.63%
1984 3.21% 0.65%
1983 3.24% 0.7%
1982 3.27% 0.7%
1981 3.33% 0.73%
1980 3.39% 0.79%
1979 3.44% 0.85%
1978 3.47% 0.91%
1977 3.47% 0.97%
1976 3.47% 1.08%
1975 3.47% 1.28%
1974 3.46% 1.34%
1973 3.46% 1.42%
1972 3.46% 1.41%
1971 3.46% 2.22%
1970 3.46% 1.16%
1969 3.43% 1.2%
1968 3.39% 1.13%
1967 3.35% 1.04%
1966 3.3% 0.92%
1965 3.25% 1.08%
1964 3.19% 1.05%
1963 3.16% 1.02%
1962 3.05% 0.93%
1961 2.91% 0.9%

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/japan | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Japan's population declined by 0.43%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Japan
Current population
803385
122677250
Population rank 163/197 12/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 1.48%
One net population change
1.7 hours
58.3 seconds
One birth every
52.8 minutes
42.2 seconds
One death every
1.82 hours
19.5 seconds
Daily growth/decline +14 -1,483
Annual growth/decline +5,139 -541,279
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% -0.43%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 185/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
3.75 minutes
Annual migration change +455 +140,579
Net migration rank 69/196 10/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 3,409,529
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 19/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 2.8%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 120/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Japan
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Japan
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - 140,579
2024 - -277 - 153,357
2023 5,153 291 -871,617 175,003
2022 5,204 291 -825,825 175,003
2021 5,162 287 -640,976 -34,996
2020 5,142 287 -542,923 42,001
2019 4,643 287 -531,858 318,190
2018 4,909 287 -456,520 320,601
2017 5,367 287 -406,310 322,564
2016 6,164 1,116 -343,106 314,732
2015 6,762 450 -292,424 168,896
2014 7,290 452 -267,279 58,109
2013 7,689 309 -242,146 66,449
2012 7,967 20 -229,733 67,904
2011 8,282 -464 -204,533 97,720
2010 8,598 -922 -128,070 131,860
2009 8,913 -1,305 -76,828 125,450
2008 9,200 -1,538 -51,225 142,605
2007 9,322 -1,553 -25,600 138,024
2006 9,197 -1,283 12,785 130,065
2005 9,102 848 -25,554 113,017
2004 9,056 3,642 76,656 69,014
2003 9,132 3,921 114,946 74,875
2002 9,464 3,996 178,423 60,864
2001 9,904 3,874 203,438 59,563
2000 10,142 3,940 228,317 23,468
1999 10,940 3,542 202,610 56,901
1998 11,320 486 265,440 45,912
1997 11,668 -1,994 277,325 43,366
1996 12,153 -1,998 314,392 25,030
1995 12,938 -21,501 276,039 87,714
1994 13,536 -17,997 363,017 154,214
1993 13,915 -9,800 312,073 168,836
1992 15,594 -65,900 360,833 170,878
1991 15,801 -9,522 396,685 161,331
1990 15,704 -1,000 407,478 124,582
1989 15,516 1,180 467,662 31,202
1988 15,212 1,286 527,085 51,154
1987 14,887 1,481 598,138 28,001
1986 14,516 1,586 631,706 27,987
1985 14,061 1,694 676,687 -141,323
1984 13,688 1,779 756,523 -273,686
1983 13,284 1,897 775,495 -269,755
1982 12,872 1,897 805,664 -288,550
1981 12,444 2,096 811,861 -278,525
1980 12,016 2,307 864,372 -92,314
1979 11,583 2,493 950,298 -57,692
1978 11,133 2,700 1,011,234 -47,996
1977 10,679 2,700 1,070,397 -49,082
1976 10,228 2,700 1,127,750 -34,976
1975 9,775 2,700 1,204,989 107
1974 9,324 2,700 1,332,960 -10,145
1973 8,939 2,700 1,391,449 -34,674
1972 8,549 2,700 1,372,006 -73,980
1971 8,161 2,700 1,331,782 -107,778
1970 7,791 2,700 1,230,496 33,731
1969 7,435 2,700 1,195,962 49,447
1968 7,085 2,593 1,191,930 43,593
1967 6,744 2,493 1,258,475 29,632
1966 6,418 2,407 682,072 68,934
1965 6,109 2,307 1,126,448 -50,667
1964 5,818 2,196 1,046,553 -100,696
1963 5,551 2,096 987,770 -100,742
1962 5,297 2,096 901,864 -57,075
1961 5,081 1,586 893,522 -58,882
1960 4,888 1,481 894,874 -150,371

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

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/japan | 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 Japan 73.6% is from natural causes (a loss of 5,178,838 people) and 26.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,860,103 people).

As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 3,409,529 people or 2.8% in Japan.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
Japan
City Population
Tokyo 14.3M
Yokohama 3.76M
Osaka 2.75M
Nagoya 2.33M
Sapporo 1.96M
Fukuoka 1.6M
Kawasaki 1.54M
Kobe 1.52M
Kyoto 1.46M
Saitama 1.33M

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/japan | CC BY

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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)

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