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

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bhutan was 791,524 in 2024 vs 21,314,956 people in Zambia in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bhutan's population is 803,385 people compared to 22,697,916 in Zambia.

Population statistics:

  • Zambia's population is 28.3 times bigger than Bhutan's.
  • Bhutan is ranked the 163rd most populous country in the world, while Zambia is the 62nd.
  • The countries together account for 0.28% of the world: 0.01% for Bhutan vs 0.27% for Zambia.
  • For the last 10 years, Bhutan has had an average growth rate of +0.8% per year vs +3% in Zambia.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bhutan has increased from 671K people to 803K (19.8% growth), while Zambia has grown from 12.1M to 22.7M (87.1% growth).

Bhutan vs Zambia: population by year and forecast

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bhutan Zambia
2100 695,106 65,217,429
2099 699,983 64,871,545
2098 704,455 64,515,891
2097 709,230 64,148,736
2096 713,930 63,777,313
2095 719,152 63,393,169
2094 724,401 62,992,652
2093 729,500 62,590,327
2092 735,075 62,175,930
2091 741,074 61,750,591
2090 746,937 61,321,399
2089 753,010 60,880,148
2088 758,937 60,434,676
2087 765,235 59,970,107
2086 770,883 59,499,234
2085 776,435 59,023,040
2084 781,892 58,535,857
2083 787,929 58,040,512
2082 793,543 57,538,672
2081 799,530 57,027,491
2080 805,275 56,506,421
2079 811,060 55,983,242
2078 816,530 55,449,777
2077 821,247 54,906,771
2076 825,978 54,361,075
2075 830,808 53,806,856
2074 836,017 53,246,777
2073 841,208 52,677,348
2072 845,861 52,101,139
2071 850,262 51,519,691
2070 853,930 50,931,614
2069 857,808 50,334,700
2068 861,327 49,737,479
2067 864,753 49,135,488
2066 868,260 48,530,443
2065 871,517 47,918,592
2064 873,735 47,299,740
2063 875,674 46,677,439
2062 877,938 46,048,819
2061 880,023 45,416,657
2060 881,913 44,777,347
2059 883,191 44,137,306
2058 884,515 43,494,451
2057 884,612 42,851,923
2056 885,822 42,206,898
2055 886,403 41,558,284
2054 885,903 40,906,492
2053 886,520 40,255,629
2052 886,640 39,603,888
2051 885,551 38,949,958
2050 884,535 38,294,607
2049 883,736 37,634,194
2048 882,640 36,971,309
2047 881,660 36,309,749
2046 880,037 35,645,868
2045 877,677 34,981,812
2044 875,155 34,316,981
2043 872,383 33,652,420
2042 869,248 32,990,657
2041 866,366 32,329,447
2040 863,173 31,664,262
2039 859,926 31,001,305
2038 856,429 30,335,662
2037 852,475 29,668,561
2036 848,122 29,000,264
2035 843,447 28,333,498
2034 839,780 27,671,195
2033 835,308 27,011,974
2032 830,472 26,356,580
2031 825,528 25,702,812
2030 820,888 25,055,216
2029 816,655 24,414,405
2028 812,002 23,780,809
2027 807,474 23,151,479
2026 801,869 22,529,742
2025 796,375 21,918,187
2024 791,524 21,314,956
2023 786,385 20,723,965
2022 780,914 20,152,938
2021 775,442 19,603,607
2020 770,006 19,059,395
2019 764,824 18,513,839
2018 759,759 17,973,569
2017 754,335 17,441,320
2016 747,866 16,914,423
2015 740,618 16,399,089
2014 733,139 15,895,315
2013 725,273 15,398,997
2012 717,279 14,913,629
2011 709,377 14,437,796
2010 701,632 13,965,594
2009 693,988 13,490,389
2008 686,351 13,021,324
2007 678,641 12,565,085
2006 670,799 12,129,553
2005 661,865 11,718,819
2004 650,544 11,338,198
2003 637,663 10,983,595
2002 624,409 10,647,949
2001 610,794 10,325,185
2000 596,863 10,017,631
1999 582,579 9,740,005
1998 569,435 9,482,408
1997 558,697 9,237,063
1996 548,784 9,004,053
1995 547,989 8,785,763
1994 554,497 8,576,269
1993 554,673 8,373,921
1992 577,774 8,176,680
1991 599,784 7,981,650
1990 589,287 7,786,169
1989 573,586 7,589,216
1988 556,986 7,391,440
1987 540,557 7,191,282
1986 524,324 6,986,471
1985 508,392 6,780,953
1984 492,784 6,580,490
1983 477,460 6,381,038
1982 462,485 6,178,637
1981 447,836 5,983,289
1980 433,404 5,802,833
1979 419,200 5,631,728
1978 405,243 5,465,374
1977 391,639 5,302,480
1976 378,490 5,143,842
1975 365,791 4,990,086
1974 353,538 4,842,746
1973 341,705 4,702,693
1972 330,264 4,569,309
1971 319,211 4,442,525
1970 308,528 4,321,718
1969 298,214 4,197,116
1968 288,311 4,065,593
1967 278,852 3,936,343
1966 269,820 3,812,003
1965 261,200 3,692,086
1964 252,987 3,577,017
1963 245,156 3,465,907
1962 237,636 3,358,099
1961 230,602 3,254,086
1960 224,084 3,153,729

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/zambia | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bhutan increased by 77,067 people (a 11.5% growth), while Zambia gained 4,784,870 people (a 39.4% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bhutan gained 55,519 people (a 7.42% growth), while Zambia's population increased by 5,783,493 people (a 34.2% growth).

Bhutan was ranked 161st most populous country in 2006 and is 163rd in 2026. Zambia was ranked 71st in 2006 and ranked 62nd 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 Zambia will increase by 68.7% to 38,294,607 people and rank change from 62nd to 54th.

Bhutan is projected to reach its peak in 2052 at 887K people compared to the peak of 65.2M people in 2100 for Zambia.

Population growth rate by year

Bhutan
Factual

Projection
Zambia
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bhutan Zambia
2100 -0.7% 0.53%
2099 -0.63% 0.55%
2098 -0.67% 0.57%
2097 -0.66% 0.58%
2096 -0.73% 0.61%
2095 -0.72% 0.64%
2094 -0.7% 0.64%
2093 -0.76% 0.67%
2092 -0.81% 0.69%
2091 -0.78% 0.7%
2090 -0.81% 0.72%
2089 -0.78% 0.74%
2088 -0.82% 0.77%
2087 -0.73% 0.79%
2086 -0.72% 0.81%
2085 -0.7% 0.83%
2084 -0.77% 0.85%
2083 -0.71% 0.87%
2082 -0.75% 0.9%
2081 -0.71% 0.92%
2080 -0.71% 0.93%
2079 -0.67% 0.96%
2078 -0.57% 0.99%
2077 -0.57% 1%
2076 -0.58% 1.03%
2075 -0.62% 1.05%
2074 -0.62% 1.08%
2073 -0.55% 1.11%
2072 -0.52% 1.13%
2071 -0.43% 1.15%
2070 -0.45% 1.19%
2069 -0.41% 1.2%
2068 -0.4% 1.23%
2067 -0.4% 1.25%
2066 -0.37% 1.28%
2065 -0.25% 1.31%
2064 -0.22% 1.33%
2063 -0.26% 1.37%
2062 -0.24% 1.39%
2061 -0.21% 1.43%
2060 -0.14% 1.45%
2059 -0.15% 1.48%
2058 -0.01% 1.5%
2057 -0.14% 1.53%
2056 -0.07% 1.56%
2055 0.06% 1.59%
2054 -0.07% 1.62%
2053 -0.01% 1.65%
2052 0.12% 1.68%
2051 0.11% 1.71%
2050 0.09% 1.75%
2049 0.12% 1.79%
2048 0.11% 1.82%
2047 0.18% 1.86%
2046 0.27% 1.9%
2045 0.29% 1.94%
2044 0.32% 1.97%
2043 0.36% 2.01%
2042 0.33% 2.05%
2041 0.37% 2.1%
2040 0.38% 2.14%
2039 0.41% 2.19%
2038 0.46% 2.25%
2037 0.51% 2.3%
2036 0.55% 2.35%
2035 0.44% 2.39%
2034 0.54% 2.44%
2033 0.58% 2.49%
2032 0.6% 2.54%
2031 0.57% 2.58%
2030 0.52% 2.62%
2029 0.57% 2.66%
2028 0.56% 2.72%
2027 0.7% 2.76%
2026 0.69% 2.79%
2025 0.61% 2.83%
2024 0.65% 2.85%
2023 0.7% 2.83%
2022 0.71% 2.8%
2021 0.71% 2.86%
2020 0.68% 2.95%
2019 0.67% 3.01%
2018 0.72% 3.05%
2017 0.86% 3.12%
2016 0.98% 3.14%
2015 1.02% 3.17%
2014 1.08% 3.22%
2013 1.11% 3.25%
2012 1.11% 3.3%
2011 1.1% 3.38%
2010 1.1% 3.52%
2009 1.11% 3.6%
2008 1.14% 3.63%
2007 1.17% 3.59%
2006 1.35% 3.5%
2005 1.74% 3.36%
2004 2.02% 3.23%
2003 2.12% 3.15%
2002 2.23% 3.13%
2001 2.33% 3.07%
2000 2.45% 2.85%
1999 2.31% 2.72%
1998 1.92% 2.66%
1997 1.81% 2.59%
1996 0.15% 2.48%
1995 -1.17% 2.44%
1994 -0.03% 2.42%
1993 -4% 2.41%
1992 -3.67% 2.44%
1991 1.78% 2.51%
1990 2.74% 2.6%
1989 2.98% 2.68%
1988 3.04% 2.78%
1987 3.1% 2.93%
1986 3.13% 3.03%
1985 3.17% 3.05%
1984 3.21% 3.13%
1983 3.24% 3.28%
1982 3.27% 3.26%
1981 3.33% 3.11%
1980 3.39% 3.04%
1979 3.44% 3.04%
1978 3.47% 3.07%
1977 3.47% 3.08%
1976 3.47% 3.08%
1975 3.47% 3.04%
1974 3.46% 2.98%
1973 3.46% 2.92%
1972 3.46% 2.85%
1971 3.46% 2.8%
1970 3.46% 2.97%
1969 3.43% 3.24%
1968 3.39% 3.28%
1967 3.35% 3.26%
1966 3.3% 3.25%
1965 3.25% 3.22%
1964 3.19% 3.21%
1963 3.16% 3.21%
1962 3.05% 3.2%
1961 2.91% 3.18%

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/zambia | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bhutan grew by 0.65%, while Zambia's population grew by 2.85%.

Live population counters

Bhutan Zambia
Current population
803385
22697916
Population rank 163/197 62/197
Percent of world population 0.01% 0.27%
One net population change
1.7 hours
53.4 seconds
One birth every
52.8 minutes
46 seconds
One death every
1.82 hours
4.87 minutes
Daily growth/decline +14 +1,619
Annual growth/decline +5,139 +590,991
Annual growth/decline rate +0.65% +2.85%
Population growth rate rank 120/197 21/197
One migration net change every
19.3 hours
1.34 hours
Annual migration change +455 +6,562
Net migration rank 69/196 47/196
Foreign-born residents 55,705 249,205
Foreign-born residents rank 146/195 105/195
Foreign-born share of population 7% 1.2%
Foreign-born share rank 80/195 150/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bhutan
Natural

Migration
Zambia
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bhutan Zambia
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - 455 - 6,562
2024 - -277 - 7,381
2023 5,153 291 577,660 9,521
2022 5,204 291 563,456 -8,566
2021 5,162 287 535,629 8,143
2020 5,142 287 536,484 8,156
2019 4,643 287 528,089 18,385
2018 4,909 287 515,644 18,431
2017 5,367 287 504,630 25,789
2016 6,164 1,116 497,521 25,860
2015 6,762 450 491,021 16,261
2014 7,290 452 483,663 16,574
2013 7,689 309 476,846 15,542
2012 7,967 20 469,406 8,958
2011 8,282 -464 459,743 13,569
2010 8,598 -922 448,337 22,761
2009 8,913 -1,305 434,458 44,867
2008 9,200 -1,538 419,560 39,249
2007 9,322 -1,553 403,729 49,945
2006 9,197 -1,283 387,891 29,517
2005 9,102 848 368,756 35,316
2004 9,056 3,642 349,352 7,819
2003 9,132 3,921 331,189 20,845
2002 9,464 3,996 316,041 3,206
2001 9,904 3,874 302,682 23,582
2000 10,142 3,940 293,186 -4,338
1999 10,940 3,542 283,297 -16,888
1998 11,320 486 275,568 -26,796
1997 11,668 -1,994 268,198 -26,276
1996 12,153 -1,998 262,468 -38,358
1995 12,938 -21,501 257,897 -45,423
1994 13,536 -17,997 252,023 -45,504
1993 13,915 -9,800 245,917 -47,739
1992 15,594 -65,900 239,953 -43,656
1991 15,801 -9,522 237,957 -44,203
1990 15,704 -1,000 235,835 -38,619
1989 15,516 1,180 233,429 -36,736
1988 15,212 1,286 230,118 -31,270
1987 14,887 1,481 227,813 -26,338
1986 14,516 1,586 224,768 -16,610
1985 14,061 1,694 221,351 -18,474
1984 13,688 1,779 216,695 -18,652
1983 13,284 1,897 212,712 -11,849
1982 12,872 1,897 207,621 -3,676
1981 12,444 2,096 202,822 -16,072
1980 12,016 2,307 198,817 -24,664
1979 11,583 2,493 197,578 -29,515
1978 11,133 2,700 194,933 -30,284
1977 10,679 2,700 191,557 -30,423
1976 10,228 2,700 186,762 -30,612
1975 9,775 2,700 182,258 -30,886
1974 9,324 2,700 174,484 -31,178
1973 8,939 2,700 168,258 -31,472
1972 8,549 2,700 161,648 -31,672
1971 8,161 2,700 155,249 -31,651
1970 7,791 2,700 149,380 -31,370
1969 7,435 2,700 142,660 -11,469
1968 7,085 2,593 137,315 -5,447
1967 6,744 2,493 131,938 -5,298
1966 6,418 2,407 127,164 -5,129
1965 6,109 2,307 122,814 -5,023
1964 5,818 2,196 117,197 -4,851
1963 5,551 2,096 114,555 -4,676
1962 5,297 2,096 110,173 -4,428
1961 5,081 1,586 106,318 -4,043
1960 4,888 1,481 102,335 -3,898

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

GeoRank.org/population/bhutan/zambia | 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 Zambia 97.4% is from natural causes (a gain of 5,233,797 people) and 2.58% is from migration (a gain of 138,554 people).

As of 2024, 55,705 residents or 7% of the population were not native-born in Bhutan, compared to 249,205 people or 1.2% in Zambia.

Biggest cities by population

Bhutan
City Population
Thimphu 115K
Paro 2.36K
Zambia
City Population
Lusaka 2.47M
Kitwe 625K
Ndola 528K
Chingola 255K
Mufulira 182K
Livingstone 177K
Kasama 158K
Kapiri Mposhi 65.2K
Choma 51.8K
Mansa 45.4K

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/zambia | 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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