Net migration in Bhutan
Bhutan: Net migration was 455 in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Net migration in Bhutan, 1960–2025
Source: World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for net migration in Bhutan is 455, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 264.3% on the previous year and up 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net migration in Bhutan peaked at 3,996 in 2002 and was at its lowest, -65,900, in 1992.
Bhutan ranks 73rd of 218 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net migration in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 1,481 | — |
| 1961 | 1,586 | +7.1% |
| 1962 | 2,096 | +32.2% |
| 1963 | 2,096 | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 2,196 | +4.8% |
| 1965 | 2,307 | +5.1% |
| 1966 | 2,407 | +4.3% |
| 1967 | 2,493 | +3.6% |
| 1968 | 2,593 | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 2,700 | +4.1% |
| 1970 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1971 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1972 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 2,700 | +0.0% |
| 1979 | 2,493 | -7.7% |
| 1980 | 2,307 | -7.5% |
| 1981 | 2,096 | -9.1% |
| 1982 | 1,897 | -9.5% |
| 1983 | 1,897 | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 1,779 | -6.2% |
| 1985 | 1,694 | -4.8% |
| 1986 | 1,586 | -6.4% |
| 1987 | 1,481 | -6.6% |
| 1988 | 1,286 | -13.2% |
| 1989 | 1,180 | -8.2% |
| 1990 | -1,000 | -184.7% |
| 1991 | -9,522 | +852.2% |
| 1992 | -65,900 | +592.1% |
| 1993 | -9,800 | -85.1% |
| 1994 | -17,997 | +83.6% |
| 1995 | -21,501 | +19.5% |
| 1996 | -1,998 | -90.7% |
| 1997 | -1,994 | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 486 | -124.4% |
| 1999 | 3,542 | +628.8% |
| 2000 | 3,940 | +11.2% |
| 2001 | 3,874 | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 3,996 | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 3,921 | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 3,642 | -7.1% |
| 2005 | 848 | -76.7% |
| 2006 | -1,283 | -251.3% |
| 2007 | -1,553 | +21.0% |
| 2008 | -1,538 | -1.0% |
| 2009 | -1,305 | -15.1% |
| 2010 | -922 | -29.3% |
| 2011 | -464 | -49.7% |
| 2012 | 20 | -104.3% |
| 2013 | 309 | +1445.0% |
| 2014 | 452 | +46.3% |
| 2015 | 450 | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 1,116 | +148.0% |
| 2017 | 287 | -74.3% |
| 2018 | 287 | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 287 | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 287 | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 287 | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 291 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | 291 | +0.0% |
| 2024 | -277 | -195.2% |
| 2025 | 455 | -264.3% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 455 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is -10,230. (47 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 455 is above the median for South Asia, which is -197,712. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net migration in Bhutan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +1445.0% | 20 | 309 |
| 1991 | -852.2% | -1,000 | -9,522 |
| 1999 | +628.8% | 486 | 3,542 |
| 1992 | -592.1% | -9,522 | -65,900 |
| 2025 | +264.3% | -277 | 455 |
| 2006 | -251.3% | 848 | -1,283 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,196 | 1,481 | 2,700 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2,679 | 2,493 | 2,700 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,720 | 1,180 | 2,307 | 10 |
| 1990s | -12,568 | -65,900 | 3,542 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1,454 | -1,553 | 3,996 | 10 |
| 2010s | 182.2 | -922 | 1,116 | 10 |
| 2020s | 222.33 | -277 | 455 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 70 Gibraltar 549 compare
- 71 Sint Maarten (Dutch part) 530 compare
- 72 Curacao 470 compare
- 74 New Caledonia 440 compare
- 75 Faroe Islands 386 compare
- 76 Belize 360 compare
More financial sector data for Bhutan
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, US dollar, per capita 7.82 units per person (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per unit of GDP 0.0013 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve position in the IMF, SDR, per capita 5.71 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, annual growth rate 5.01 % change on previous year (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per unit of GDP 0.0017 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, US dollar, per capita 7.82 units per person (2025)
- Reserve tranche position, SDR, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is net migration in Bhutan?
- Net migration in Bhutan was 455 in 2025, according to World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division.
- What is the highest net migration recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 3,996 in 2002.
- What is the lowest net migration recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was -65,900 in 1992.
- How does Bhutan rank for net migration?
- Bhutan ranks 73rd out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is net migration rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from World Population Prospects, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Population Division, published as part of Net migration. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Net migration is the net total of migrants during the period, that is, the number of immigrants minus the number of emigrants, including both citizens and noncitizens.