The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 51,751,065 people in South Korea in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 51,649,918 in South Korea.
Population statistics:
- South Korea's population is 64.3 times bigger than Bhutan's.
- Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while South Korea is the 31st.
- The countries together account for 0.63% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.62% for South Korea.
- For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +0.24% in South Korea.
- Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while South Korea has grown from 48.4M to 51.6M (6.63% growth).
Bhutan vs South Korea: population by year and forecast
| Year | Population | |
|---|---|---|
Bhutan
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | 695,106 | 22,012,503 |
| 2099 | 699,983 | 22,335,528 |
| 2098 | 704,455 | 22,668,719 |
| 2097 | 709,230 | 23,009,661 |
| 2096 | 713,930 | 23,360,151 |
| 2095 | 719,152 | 23,722,747 |
| 2094 | 724,401 | 24,093,391 |
| 2093 | 729,500 | 24,473,038 |
| 2092 | 735,075 | 24,860,975 |
| 2091 | 741,074 | 25,255,379 |
| 2090 | 746,937 | 25,655,577 |
| 2089 | 753,010 | 26,060,945 |
| 2088 | 758,937 | 26,470,073 |
| 2087 | 765,235 | 26,884,813 |
| 2086 | 770,883 | 27,301,913 |
| 2085 | 776,435 | 27,723,736 |
| 2084 | 781,892 | 28,147,480 |
| 2083 | 787,929 | 28,578,182 |
| 2082 | 793,543 | 29,012,953 |
| 2081 | 799,530 | 29,456,022 |
| 2080 | 805,275 | 29,901,880 |
| 2079 | 811,060 | 30,352,062 |
| 2078 | 816,530 | 30,809,176 |
| 2077 | 821,247 | 31,273,700 |
| 2076 | 825,978 | 31,744,480 |
| 2075 | 830,808 | 32,221,226 |
| 2074 | 836,017 | 32,706,020 |
| 2073 | 841,208 | 33,196,556 |
| 2072 | 845,861 | 33,696,490 |
| 2071 | 850,262 | 34,203,935 |
| 2070 | 853,930 | 34,719,324 |
| 2069 | 857,808 | 35,241,850 |
| 2068 | 861,327 | 35,762,799 |
| 2067 | 864,753 | 36,292,307 |
| 2066 | 868,260 | 36,826,655 |
| 2065 | 871,517 | 37,368,086 |
| 2064 | 873,735 | 37,916,439 |
| 2063 | 875,674 | 38,469,051 |
| 2062 | 877,938 | 39,028,473 |
| 2061 | 880,023 | 39,584,621 |
| 2060 | 881,913 | 40,149,830 |
| 2059 | 883,191 | 40,712,514 |
| 2058 | 884,515 | 41,277,134 |
| 2057 | 884,612 | 41,833,887 |
| 2056 | 885,822 | 42,377,427 |
| 2055 | 886,403 | 42,909,302 |
| 2054 | 885,903 | 43,427,254 |
| 2053 | 886,520 | 43,938,741 |
| 2052 | 886,640 | 44,441,106 |
| 2051 | 885,551 | 44,923,604 |
| 2050 | 884,535 | 45,385,311 |
| 2049 | 883,736 | 45,832,153 |
| 2048 | 882,640 | 46,258,529 |
| 2047 | 881,660 | 46,668,898 |
| 2046 | 880,037 | 47,056,404 |
| 2045 | 877,677 | 47,433,205 |
| 2044 | 875,155 | 47,797,411 |
| 2043 | 872,383 | 48,144,730 |
| 2042 | 869,248 | 48,478,991 |
| 2041 | 866,366 | 48,806,273 |
| 2040 | 863,173 | 49,115,658 |
| 2039 | 859,926 | 49,412,830 |
| 2038 | 856,429 | 49,694,340 |
| 2037 | 852,475 | 49,957,504 |
| 2036 | 848,122 | 50,200,702 |
| 2035 | 843,447 | 50,426,000 |
| 2034 | 839,780 | 50,632,962 |
| 2033 | 835,308 | 50,821,090 |
| 2032 | 830,472 | 50,987,020 |
| 2031 | 825,528 | 51,134,940 |
| 2030 | 820,888 | 51,267,908 |
| 2029 | 816,655 | 51,385,868 |
| 2028 | 812,002 | 51,486,791 |
| 2027 | 807,474 | 51,576,746 |
| 2026 | 801,869 | 51,649,918 |
| 2025 | 796,375 | 51,710,062 |
| 2024 | 791,524 | 51,751,065 |
| 2023 | 786,385 | 51,712,619 |
| 2022 | 780,914 | 51,672,569 |
| 2021 | 775,442 | 51,769,539 |
| 2020 | 770,006 | 51,836,239 |
| 2019 | 764,824 | 51,764,822 |
| 2018 | 759,759 | 51,585,058 |
| 2017 | 754,335 | 51,361,911 |
| 2016 | 747,866 | 51,217,803 |
| 2015 | 740,618 | 51,014,947 |
| 2014 | 733,139 | 50,746,659 |
| 2013 | 725,273 | 50,428,893 |
| 2012 | 717,279 | 50,199,853 |
| 2011 | 709,377 | 49,936,638 |
| 2010 | 701,632 | 49,554,112 |
| 2009 | 693,988 | 49,307,835 |
| 2008 | 686,351 | 49,054,708 |
| 2007 | 678,641 | 48,683,638 |
| 2006 | 670,799 | 48,438,292 |
| 2005 | 661,865 | 48,184,561 |
| 2004 | 650,544 | 48,082,519 |
| 2003 | 637,663 | 47,892,330 |
| 2002 | 624,409 | 47,644,736 |
| 2001 | 610,794 | 47,370,164 |
| 2000 | 596,863 | 47,008,111 |
| 1999 | 582,579 | 46,616,677 |
| 1998 | 569,435 | 46,286,503 |
| 1997 | 558,697 | 45,953,580 |
| 1996 | 548,784 | 45,524,681 |
| 1995 | 547,989 | 45,092,991 |
| 1994 | 554,497 | 44,641,540 |
| 1993 | 554,673 | 44,194,628 |
| 1992 | 577,774 | 43,747,962 |
| 1991 | 599,784 | 43,295,704 |
| 1990 | 589,287 | 42,869,283 |
| 1989 | 573,586 | 42,449,038 |
| 1988 | 556,986 | 42,031,247 |
| 1987 | 540,557 | 41,621,690 |
| 1986 | 524,324 | 41,213,674 |
| 1985 | 508,392 | 40,805,744 |
| 1984 | 492,784 | 40,405,956 |
| 1983 | 477,460 | 39,910,403 |
| 1982 | 462,485 | 39,326,352 |
| 1981 | 447,836 | 38,723,248 |
| 1980 | 433,404 | 38,123,775 |
| 1979 | 419,200 | 37,534,236 |
| 1978 | 405,243 | 36,969,185 |
| 1977 | 391,639 | 36,411,795 |
| 1976 | 378,490 | 35,848,523 |
| 1975 | 365,791 | 35,280,725 |
| 1974 | 353,538 | 34,692,266 |
| 1973 | 341,705 | 34,103,149 |
| 1972 | 330,264 | 33,505,406 |
| 1971 | 319,211 | 32,882,704 |
| 1970 | 308,528 | 32,240,827 |
| 1969 | 298,214 | 31,544,266 |
| 1968 | 288,311 | 30,838,302 |
| 1967 | 278,852 | 30,130,983 |
| 1966 | 269,820 | 29,435,571 |
| 1965 | 261,200 | 28,704,674 |
| 1964 | 252,987 | 27,984,155 |
| 1963 | 245,156 | 27,261,747 |
| 1962 | 237,636 | 26,513,030 |
| 1961 | 230,602 | 25,765,673 |
| 1960 | 224,084 | 25,012,374 |
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/south-korea | CC BY 
From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while South Korea gained 2,779,511 people (a 5.74% growth).
For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while South Korea's population increased by 432,115 people (a 0.84% growth).
Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. South Korea was ranked 25th in 2006 and ranked 31st 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 South Korea will decrease by 12.1% to 45,385,311 people and rank change from 31st to 48th.
Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people, while South Korea's population already peaked in 2020 at 51.8M people and is projected to decrease to 22M people by 2100.
Population growth rate by year
| Year | Growth rate | |
|---|---|---|
|
Bhutan
|
South Korea
|
|
| 2100 | -0.7% | -1.45% |
| 2099 | -0.63% | -1.47% |
| 2098 | -0.67% | -1.48% |
| 2097 | -0.66% | -1.5% |
| 2096 | -0.73% | -1.53% |
| 2095 | -0.72% | -1.54% |
| 2094 | -0.7% | -1.55% |
| 2093 | -0.76% | -1.56% |
| 2092 | -0.81% | -1.56% |
| 2091 | -0.78% | -1.56% |
| 2090 | -0.81% | -1.56% |
| 2089 | -0.78% | -1.55% |
| 2088 | -0.82% | -1.54% |
| 2087 | -0.73% | -1.53% |
| 2086 | -0.72% | -1.52% |
| 2085 | -0.7% | -1.51% |
| 2084 | -0.77% | -1.51% |
| 2083 | -0.71% | -1.5% |
| 2082 | -0.75% | -1.5% |
| 2081 | -0.71% | -1.49% |
| 2080 | -0.71% | -1.48% |
| 2079 | -0.67% | -1.48% |
| 2078 | -0.57% | -1.49% |
| 2077 | -0.57% | -1.48% |
| 2076 | -0.58% | -1.48% |
| 2075 | -0.62% | -1.48% |
| 2074 | -0.62% | -1.48% |
| 2073 | -0.55% | -1.48% |
| 2072 | -0.52% | -1.48% |
| 2071 | -0.43% | -1.48% |
| 2070 | -0.45% | -1.48% |
| 2069 | -0.41% | -1.46% |
| 2068 | -0.4% | -1.46% |
| 2067 | -0.4% | -1.45% |
| 2066 | -0.37% | -1.45% |
| 2065 | -0.25% | -1.45% |
| 2064 | -0.22% | -1.44% |
| 2063 | -0.26% | -1.43% |
| 2062 | -0.24% | -1.4% |
| 2061 | -0.21% | -1.41% |
| 2060 | -0.14% | -1.38% |
| 2059 | -0.15% | -1.37% |
| 2058 | -0.01% | -1.33% |
| 2057 | -0.14% | -1.28% |
| 2056 | -0.07% | -1.24% |
| 2055 | 0.06% | -1.19% |
| 2054 | -0.07% | -1.16% |
| 2053 | -0.01% | -1.13% |
| 2052 | 0.12% | -1.07% |
| 2051 | 0.11% | -1.02% |
| 2050 | 0.09% | -0.97% |
| 2049 | 0.12% | -0.92% |
| 2048 | 0.11% | -0.88% |
| 2047 | 0.18% | -0.82% |
| 2046 | 0.27% | -0.79% |
| 2045 | 0.29% | -0.76% |
| 2044 | 0.32% | -0.72% |
| 2043 | 0.36% | -0.69% |
| 2042 | 0.33% | -0.67% |
| 2041 | 0.37% | -0.63% |
| 2040 | 0.38% | -0.6% |
| 2039 | 0.41% | -0.57% |
| 2038 | 0.46% | -0.53% |
| 2037 | 0.51% | -0.48% |
| 2036 | 0.55% | -0.45% |
| 2035 | 0.44% | -0.41% |
| 2034 | 0.54% | -0.37% |
| 2033 | 0.58% | -0.33% |
| 2032 | 0.6% | -0.29% |
| 2031 | 0.57% | -0.26% |
| 2030 | 0.52% | -0.23% |
| 2029 | 0.57% | -0.2% |
| 2028 | 0.56% | -0.17% |
| 2027 | 0.7% | -0.14% |
| 2026 | 0.69% | -0.12% |
| 2025 | 0.61% | -0.08% |
| 2024 | 0.65% | 0.07% |
| 2023 | 0.7% | 0.08% |
| 2022 | 0.71% | -0.19% |
| 2021 | 0.71% | -0.13% |
| 2020 | 0.68% | 0.14% |
| 2019 | 0.67% | 0.35% |
| 2018 | 0.72% | 0.43% |
| 2017 | 0.86% | 0.28% |
| 2016 | 0.98% | 0.4% |
| 2015 | 1.02% | 0.53% |
| 2014 | 1.08% | 0.63% |
| 2013 | 1.11% | 0.46% |
| 2012 | 1.11% | 0.53% |
| 2011 | 1.1% | 0.77% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | 0.5% |
| 2009 | 1.11% | 0.52% |
| 2008 | 1.14% | 0.76% |
| 2007 | 1.17% | 0.51% |
| 2006 | 1.35% | 0.53% |
| 2005 | 1.74% | 0.21% |
| 2004 | 2.02% | 0.4% |
| 2003 | 2.12% | 0.52% |
| 2002 | 2.23% | 0.58% |
| 2001 | 2.33% | 0.77% |
| 2000 | 2.45% | 0.84% |
| 1999 | 2.31% | 0.71% |
| 1998 | 1.92% | 0.72% |
| 1997 | 1.81% | 0.94% |
| 1996 | 0.15% | 0.96% |
| 1995 | -1.17% | 1.01% |
| 1994 | -0.03% | 1.01% |
| 1993 | -4% | 1.02% |
| 1992 | -3.67% | 1.04% |
| 1991 | 1.78% | 0.99% |
| 1990 | 2.74% | 0.99% |
| 1989 | 2.98% | 0.99% |
| 1988 | 3.04% | 0.98% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | 0.99% |
| 1986 | 3.13% | 1% |
| 1985 | 3.17% | 0.99% |
| 1984 | 3.21% | 1.24% |
| 1983 | 3.24% | 1.49% |
| 1982 | 3.27% | 1.56% |
| 1981 | 3.33% | 1.57% |
| 1980 | 3.39% | 1.57% |
| 1979 | 3.44% | 1.53% |
| 1978 | 3.47% | 1.53% |
| 1977 | 3.47% | 1.57% |
| 1976 | 3.47% | 1.61% |
| 1975 | 3.47% | 1.7% |
| 1974 | 3.46% | 1.73% |
| 1973 | 3.46% | 1.78% |
| 1972 | 3.46% | 1.89% |
| 1971 | 3.46% | 1.99% |
| 1970 | 3.46% | 2.21% |
| 1969 | 3.43% | 2.29% |
| 1968 | 3.39% | 2.35% |
| 1967 | 3.35% | 2.36% |
| 1966 | 3.3% | 2.55% |
| 1965 | 3.25% | 2.57% |
| 1964 | 3.19% | 2.65% |
| 1963 | 3.16% | 2.82% |
| 1962 | 3.05% | 2.9% |
| 1961 | 2.91% | 3.01% |
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/south-korea | CC BY
In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while South Korea's population grew by 0.07%.
Live population counters
|
Bhutan
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Current population |
803385
|
51649918
|
| Population rank | 163/197 | 31/197 |
| Percent of world population | 0.01% | 0.62% |
| One net population change |
1.7 hours
|
13.7 minutes
|
| One birth every |
52.8 minutes
|
2.26 minutes
|
| One death every |
1.82 hours
|
1.69 minutes
|
| Daily growth/decline | +14 | +105 |
| Annual growth/decline | +5,139 | +38,446 |
| Annual growth/decline rate | +0.65% | +0.07% |
| Population growth rate rank | 120/197 | 160/197 |
| One migration net change every |
19.3 hours
|
8.02 minutes
|
| Annual migration change | +455 | +65,731 |
| Net migration rank | 69/196 | 20/196 |
| Foreign-born residents | 55,705 | 1,811,507 |
| Foreign-born residents rank | 146/195 | 40/195 |
| Foreign-born share of population | 7% | 3.5% |
| Foreign-born share rank | 80/195 | 111/195 |
Natural population change vs migration
| Year | Population change | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bhutan
|
South Korea
|
|||
| Natural | Migration | Natural | Migration | |
| 2025 | - | 455 | - | 65,731 |
| 2024 | - | -277 | - | 75,963 |
| 2023 | 5,153 | 291 | -77,569 | 87,800 |
| 2022 | 5,204 | 291 | -124,014 | 87,800 |
| 2021 | 5,162 | 287 | -56,947 | -16,778 |
| 2020 | 5,142 | 287 | -31,101 | 112,631 |
| 2019 | 4,643 | 287 | 10,353 | 128,622 |
| 2018 | 4,909 | 287 | 30,951 | 118,220 |
| 2017 | 5,367 | 287 | 71,907 | 104,029 |
| 2016 | 6,164 | 1,116 | 122,923 | 91,568 |
| 2015 | 6,762 | 450 | 163,248 | 276,427 |
| 2014 | 7,290 | 452 | 167,464 | 308,037 |
| 2013 | 7,689 | 309 | 166,415 | 301,926 |
| 2012 | 7,967 | 20 | 215,859 | 281,866 |
| 2011 | 8,282 | -464 | 214,728 | 269,958 |
| 2010 | 8,598 | -922 | 213,083 | 52,042 |
| 2009 | 8,913 | -1,305 | 197,231 | 5,308 |
| 2008 | 9,200 | -1,538 | 215,841 | -19,630 |
| 2007 | 9,322 | -1,553 | 248,286 | -42,293 |
| 2006 | 9,197 | -1,283 | 203,441 | -28,434 |
| 2005 | 9,102 | 848 | 187,920 | -47,821 |
| 2004 | 9,056 | 3,642 | 225,988 | -42,549 |
| 2003 | 9,132 | 3,921 | 244,251 | -31,994 |
| 2002 | 9,464 | 3,996 | 247,752 | -18,105 |
| 2001 | 9,904 | 3,874 | 312,643 | -28,006 |
| 2000 | 10,142 | 3,940 | 390,167 | -84,960 |
| 1999 | 10,940 | 3,542 | 368,272 | -107,448 |
| 1998 | 11,320 | 486 | 393,436 | -98,044 |
| 1997 | 11,668 | -1,994 | 422,773 | -109,130 |
| 1996 | 12,153 | -1,998 | 446,142 | -115,705 |
| 1995 | 12,938 | -21,501 | 468,967 | -208,491 |
| 1994 | 13,536 | -17,997 | 473,200 | -208,309 |
| 1993 | 13,915 | -9,800 | 477,302 | -222,802 |
| 1992 | 15,594 | -65,900 | 494,352 | -265,849 |
| 1991 | 15,801 | -9,522 | 467,594 | -270,754 |
| 1990 | 15,704 | -1,000 | 411,546 | 79,294 |
| 1989 | 15,516 | 1,180 | 403,266 | 186,120 |
| 1988 | 15,212 | 1,286 | 399,297 | 192,534 |
| 1987 | 14,887 | 1,481 | 378,758 | 198,057 |
| 1986 | 14,516 | 1,586 | 395,651 | 189,782 |
| 1985 | 14,061 | 1,694 | 416,219 | 97,949 |
| 1984 | 13,688 | 1,779 | 436,384 | 101,394 |
| 1983 | 13,284 | 1,897 | 514,844 | 102,167 |
| 1982 | 12,872 | 1,897 | 605,626 | 48,638 |
| 1981 | 12,444 | 2,096 | 631,189 | 18,442 |
| 1980 | 12,016 | 2,307 | 583,294 | -148,341 |
| 1979 | 11,583 | 2,493 | 623,068 | -139,566 |
| 1978 | 11,133 | 2,700 | 499,084 | -85,721 |
| 1977 | 10,679 | 2,700 | 578,947 | -90,737 |
| 1976 | 10,228 | 2,700 | 530,558 | -92,314 |
| 1975 | 9,775 | 2,700 | 603,300 | -52,332 |
| 1974 | 9,324 | 2,700 | 673,030 | 27,005 |
| 1973 | 8,939 | 2,700 | 699,115 | 35,779 |
| 1972 | 8,549 | 2,700 | 740,469 | 25,382 |
| 1971 | 8,161 | 2,700 | 789,185 | -6,326 |
| 1970 | 7,791 | 2,700 | 747,987 | -27,999 |
| 1969 | 7,435 | 2,700 | 694,227 | -21,175 |
| 1968 | 7,085 | 2,593 | 684,487 | -16,868 |
| 1967 | 6,744 | 2,493 | 692,169 | -16,484 |
| 1966 | 6,418 | 2,407 | 623,534 | -16,688 |
| 1965 | 6,109 | 2,307 | 641,090 | -146,386 |
| 1964 | 5,818 | 2,196 | 655,501 | -102,284 |
| 1963 | 5,551 | 2,096 | 685,824 | -80,226 |
| 1962 | 5,297 | 2,096 | 712,590 | -94,606 |
| 1961 | 5,081 | 1,586 | 730,173 | -93,179 |
| 1960 | 4,888 | 1,481 | 728,010 | 47,245 |
Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).
GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/south-korea | 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 South Korea 17.6% is from natural causes (a gain of 277,215 people) and 82.4% is from migration (a gain of 1,298,356 people).
As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 1,811,507 people or 3.5% in South Korea.
Biggest cities by population
|
Bhutan
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Thimphu | 115K |
| Paro | 2.36K |
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|
| City | Population |
| Seoul | 9.67M |
| Busan | 3.45M |
| Incheon | 3.05M |
| Daegu | 2.38M |
| Daejeon | 1.48M |
| Gwangju | 1.41M |
| Suwon | 1.23M |
| Ulsan | 1.13M |
| Yongin | 1.08M |
| Goyang | 1.06M |
Compare countries by 7 more topics
Population differences between Bhutan and South Korea
|
Bhutan
|
South Korea
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy | 73.8 years | 84.6 years |
| Average age | 32.4 years | 44.8 years |
| Median age | 30.9 years | 46.1 years |
| Male:Female ratio | 53.4:46.6 | 49.9:50.1 |
| Fertility rate | 1.46 births per woman | 0.72 births per woman |
| Population density | 54.5 ppl/mi² | 1,371 ppl/mi² |
Population map with other countries
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/south-korea | CC BY
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Data sources:
- World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
- United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
- U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
- Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
- Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) — you’re free to copy, share, remix, adapt, and use even commercially as long as you give appropriate credit and clearly indicate if you made changes. Other sources may be subject to different license terms.