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Population in Bhutan compared to New Zealand: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 5,287,500 people in New Zealand in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 5,374,272 in New Zealand.

Population statistics:

  • New Zealand's population is 6.69 times bigger than Bhutan's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while New Zealand is the 124th.
  • The countries together account for 0.07% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.06% for New Zealand.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +1.6% in New Zealand.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while New Zealand has grown from 4.18M to 5.37M (28.4% growth).

Bhutan vs New Zealand: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan New Zealand
2100 695,106 5,918,837
2099 699,983 5,923,132
2098 704,455 5,927,206
2097 709,230 5,930,263
2096 713,930 5,932,907
2095 719,152 5,934,847
2094 724,401 5,936,183
2093 729,500 5,938,804
2092 735,075 5,939,085
2091 741,074 5,940,665
2090 746,937 5,941,752
2089 753,010 5,944,871
2088 758,937 5,945,635
2087 765,235 5,948,586
2086 770,883 5,951,745
2085 776,435 5,955,275
2084 781,892 5,959,115
2083 787,929 5,963,613
2082 793,543 5,966,943
2081 799,530 5,968,511
2080 805,275 5,971,082
2079 811,060 5,972,331
2078 816,530 5,972,928
2077 821,247 5,971,804
2076 825,978 5,971,386
2075 830,808 5,970,985
2074 836,017 5,969,834
2073 841,208 5,968,506
2072 845,861 5,964,548
2071 850,262 5,964,493
2070 853,930 5,963,811
2069 857,808 5,962,551
2068 861,327 5,960,918
2067 864,753 5,958,438
2066 868,260 5,954,539
2065 871,517 5,950,378
2064 873,735 5,946,851
2063 875,674 5,944,910
2062 877,938 5,940,838
2061 880,023 5,939,601
2060 881,913 5,936,094
2059 883,191 5,931,426
2058 884,515 5,925,816
2057 884,612 5,919,823
2056 885,822 5,913,287
2055 886,403 5,904,352
2054 885,903 5,894,795
2053 886,520 5,884,875
2052 886,640 5,876,162
2051 885,551 5,864,176
2050 884,535 5,852,896
2049 883,736 5,844,165
2048 882,640 5,833,178
2047 881,660 5,822,035
2046 880,037 5,809,860
2045 877,677 5,795,785
2044 875,155 5,780,884
2043 872,383 5,764,579
2042 869,248 5,746,528
2041 866,366 5,727,253
2040 863,173 5,708,874
2039 859,926 5,690,018
2038 856,429 5,669,959
2037 852,475 5,650,253
2036 848,122 5,630,126
2035 843,447 5,609,155
2034 839,780 5,588,315
2033 835,308 5,565,507
2032 830,472 5,542,488
2031 825,528 5,517,391
2030 820,888 5,491,320
2029 816,655 5,462,926
2028 812,002 5,432,752
2027 807,474 5,399,898
2026 801,869 5,364,771
2025 796,375 5,327,462
2024 791,524 5,287,500
2023 786,385 5,200,000
2022 780,914 5,081,700
2021 775,442 5,084,600
2020 770,006 5,072,400
2019 764,824 4,970,300
2018 759,759 4,900,600
2017 754,335 4,813,600
2016 747,866 4,714,100
2015 740,618 4,609,400
2014 733,139 4,516,500
2013 725,273 4,442,100
2012 717,279 4,408,100
2011 709,377 4,384,000
2010 701,632 4,350,700
2009 693,988 4,302,600
2008 686,351 4,259,800
2007 678,641 4,223,800
2006 670,799 4,184,600
2005 661,865 4,133,900
2004 650,544 4,087,500
2003 637,663 4,027,200
2002 624,409 3,948,500
2001 610,794 3,880,500
2000 596,863 3,857,700
1999 582,579 3,835,100
1998 569,435 3,815,000
1997 558,697 3,781,300
1996 548,784 3,732,000
1995 547,989 3,673,400
1994 554,497 3,620,000
1993 554,673 3,572,200
1992 577,774 3,531,700
1991 599,784 3,495,100
1990 589,287 3,329,800
1989 573,586 3,299,200
1988 556,986 3,283,400
1987 540,557 3,274,400
1986 524,324 3,246,300
1985 508,392 3,247,100
1984 492,784 3,227,100
1983 477,460 3,199,300
1982 462,485 3,156,100
1981 447,836 3,124,900
1980 433,404 3,112,900
1979 419,200 3,109,000
1978 405,243 3,121,200
1977 391,639 3,120,200
1976 378,490 3,110,500
1975 365,791 3,083,100
1974 353,538 3,023,700
1973 341,705 2,961,300
1972 330,264 2,903,900
1971 319,211 2,853,000
1970 308,528 2,810,700
1969 298,214 2,772,800
1968 288,311 2,748,100
1967 278,852 2,724,100
1966 269,820 2,675,900
1965 261,200 2,628,400
1964 252,987 2,585,400
1963 245,156 2,531,800
1962 237,636 2,482,000
1961 230,602 2,419,700
1960 224,084 2,371,800

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/new-zealand | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while New Zealand gained 529,500 people (a 12.7% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while New Zealand's population increased by 660,172 people (a 14% growth).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. New Zealand was ranked 122nd in 2006 and ranked 124th 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 New Zealand will increase by 8.91% to 5,852,896 people and rank change from 124th to 122nd.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 5.97M people in 2078 for New Zealand.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
New Zealand
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan New Zealand
2100 -0.7% -0.07%
2099 -0.63% -0.07%
2098 -0.67% -0.05%
2097 -0.66% -0.04%
2096 -0.73% -0.03%
2095 -0.72% -0.02%
2094 -0.7% -0.04%
2093 -0.76% -0.005%
2092 -0.81% -0.03%
2091 -0.78% -0.02%
2090 -0.81% -0.05%
2089 -0.78% -0.01%
2088 -0.82% -0.05%
2087 -0.73% -0.05%
2086 -0.72% -0.06%
2085 -0.7% -0.06%
2084 -0.77% -0.08%
2083 -0.71% -0.06%
2082 -0.75% -0.03%
2081 -0.71% -0.04%
2080 -0.71% -0.02%
2079 -0.67% -0.01%
2078 -0.57% 0.02%
2077 -0.57% 0.007%
2076 -0.58% 0.007%
2075 -0.62% 0.02%
2074 -0.62% 0.02%
2073 -0.55% 0.07%
2072 -0.52% 0.001%
2071 -0.43% 0.01%
2070 -0.45% 0.02%
2069 -0.41% 0.03%
2068 -0.4% 0.04%
2067 -0.4% 0.07%
2066 -0.37% 0.07%
2065 -0.25% 0.06%
2064 -0.22% 0.03%
2063 -0.26% 0.07%
2062 -0.24% 0.02%
2061 -0.21% 0.06%
2060 -0.14% 0.08%
2059 -0.15% 0.09%
2058 -0.01% 0.1%
2057 -0.14% 0.11%
2056 -0.07% 0.15%
2055 0.06% 0.16%
2054 -0.07% 0.17%
2053 -0.01% 0.15%
2052 0.12% 0.2%
2051 0.11% 0.19%
2050 0.09% 0.15%
2049 0.12% 0.19%
2048 0.11% 0.19%
2047 0.18% 0.21%
2046 0.27% 0.24%
2045 0.29% 0.26%
2044 0.32% 0.28%
2043 0.36% 0.31%
2042 0.33% 0.34%
2041 0.37% 0.32%
2040 0.38% 0.33%
2039 0.41% 0.35%
2038 0.46% 0.35%
2037 0.51% 0.36%
2036 0.55% 0.37%
2035 0.44% 0.37%
2034 0.54% 0.41%
2033 0.58% 0.42%
2032 0.6% 0.45%
2031 0.57% 0.47%
2030 0.52% 0.52%
2029 0.57% 0.56%
2028 0.56% 0.61%
2027 0.7% 0.65%
2026 0.69% 0.7%
2025 0.61% 0.76%
2024 0.65% 1.68%
2023 0.7% 2.33%
2022 0.71% -0.06%
2021 0.71% 0.24%
2020 0.68% 2.05%
2019 0.67% 1.42%
2018 0.72% 1.81%
2017 0.86% 2.11%
2016 0.98% 2.27%
2015 1.02% 2.06%
2014 1.08% 1.67%
2013 1.11% 0.77%
2012 1.11% 0.55%
2011 1.1% 0.77%
2010 1.1% 1.12%
2009 1.11% 1%
2008 1.14% 0.85%
2007 1.17% 0.94%
2006 1.35% 1.23%
2005 1.74% 1.14%
2004 2.02% 1.5%
2003 2.12% 1.99%
2002 2.23% 1.75%
2001 2.33% 0.59%
2000 2.45% 0.59%
1999 2.31% 0.53%
1998 1.92% 0.89%
1997 1.81% 1.32%
1996 0.15% 1.6%
1995 -1.17% 1.48%
1994 -0.03% 1.34%
1993 -4% 1.15%
1992 -3.67% 1.05%
1991 1.78% 4.96%
1990 2.74% 0.93%
1989 2.98% 0.48%
1988 3.04% 0.27%
1987 3.1% 0.87%
1986 3.13% -0.02%
1985 3.17% 0.62%
1984 3.21% 0.87%
1983 3.24% 1.37%
1982 3.27% 1%
1981 3.33% 0.39%
1980 3.39% 0.13%
1979 3.44% -0.39%
1978 3.47% 0.03%
1977 3.47% 0.31%
1976 3.47% 0.89%
1975 3.47% 1.96%
1974 3.46% 2.11%
1973 3.46% 1.98%
1972 3.46% 1.78%
1971 3.46% 1.5%
1970 3.46% 1.37%
1969 3.43% 0.9%
1968 3.39% 0.88%
1967 3.35% 1.8%
1966 3.3% 1.81%
1965 3.25% 1.66%
1964 3.19% 2.12%
1963 3.16% 2.01%
1962 3.05% 2.57%
1961 2.91% 2.02%

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/new-zealand | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while New Zealand's population grew by 1.68%.

Live population counters

Bhutan New Zealand
Current population
803385
5374272
Population rank 163/197 124/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.06%
One net population change
1.7 hours
6.01 minutes
One birth every
52.8 minutes
9.31 minutes
One death every
1.82 hours
14 minutes
Daily growth/decline +14 +240
Annual growth/decline +5,139 +87,500
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +1.68%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 65/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
30.3 minutes
Annual migration change +455 +17,403
Net migration rank 69/196 35/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 1,467,989
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 45/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 28.2%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 20/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
New Zealand
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan New Zealand
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - 17,403
2024 - -277 - 18,766
2023 5,153 291 18,876 21,404
2022 5,204 291 20,123 21,404
2021 5,162 287 23,644 -14,944
2020 5,142 287 24,905 42,124
2019 4,643 287 25,299 69,770
2018 4,909 287 24,797 59,139
2017 5,367 287 26,282 68,349
2016 6,164 1,116 28,237 75,512
2015 6,762 450 29,408 70,870
2014 7,290 452 26,196 57,974
2013 7,689 309 29,096 26,385
2012 7,967 20 31,077 -1,015
2011 8,282 -464 31,302 -2,196
2010 8,598 -922 35,458 6,722
2009 8,913 -1,305 33,560 12,700
2008 9,200 -1,538 35,143 4,804
2007 9,322 -1,553 35,480 3,053
2006 9,197 -1,283 30,924 14,542
2005 9,102 848 30,674 19,212
2004 9,056 3,642 29,634 24,521
2003 9,132 3,921 28,150 42,456
2002 9,464 3,996 25,941 48,195
2001 9,904 3,874 27,939 17,793
2000 10,142 3,940 29,897 -6,604
1999 10,940 3,542 28,916 -7,634
1998 11,320 486 29,146 -1,387
1997 11,668 -1,994 30,137 12,040
1996 12,153 -1,998 28,997 25,169
1995 12,938 -21,501 29,828 26,743
1994 13,536 -17,997 30,372 20,420
1993 13,915 -9,800 31,685 12,638
1992 15,594 -65,900 32,067 6,460
1991 15,801 -9,522 33,518 31,156
1990 15,704 -1,000 33,298 70,432
1989 15,516 1,180 30,749 -8,818
1988 15,212 1,286 29,846 -17,005
1987 14,887 1,481 27,603 -7,631
1986 14,516 1,586 25,549 -10,234
1985 14,061 1,694 24,126 -13,462
1984 13,688 1,779 26,043 -901
1983 13,284 1,897 24,315 11,464
1982 12,872 1,897 24,207 7,982
1981 12,444 2,096 25,374 -7,606
1980 12,016 2,307 23,658 -15,423
1979 11,583 2,493 26,675 -26,694
1978 11,133 2,700 26,156 -28,783
1977 10,679 2,700 28,020 -22,697
1976 10,228 2,700 29,456 -9,138
1975 9,775 2,700 31,355 13,196
1974 9,324 2,700 33,896 27,580
1973 8,939 2,700 35,239 28,261
1972 8,549 2,700 38,244 17,779
1971 8,161 2,700 40,000 7,547
1970 7,791 2,700 37,101 4,511
1969 7,435 2,700 38,098 -5,212
1968 7,085 2,593 37,594 -11,853
1967 6,744 2,493 37,974 -2,289
1966 6,418 2,407 36,151 9,161
1965 6,109 2,307 36,982 9,245
1964 5,818 2,196 39,375 9,806
1963 5,551 2,096 42,027 10,226
1962 5,297 2,096 42,865 12,697
1961 5,081 1,586 43,482 10,689
1960 4,888 1,481 41,791 3,846

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

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/new-zealand | 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 New Zealand 34.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 247,767 people) and 65.6% is from migration (a gain of 471,602 people).

As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 1,467,989 people or 28.2% in New Zealand.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
New Zealand
City Population
Auckland 1.47M
Christchurch 383K
Wellington 216K
Hamilton 176K
Tauranga 151K
Dunedin 106K
Lower Hutt 103K
Palmerston North 81.5K
Napier 66.3K
Hibiscus Coast 59.8K

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/new-zealand | 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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