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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 17,695 people in Palau in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 17,629 in Palau.

Population statistics:

  • Bhutan's population is 45.6 times bigger than Palau's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Palau is the 194th.
  • The countries together account for 0.01% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.0002% for Palau.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +0.02% in Palau.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Palau has declined from 19.6K to 17.6K (10% decline).

Bhutan vs Palau: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Palau
2100 695,106 11,152
2099 699,983 11,216
2098 704,455 11,281
2097 709,230 11,352
2096 713,930 11,417
2095 719,152 11,485
2094 724,401 11,549
2093 729,500 11,616
2092 735,075 11,682
2091 741,074 11,753
2090 746,937 11,829
2089 753,010 11,907
2088 758,937 11,968
2087 765,235 12,040
2086 770,883 12,109
2085 776,435 12,171
2084 781,892 12,251
2083 787,929 12,316
2082 793,543 12,382
2081 799,530 12,457
2080 805,275 12,537
2079 811,060 12,608
2078 816,530 12,681
2077 821,247 12,758
2076 825,978 12,838
2075 830,808 12,914
2074 836,017 13,007
2073 841,208 13,091
2072 845,861 13,161
2071 850,262 13,252
2070 853,930 13,338
2069 857,808 13,430
2068 861,327 13,525
2067 864,753 13,621
2066 868,260 13,723
2065 871,517 13,818
2064 873,735 13,920
2063 875,674 14,025
2062 877,938 14,136
2061 880,023 14,251
2060 881,913 14,358
2059 883,191 14,479
2058 884,515 14,589
2057 884,612 14,718
2056 885,822 14,837
2055 886,403 14,961
2054 885,903 15,084
2053 886,520 15,206
2052 886,640 15,332
2051 885,551 15,453
2050 884,535 15,562
2049 883,736 15,682
2048 882,640 15,797
2047 881,660 15,912
2046 880,037 16,024
2045 877,677 16,132
2044 875,155 16,245
2043 872,383 16,339
2042 869,248 16,445
2041 866,366 16,549
2040 863,173 16,631
2039 859,926 16,727
2038 856,429 16,805
2037 852,475 16,895
2036 848,122 16,964
2035 843,447 17,042
2034 839,780 17,118
2033 835,308 17,190
2032 830,472 17,250
2031 825,528 17,330
2030 820,888 17,398
2029 816,655 17,457
2028 812,002 17,527
2027 807,474 17,576
2026 801,869 17,629
2025 796,375 17,672
2024 791,524 17,695
2023 786,385 17,727
2022 780,914 17,759
2021 775,442 17,783
2020 770,006 17,792
2019 764,824 17,798
2018 759,759 17,814
2017 754,335 17,812
2016 747,866 17,797
2015 740,618 17,770
2014 733,139 17,715
2013 725,273 17,648
2012 717,279 17,765
2011 709,377 18,078
2010 701,632 18,396
2009 693,988 18,709
2008 686,351 19,009
2007 678,641 19,302
2006 670,799 19,593
2005 661,865 19,819
2004 650,544 19,820
2003 637,663 19,659
2002 624,409 19,503
2001 610,794 19,352
2000 596,863 19,178
1999 582,579 18,901
1998 569,435 18,524
1997 558,697 18,108
1996 548,784 17,654
1995 547,989 17,195
1994 554,497 16,770
1993 554,673 16,372
1992 577,774 15,989
1991 599,784 15,614
1990 589,287 15,259
1989 573,586 14,945
1988 556,986 14,645
1987 540,557 14,334
1986 524,324 14,024
1985 508,392 13,688
1984 492,784 13,337
1983 477,460 13,006
1982 462,485 12,694
1981 447,836 12,402
1980 433,404 12,271
1979 419,200 12,337
1978 405,243 12,440
1977 391,639 12,525
1976 378,490 12,598
1975 365,791 12,655
1974 353,538 12,687
1973 341,705 12,552
1972 330,264 12,194
1971 319,211 11,759
1970 308,528 11,368
1969 298,214 11,159
1968 288,311 11,080
1967 278,852 10,988
1966 269,820 10,805
1965 261,200 10,547
1964 252,987 10,292
1963 245,156 10,037
1962 237,636 9,793
1961 230,602 9,555
1960 224,084 9,328

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/palau | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Palau lost 1,796 people (a 9.17% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Palau's population decreased by 168 people (a 0.94% decline).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. Palau was ranked 194th in 2006 and still ranked 194th 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 Palau will decrease by 11.7% to 15,562 people and rank change from 194th to 195th.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people, while Palau's population already peaked in 2004 at 19.8K people and is projected to decrease to 11.2K people by 2100.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Palau
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Palau
2100 -0.7% -0.57%
2099 -0.63% -0.58%
2098 -0.67% -0.62%
2097 -0.66% -0.57%
2096 -0.73% -0.59%
2095 -0.72% -0.55%
2094 -0.7% -0.58%
2093 -0.76% -0.56%
2092 -0.81% -0.6%
2091 -0.78% -0.65%
2090 -0.81% -0.65%
2089 -0.78% -0.51%
2088 -0.82% -0.6%
2087 -0.73% -0.57%
2086 -0.72% -0.51%
2085 -0.7% -0.65%
2084 -0.77% -0.53%
2083 -0.71% -0.53%
2082 -0.75% -0.6%
2081 -0.71% -0.64%
2080 -0.71% -0.56%
2079 -0.67% -0.58%
2078 -0.57% -0.6%
2077 -0.57% -0.62%
2076 -0.58% -0.59%
2075 -0.62% -0.71%
2074 -0.62% -0.64%
2073 -0.55% -0.53%
2072 -0.52% -0.69%
2071 -0.43% -0.65%
2070 -0.45% -0.68%
2069 -0.41% -0.7%
2068 -0.4% -0.7%
2067 -0.4% -0.74%
2066 -0.37% -0.69%
2065 -0.25% -0.73%
2064 -0.22% -0.75%
2063 -0.26% -0.78%
2062 -0.24% -0.81%
2061 -0.21% -0.74%
2060 -0.14% -0.84%
2059 -0.15% -0.75%
2058 -0.01% -0.88%
2057 -0.14% -0.81%
2056 -0.07% -0.83%
2055 0.06% -0.81%
2054 -0.07% -0.8%
2053 -0.01% -0.82%
2052 0.12% -0.78%
2051 0.11% -0.7%
2050 0.09% -0.76%
2049 0.12% -0.73%
2048 0.11% -0.72%
2047 0.18% -0.7%
2046 0.27% -0.67%
2045 0.29% -0.7%
2044 0.32% -0.57%
2043 0.36% -0.64%
2042 0.33% -0.63%
2041 0.37% -0.49%
2040 0.38% -0.57%
2039 0.41% -0.46%
2038 0.46% -0.53%
2037 0.51% -0.41%
2036 0.55% -0.46%
2035 0.44% -0.44%
2034 0.54% -0.42%
2033 0.58% -0.35%
2032 0.6% -0.46%
2031 0.57% -0.39%
2030 0.52% -0.34%
2029 0.57% -0.4%
2028 0.56% -0.28%
2027 0.7% -0.3%
2026 0.69% -0.24%
2025 0.61% -0.13%
2024 0.65% -0.18%
2023 0.7% -0.18%
2022 0.71% -0.13%
2021 0.71% -0.05%
2020 0.68% -0.03%
2019 0.67% -0.09%
2018 0.72% 0.01%
2017 0.86% 0.08%
2016 0.98% 0.15%
2015 1.02% 0.31%
2014 1.08% 0.38%
2013 1.11% -0.66%
2012 1.11% -1.73%
2011 1.1% -1.73%
2010 1.1% -1.67%
2009 1.11% -1.58%
2008 1.14% -1.52%
2007 1.17% -1.49%
2006 1.35% -1.14%
2005 1.74% -0.005%
2004 2.02% 0.82%
2003 2.12% 0.8%
2002 2.23% 0.78%
2001 2.33% 0.91%
2000 2.45% 1.47%
1999 2.31% 2.04%
1998 1.92% 2.3%
1997 1.81% 2.57%
1996 0.15% 2.67%
1995 -1.17% 2.53%
1994 -0.03% 2.43%
1993 -4% 2.4%
1992 -3.67% 2.4%
1991 1.78% 2.33%
1990 2.74% 2.1%
1989 2.98% 2.05%
1988 3.04% 2.17%
1987 3.1% 2.21%
1986 3.13% 2.45%
1985 3.17% 2.63%
1984 3.21% 2.54%
1983 3.24% 2.46%
1982 3.27% 2.35%
1981 3.33% 1.07%
1980 3.39% -0.53%
1979 3.44% -0.83%
1978 3.47% -0.68%
1977 3.47% -0.58%
1976 3.47% -0.45%
1975 3.47% -0.25%
1974 3.46% 1.08%
1973 3.46% 2.94%
1972 3.46% 3.7%
1971 3.46% 3.44%
1970 3.46% 1.87%
1969 3.43% 0.71%
1968 3.39% 0.84%
1967 3.35% 1.69%
1966 3.3% 2.45%
1965 3.25% 2.48%
1964 3.19% 2.54%
1963 3.16% 2.49%
1962 3.05% 2.49%
1961 2.91% 2.43%

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/palau | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Palau's population declined by 0.18%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Palau
Current population
803385
17629
Population rank 163/197 194/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.0002%
One net population change
1.7 hours
1.63 weeks
One birth every
52.8 minutes
1.89 days
One death every
1.82 hours
1.8 days
Daily growth/decline +14 +0
Annual growth/decline +5,139 -32
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% -0.18%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 175/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
3.27 weeks
Annual migration change +455 -16
Net migration rank 69/196 78/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 5,212
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 184/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 29.5%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 19/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Palau
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Palau
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - -16
2024 - -277 - -14
2023 5,153 291 -10 -19
2022 5,204 291 -7 -20
2021 5,162 287 -3 -21
2020 5,142 287 8 0
2019 4,643 287 23 -46
2018 4,909 287 29 -35
2017 5,367 287 43 -33
2016 6,164 1,116 53 -35
2015 6,762 450 55 -11
2014 7,290 452 73 -7
2013 7,689 309 88 -28
2012 7,967 20 86 -387
2011 8,282 -464 83 -405
2010 8,598 -922 81 -392
2009 8,913 -1,305 81 -382
2008 9,200 -1,538 79 -378
2007 9,322 -1,553 80 -372
2006 9,197 -1,283 79 -365
2005 9,102 848 80 -250
2004 9,056 3,642 83 79
2003 9,132 3,921 86 71
2002 9,464 3,996 88 67
2001 9,904 3,874 88 65
2000 10,142 3,940 85 120
1999 10,940 3,542 100 243
1998 11,320 486 116 280
1997 11,668 -1,994 140 297
1996 12,153 -1,998 166 312
1995 12,938 -21,501 186 258
1994 13,536 -17,997 195 211
1993 13,915 -9,800 196 193
1992 15,594 -65,900 183 193
1991 15,801 -9,522 175 193
1990 15,704 -1,000 181 156
1989 15,516 1,180 185 113
1988 15,212 1,286 183 126
1987 14,887 1,481 182 125
1986 14,516 1,586 182 135
1985 14,061 1,694 181 179
1984 13,688 1,779 181 157
1983 13,284 1,897 176 144
1982 12,872 1,897 170 132
1981 12,444 2,096 161 120
1980 12,016 2,307 165 -179
1979 11,583 2,493 176 -291
1978 11,133 2,700 193 -285
1977 10,679 2,700 213 -292
1976 10,228 2,700 236 -296
1975 9,775 2,700 249 -296
1974 9,324 2,700 256 -282
1973 8,939 2,700 268 22
1972 8,549 2,700 280 147
1971 8,161 2,700 287 156
1970 7,791 2,700 286 54
1969 7,435 2,700 283 -209
1968 7,085 2,593 275 -194
1967 6,744 2,493 266 -150
1966 6,418 2,407 268 -18
1965 6,109 2,307 275 -16
1964 5,818 2,196 284 -27
1963 5,551 2,096 291 -41
1962 5,297 2,096 296 -54
1961 5,081 1,586 298 -65
1960 4,888 1,481 296 -70

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

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/palau | 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 Palau 53.8% is from natural causes (a gain of 264 people) and 46.2% is from migration (a loss of 227 people).

As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 5,212 people or 29.5% in Palau.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
Palau
City Population
Ngerulmud 318
Melekeok 299

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/palau | 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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