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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 29,651,054 people in Nepal in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 29,596,762 in Nepal.

Population statistics:

  • Nepal's population is 36.8 times bigger than Bhutan's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Nepal is the 52nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.37% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.36% for Nepal.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +0.66% in Nepal.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Nepal has grown from 26.6M to 29.6M (11.4% growth).

Bhutan vs Nepal: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Nepal
2100 695,106 31,902,377
2099 699,983 32,090,762
2098 704,455 32,277,789
2097 709,230 32,464,318
2096 713,930 32,647,891
2095 719,152 32,828,594
2094 724,401 33,009,460
2093 729,500 33,186,290
2092 735,075 33,361,327
2091 741,074 33,532,505
2090 746,937 33,699,660
2089 753,010 33,863,636
2088 758,937 34,022,597
2087 765,235 34,175,457
2086 770,883 34,322,945
2085 776,435 34,468,441
2084 781,892 34,605,513
2083 787,929 34,735,114
2082 793,543 34,856,938
2081 799,530 34,972,075
2080 805,275 35,080,783
2079 811,060 35,183,584
2078 816,530 35,277,254
2077 821,247 35,362,658
2076 825,978 35,440,746
2075 830,808 35,510,291
2074 836,017 35,573,094
2073 841,208 35,627,375
2072 845,861 35,670,886
2071 850,262 35,709,979
2070 853,930 35,739,580
2069 857,808 35,759,193
2068 861,327 35,770,405
2067 864,753 35,774,081
2066 868,260 35,770,220
2065 871,517 35,758,824
2064 873,735 35,737,661
2063 875,674 35,709,945
2062 877,938 35,669,839
2061 880,023 35,623,365
2060 881,913 35,567,728
2059 883,191 35,503,043
2058 884,515 35,427,419
2057 884,612 35,345,633
2056 885,822 35,253,644
2055 886,403 35,155,433
2054 885,903 35,050,330
2053 886,520 34,936,594
2052 886,640 34,816,009
2051 885,551 34,684,328
2050 884,535 34,546,267
2049 883,736 34,400,898
2048 882,640 34,250,249
2047 881,660 34,091,495
2046 880,037 33,921,975
2045 877,677 33,747,892
2044 875,155 33,566,784
2043 872,383 33,380,395
2042 869,248 33,186,321
2041 866,366 32,987,097
2040 863,173 32,781,189
2039 859,926 32,569,731
2038 856,429 32,349,742
2037 852,475 32,125,036
2036 848,122 31,892,962
2035 843,447 31,653,976
2034 839,780 31,407,460
2033 835,308 31,152,292
2032 830,472 30,890,627
2031 825,528 30,623,706
2030 820,888 30,349,201
2029 816,655 30,068,368
2028 812,002 29,780,585
2027 807,474 29,627,864
2026 801,869 29,585,230
2025 796,375 29,605,298
2024 791,524 29,651,054
2023 786,385 29,694,614
2022 780,914 29,715,436
2021 775,442 29,475,010
2020 770,006 28,966,574
2019 764,824 28,414,064
2018 759,759 28,079,689
2017 754,335 28,011,258
2016 747,866 27,955,462
2015 740,618 27,823,629
2014 733,139 27,672,370
2013 725,273 27,589,996
2012 717,279 27,534,915
2011 709,377 27,464,494
2010 701,632 27,341,952
2009 693,988 27,173,035
2008 686,351 26,990,037
2007 678,641 26,788,492
2006 670,799 26,565,425
2005 661,865 26,309,458
2004 650,544 26,016,656
2003 637,663 25,688,758
2002 624,409 25,328,981
2001 610,794 24,946,748
2000 596,863 24,546,509
1999 582,579 24,125,199
1998 569,435 23,680,357
1997 558,697 23,219,463
1996 548,784 22,741,862
1995 547,989 22,245,439
1994 554,497 21,717,479
1993 554,673 21,180,159
1992 577,774 20,609,707
1991 599,784 20,036,500
1990 589,287 19,524,573
1989 573,586 19,057,807
1988 556,986 18,638,661
1987 540,557 18,250,505
1986 524,324 17,868,124
1985 508,392 17,477,692
1984 492,784 17,085,242
1983 477,460 16,689,119
1982 462,485 16,297,987
1981 447,836 15,922,423
1980 433,404 15,553,105
1979 419,200 15,190,590
1978 405,243 14,839,695
1977 391,639 14,499,175
1976 378,490 14,177,649
1975 365,791 13,870,695
1974 353,538 13,568,435
1973 341,705 13,275,239
1972 330,264 12,989,099
1971 319,211 12,710,061
1970 308,528 12,436,190
1969 298,214 12,167,036
1968 288,311 11,906,266
1967 278,852 11,652,716
1966 269,820 11,408,710
1965 261,200 11,173,411
1964 252,987 10,946,392
1963 245,156 10,729,818
1962 237,636 10,521,116
1961 230,602 10,318,396
1960 224,084 10,123,658

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/nepal | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Nepal gained 1,390,037 people (a 5.23% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Nepal's population increased by 1,641,300 people (a 5.87% growth).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. Nepal was ranked 43rd in 2006 and ranked 52nd 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 Nepal will increase by 16.7% to 34,546,267 people and rank change from 52nd to 58th.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 35.8M people in 2067 for Nepal.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Nepal
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Nepal
2100 -0.7% -0.59%
2099 -0.63% -0.58%
2098 -0.67% -0.57%
2097 -0.66% -0.56%
2096 -0.73% -0.55%
2095 -0.72% -0.55%
2094 -0.7% -0.53%
2093 -0.76% -0.52%
2092 -0.81% -0.51%
2091 -0.78% -0.5%
2090 -0.81% -0.48%
2089 -0.78% -0.47%
2088 -0.82% -0.45%
2087 -0.73% -0.43%
2086 -0.72% -0.42%
2085 -0.7% -0.4%
2084 -0.77% -0.37%
2083 -0.71% -0.35%
2082 -0.75% -0.33%
2081 -0.71% -0.31%
2080 -0.71% -0.29%
2079 -0.67% -0.27%
2078 -0.57% -0.24%
2077 -0.57% -0.22%
2076 -0.58% -0.2%
2075 -0.62% -0.18%
2074 -0.62% -0.15%
2073 -0.55% -0.12%
2072 -0.52% -0.11%
2071 -0.43% -0.08%
2070 -0.45% -0.05%
2069 -0.41% -0.03%
2068 -0.4% -0.01%
2067 -0.4% 0.01%
2066 -0.37% 0.03%
2065 -0.25% 0.06%
2064 -0.22% 0.08%
2063 -0.26% 0.11%
2062 -0.24% 0.13%
2061 -0.21% 0.16%
2060 -0.14% 0.18%
2059 -0.15% 0.21%
2058 -0.01% 0.23%
2057 -0.14% 0.26%
2056 -0.07% 0.28%
2055 0.06% 0.3%
2054 -0.07% 0.33%
2053 -0.01% 0.35%
2052 0.12% 0.38%
2051 0.11% 0.4%
2050 0.09% 0.42%
2049 0.12% 0.44%
2048 0.11% 0.47%
2047 0.18% 0.5%
2046 0.27% 0.52%
2045 0.29% 0.54%
2044 0.32% 0.56%
2043 0.36% 0.58%
2042 0.33% 0.6%
2041 0.37% 0.63%
2040 0.38% 0.65%
2039 0.41% 0.68%
2038 0.46% 0.7%
2037 0.51% 0.73%
2036 0.55% 0.75%
2035 0.44% 0.78%
2034 0.54% 0.82%
2033 0.58% 0.85%
2032 0.6% 0.87%
2031 0.57% 0.9%
2030 0.52% 0.93%
2029 0.57% 0.97%
2028 0.56% 0.52%
2027 0.7% 0.14%
2026 0.69% -0.07%
2025 0.61% -0.15%
2024 0.65% -0.15%
2023 0.7% -0.07%
2022 0.71% 0.82%
2021 0.71% 1.76%
2020 0.68% 1.94%
2019 0.67% 1.19%
2018 0.72% 0.24%
2017 0.86% 0.2%
2016 0.98% 0.47%
2015 1.02% 0.55%
2014 1.08% 0.3%
2013 1.11% 0.2%
2012 1.11% 0.26%
2011 1.1% 0.45%
2010 1.1% 0.62%
2009 1.11% 0.68%
2008 1.14% 0.75%
2007 1.17% 0.84%
2006 1.35% 0.97%
2005 1.74% 1.13%
2004 2.02% 1.28%
2003 2.12% 1.42%
2002 2.23% 1.53%
2001 2.33% 1.63%
2000 2.45% 1.75%
1999 2.31% 1.88%
1998 1.92% 1.98%
1997 1.81% 2.1%
1996 0.15% 2.23%
1995 -1.17% 2.43%
1994 -0.03% 2.54%
1993 -4% 2.77%
1992 -3.67% 2.86%
1991 1.78% 2.62%
1990 2.74% 2.45%
1989 2.98% 2.25%
1988 3.04% 2.13%
1987 3.1% 2.14%
1986 3.13% 2.23%
1985 3.17% 2.3%
1984 3.21% 2.37%
1983 3.24% 2.4%
1982 3.27% 2.36%
1981 3.33% 2.37%
1980 3.39% 2.39%
1979 3.44% 2.36%
1978 3.47% 2.35%
1977 3.47% 2.27%
1976 3.47% 2.21%
1975 3.47% 2.23%
1974 3.46% 2.21%
1973 3.46% 2.2%
1972 3.46% 2.2%
1971 3.46% 2.2%
1970 3.46% 2.21%
1969 3.43% 2.19%
1968 3.39% 2.18%
1967 3.35% 2.14%
1966 3.3% 2.11%
1965 3.25% 2.07%
1964 3.19% 2.02%
1963 3.16% 1.98%
1962 3.05% 1.96%
1961 2.91% 1.92%

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/nepal | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Nepal's population declined by 0.15%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Nepal
Current population
803385
29596762
Population rank 163/197 52/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.36%
One net population change
1.7 hours
12.1 minutes
One birth every
52.8 minutes
54.9 seconds
One death every
1.82 hours
2.55 minutes
Daily growth/decline +14 -119
Annual growth/decline +5,139 -43,560
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% -0.15%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 174/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
1.45 minutes
Annual migration change +455 -364,699
Net migration rank 69/196 193/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 470,719
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 82/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 1.6%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 142/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Nepal
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Nepal
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - -364,699
2024 - -277 - -401,282
2023 5,153 291 368,450 -409,782
2022 5,204 291 379,021 -379,321
2021 5,162 287 351,165 130,001
2020 5,142 287 373,553 162,139
2019 4,643 287 387,113 182,203
2018 4,909 287 394,576 -295,151
2017 5,367 287 406,219 -368,787
2016 6,164 1,116 415,921 -341,748
2015 6,762 450 410,565 -221,062
2014 7,290 452 423,166 -310,156
2013 7,689 309 424,804 -373,064
2012 7,967 20 430,151 -371,707
2011 8,282 -464 429,957 -347,552
2010 8,598 -922 432,631 -269,963
2009 8,913 -1,305 441,290 -266,144
2008 9,200 -1,538 452,353 -261,540
2007 9,322 -1,553 464,780 -252,526
2006 9,197 -1,283 475,335 -241,455
2005 9,102 848 489,093 -211,024
2004 9,056 3,642 504,853 -197,336
2003 9,132 3,921 516,575 -168,314
2002 9,464 3,996 525,045 -153,730
2001 9,904 3,874 542,118 -148,973
2000 10,142 3,940 554,506 -147,193
1999 10,940 3,542 557,847 -122,551
1998 11,320 486 562,787 -108,400
1997 11,668 -1,994 565,882 -98,454
1996 12,153 -1,998 580,099 -92,307
1995 12,938 -21,501 591,283 -86,232
1994 13,536 -17,997 578,293 -27,415
1993 13,915 -9,800 561,549 -37,782
1992 15,594 -65,900 533,029 84,113
1991 15,801 -9,522 512,233 17,056
1990 15,704 -1,000 495,202 -640
1989 15,516 1,180 478,771 -39,808
1988 15,212 1,286 463,581 -64,246
1987 14,887 1,481 449,400 -72,437
1986 14,516 1,586 434,802 -47,017
1985 14,061 1,694 423,240 -30,154
1984 13,688 1,779 411,122 -19,300
1983 13,284 1,897 399,103 1,304
1982 12,872 1,897 385,741 -3,898
1981 12,444 2,096 374,145 -4,855
1980 12,016 2,307 364,254 5,084
1979 11,583 2,493 355,597 88
1978 11,133 2,700 345,765 346
1977 10,679 2,700 332,843 2,108
1976 10,228 2,700 323,222 -15,119
1975 9,775 2,700 312,479 -6,686
1974 9,324 2,700 303,078 -4,361
1973 8,939 2,700 288,750 -1,076
1972 8,549 2,700 286,708 -2,107
1971 8,161 2,700 280,752 -7,284
1970 7,791 2,700 272,439 1,847
1969 7,435 2,700 264,560 -527
1968 7,085 2,593 258,259 -746
1967 6,744 2,493 249,240 347
1966 6,418 2,407 241,716 -3,306
1965 6,109 2,307 233,726 -1,551
1964 5,818 2,196 227,948 -6,087
1963 5,551 2,096 219,586 -8,303
1962 5,297 2,096 215,368 -9,249
1961 5,081 1,586 209,917 -10,601
1960 4,888 1,481 203,374 -13,223

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

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/nepal | 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 Nepal 67.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 3,909,749 people) and 32.1% is from migration (a loss of 1,851,664 people).

As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 470,719 people or 1.6% in Nepal.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
Nepal
City Population
Kathmandu 846K
Lalitpur 513K
Pokhara 354K
Birgunj 268K
Biratnagar 243K
Bheemdatta 105K
Dhangadhi 102K
Janakpur 97.8K
Hetauda 84.7K
Damak 75.1K

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/nepal | 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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