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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 35,557,673 people in Malaysia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 36,512,221 in Malaysia.

Population statistics:

  • Malaysia's population is 45.4 times bigger than Bhutan's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Malaysia is the 45th.
  • The countries together account for 0.45% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.44% for Malaysia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +1.5% in Malaysia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Malaysia has grown from 26.4M to 36.5M (38.2% growth).

Bhutan vs Malaysia: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Malaysia
2100 695,106 44,353,615
2099 699,983 44,467,475
2098 704,455 44,579,971
2097 709,230 44,695,979
2096 713,930 44,814,885
2095 719,152 44,932,404
2094 724,401 45,047,479
2093 729,500 45,165,126
2092 735,075 45,278,674
2091 741,074 45,390,002
2090 746,937 45,501,495
2089 753,010 45,610,046
2088 758,937 45,717,882
2087 765,235 45,823,085
2086 770,883 45,926,712
2085 776,435 46,020,742
2084 781,892 46,111,490
2083 787,929 46,202,286
2082 793,543 46,284,929
2081 799,530 46,359,700
2080 805,275 46,435,482
2079 811,060 46,496,102
2078 816,530 46,549,167
2077 821,247 46,594,188
2076 825,978 46,619,045
2075 830,808 46,643,115
2074 836,017 46,658,350
2073 841,208 46,670,848
2072 845,861 46,670,426
2071 850,262 46,660,436
2070 853,930 46,645,623
2069 857,808 46,623,238
2068 861,327 46,600,060
2067 864,753 46,569,264
2066 868,260 46,530,377
2065 871,517 46,481,890
2064 873,735 46,417,369
2063 875,674 46,350,674
2062 877,938 46,272,105
2061 880,023 46,178,092
2060 881,913 46,075,877
2059 883,191 45,958,718
2058 884,515 45,837,407
2057 884,612 45,707,213
2056 885,822 45,566,357
2055 886,403 45,418,953
2054 885,903 45,252,995
2053 886,520 45,069,089
2052 886,640 44,873,927
2051 885,551 44,668,767
2050 884,535 44,445,677
2049 883,736 44,217,593
2048 882,640 43,974,925
2047 881,660 43,712,325
2046 880,037 43,438,283
2045 877,677 43,157,909
2044 875,155 42,866,716
2043 872,383 42,557,941
2042 869,248 42,239,980
2041 866,366 41,922,379
2040 863,173 41,598,231
2039 859,926 41,270,953
2038 856,429 40,929,067
2037 852,475 40,584,773
2036 848,122 40,234,128
2035 843,447 39,876,375
2034 839,780 39,515,857
2033 835,308 39,152,086
2032 830,472 38,772,414
2031 825,528 38,386,293
2030 820,888 37,995,617
2029 816,655 37,606,753
2028 812,002 37,207,852
2027 807,474 36,806,585
2026 801,869 36,403,076
2025 796,375 35,987,113
2024 791,524 35,557,673
2023 786,385 35,126,298
2022 780,914 34,695,493
2021 775,442 34,282,399
2020 770,006 33,889,558
2019 764,824 33,440,596
2018 759,759 32,910,967
2017 754,335 32,355,644
2016 747,866 31,789,685
2015 740,618 31,232,798
2014 733,139 30,696,137
2013 725,273 30,174,265
2012 717,279 29,662,831
2011 709,377 29,162,039
2010 701,632 28,655,776
2009 693,988 28,124,778
2008 686,351 27,570,059
2007 678,641 26,998,389
2006 670,799 26,417,909
2005 661,865 25,836,071
2004 650,544 25,256,772
2003 637,663 24,679,602
2002 624,409 24,102,477
2001 610,794 23,526,538
2000 596,863 22,967,816
1999 582,579 22,435,531
1998 569,435 21,906,713
1997 558,697 21,375,218
1996 548,784 20,850,087
1995 547,989 20,330,599
1994 554,497 19,820,446
1993 554,673 19,322,664
1992 577,774 18,834,572
1991 599,784 18,342,464
1990 589,287 17,833,171
1989 573,586 17,314,997
1988 556,986 16,796,605
1987 540,557 16,276,737
1986 524,324 15,760,419
1985 508,392 15,252,258
1984 492,784 14,759,009
1983 477,460 14,285,907
1982 462,485 13,832,798
1981 447,836 13,399,203
1980 433,404 12,983,363
1979 419,200 12,627,862
1978 405,243 12,328,157
1977 391,639 12,035,713
1976 378,490 11,750,097
1975 365,791 11,471,914
1974 353,538 11,200,906
1973 341,705 10,935,621
1972 330,264 10,676,835
1971 319,211 10,423,453
1970 308,528 10,178,802
1969 298,214 9,947,597
1968 288,311 9,725,281
1967 278,852 9,507,099
1966 269,820 9,284,688
1965 261,200 9,056,408
1964 252,987 8,828,406
1963 245,156 8,602,160
1962 237,636 8,380,172
1961 230,602 8,164,443
1960 224,084 7,956,197

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/malaysia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Malaysia gained 5,371,776 people (a 20.3% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Malaysia's population increased by 4,722,536 people (a 14.9% growth).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. Malaysia was ranked 44th in 2006 and ranked 45th 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 Malaysia will increase by 21.7% to 44,445,677 people and rank change from 45th to 49th.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 46.7M people in 2073 for Malaysia.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Malaysia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Malaysia
2100 -0.7% -0.26%
2099 -0.63% -0.25%
2098 -0.67% -0.26%
2097 -0.66% -0.27%
2096 -0.73% -0.26%
2095 -0.72% -0.26%
2094 -0.7% -0.26%
2093 -0.76% -0.25%
2092 -0.81% -0.25%
2091 -0.78% -0.25%
2090 -0.81% -0.24%
2089 -0.78% -0.24%
2088 -0.82% -0.23%
2087 -0.73% -0.23%
2086 -0.72% -0.2%
2085 -0.7% -0.2%
2084 -0.77% -0.2%
2083 -0.71% -0.18%
2082 -0.75% -0.16%
2081 -0.71% -0.16%
2080 -0.71% -0.13%
2079 -0.67% -0.11%
2078 -0.57% -0.1%
2077 -0.57% -0.05%
2076 -0.58% -0.05%
2075 -0.62% -0.03%
2074 -0.62% -0.03%
2073 -0.55% 0.001%
2072 -0.52% 0.02%
2071 -0.43% 0.03%
2070 -0.45% 0.05%
2069 -0.41% 0.05%
2068 -0.4% 0.07%
2067 -0.4% 0.08%
2066 -0.37% 0.1%
2065 -0.25% 0.14%
2064 -0.22% 0.14%
2063 -0.26% 0.17%
2062 -0.24% 0.2%
2061 -0.21% 0.22%
2060 -0.14% 0.25%
2059 -0.15% 0.26%
2058 -0.01% 0.28%
2057 -0.14% 0.31%
2056 -0.07% 0.32%
2055 0.06% 0.37%
2054 -0.07% 0.41%
2053 -0.01% 0.43%
2052 0.12% 0.46%
2051 0.11% 0.5%
2050 0.09% 0.52%
2049 0.12% 0.55%
2048 0.11% 0.6%
2047 0.18% 0.63%
2046 0.27% 0.65%
2045 0.29% 0.68%
2044 0.32% 0.73%
2043 0.36% 0.75%
2042 0.33% 0.76%
2041 0.37% 0.78%
2040 0.38% 0.79%
2039 0.41% 0.84%
2038 0.46% 0.85%
2037 0.51% 0.87%
2036 0.55% 0.9%
2035 0.44% 0.91%
2034 0.54% 0.93%
2033 0.58% 0.98%
2032 0.6% 1.01%
2031 0.57% 1.03%
2030 0.52% 1.03%
2029 0.57% 1.07%
2028 0.56% 1.09%
2027 0.7% 1.11%
2026 0.69% 1.16%
2025 0.61% 1.21%
2024 0.65% 1.23%
2023 0.7% 1.24%
2022 0.71% 1.2%
2021 0.71% 1.16%
2020 0.68% 1.34%
2019 0.67% 1.61%
2018 0.72% 1.72%
2017 0.86% 1.78%
2016 0.98% 1.78%
2015 1.02% 1.75%
2014 1.08% 1.73%
2013 1.11% 1.72%
2012 1.11% 1.72%
2011 1.1% 1.77%
2010 1.1% 1.89%
2009 1.11% 2.01%
2008 1.14% 2.12%
2007 1.17% 2.2%
2006 1.35% 2.25%
2005 1.74% 2.29%
2004 2.02% 2.34%
2003 2.12% 2.39%
2002 2.23% 2.45%
2001 2.33% 2.43%
2000 2.45% 2.37%
1999 2.31% 2.41%
1998 1.92% 2.49%
1997 1.81% 2.52%
1996 0.15% 2.56%
1995 -1.17% 2.57%
1994 -0.03% 2.58%
1993 -4% 2.59%
1992 -3.67% 2.68%
1991 1.78% 2.86%
1990 2.74% 2.99%
1989 2.98% 3.09%
1988 3.04% 3.19%
1987 3.1% 3.28%
1986 3.13% 3.33%
1985 3.17% 3.34%
1984 3.21% 3.31%
1983 3.24% 3.28%
1982 3.27% 3.24%
1981 3.33% 3.2%
1980 3.39% 2.82%
1979 3.44% 2.43%
1978 3.47% 2.43%
1977 3.47% 2.43%
1976 3.47% 2.42%
1975 3.47% 2.42%
1974 3.46% 2.43%
1973 3.46% 2.42%
1972 3.46% 2.43%
1971 3.46% 2.4%
1970 3.46% 2.32%
1969 3.43% 2.29%
1968 3.39% 2.29%
1967 3.35% 2.4%
1966 3.3% 2.52%
1965 3.25% 2.58%
1964 3.19% 2.63%
1963 3.16% 2.65%
1962 3.05% 2.64%
1961 2.91% 2.62%

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/malaysia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Malaysia's population grew by 1.23%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Malaysia
Current population
803385
36512221
Population rank 163/197 45/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.44%
One net population change
1.7 hours
1.22 minutes
One birth every
52.8 minutes
1.21 minutes
One death every
1.82 hours
2.9 minutes
Daily growth/decline +14 +1,182
Annual growth/decline +5,139 +431,375
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.23%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 89/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
3.16 minutes
Annual migration change +455 +166,615
Net migration rank 69/196 7/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 3,806,514
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 18/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 10.7%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 62/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Malaysia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Malaysia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - 166,615
2024 - -277 - 174,770
2023 5,153 291 254,806 181,071
2022 5,204 291 237,560 188,154
2021 5,162 287 212,002 188,506
2020 5,142 287 283,282 101,907
2019 4,643 287 309,426 203,284
2018 4,909 287 324,568 221,965
2017 5,367 287 336,434 227,677
2016 6,164 1,116 345,681 222,141
2015 6,762 450 358,302 187,663
2014 7,290 452 367,587 159,791
2013 7,689 309 366,738 149,637
2012 7,967 20 371,497 134,975
2011 8,282 -464 372,836 122,269
2010 8,598 -922 360,260 157,164
2009 8,913 -1,305 366,157 178,410
2008 9,200 -1,538 362,380 202,481
2007 9,322 -1,553 348,711 229,784
2006 9,197 -1,283 349,509 232,971
2005 9,102 848 355,324 225,864
2004 9,056 3,642 365,138 212,278
2003 9,132 3,921 377,425 199,510
2002 9,464 3,996 381,084 196,227
2001 9,904 3,874 400,939 173,613
2000 10,142 3,940 417,371 125,499
1999 10,940 3,542 432,355 89,335
1998 11,320 486 436,316 99,639
1997 11,668 -1,994 447,768 79,266
1996 12,153 -1,998 450,174 73,040
1995 12,938 -21,501 443,349 72,393
1994 13,536 -17,997 437,873 66,685
1993 13,915 -9,800 429,910 61,079
1992 15,594 -65,900 418,900 66,286
1991 15,801 -9,522 401,938 97,111
1990 15,704 -1,000 384,518 135,020
1989 15,516 1,180 373,277 143,544
1988 15,212 1,286 386,507 133,478
1987 14,887 1,481 381,999 137,759
1986 14,516 1,586 385,799 127,081
1985 14,061 1,694 383,243 120,215
1984 13,688 1,779 376,797 106,248
1983 13,284 1,897 365,290 97,862
1982 12,872 1,897 353,138 89,942
1981 12,444 2,096 339,991 84,142
1980 12,016 2,307 326,947 80,617
1979 11,583 2,493 317,439 -13,980
1978 11,133 2,700 311,027 -15,059
1977 10,679 2,700 305,515 -16,601
1976 10,228 2,700 300,615 -18,316
1975 9,775 2,700 294,541 -20,480
1974 9,324 2,700 289,880 -21,919
1973 8,939 2,700 284,611 -21,995
1972 8,549 2,700 276,263 -21,305
1971 8,161 2,700 272,323 -20,535
1970 7,791 2,700 269,341 -31,839
1969 7,435 2,700 264,327 -39,420
1968 7,085 2,593 260,705 -40,996
1967 6,744 2,493 258,764 -42,108
1966 6,418 2,407 262,162 -33,993
1965 6,109 2,307 264,836 -36,456
1964 5,818 2,196 266,406 -38,785
1963 5,551 2,096 265,815 -40,952
1962 5,297 2,096 262,140 -43,033
1961 5,081 1,586 257,270 -44,916
1960 4,888 1,481 251,090 -46,948

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

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/malaysia | 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 Malaysia 61.7% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,029,648 people) and 38.3% is from migration (a gain of 1,882,159 people).

As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 3,806,514 people or 10.7% in Malaysia.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
Malaysia
City Population
Kuala Lumpur 9M
Klang 878K
Ipoh 867K
Johor Bahru 798K
George Town 794K
Shah Alam 741K
Subang Jaya 708K
Petaling Jaya 639K
Kuantan 608K
Sungai Petani 545K

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/malaysia | 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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