Rural population growth in Bhutan
Bhutan: Rural population growth was -0.9% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Rural population growth in Bhutan, 1961–2025
Source: World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN). Measured in annual %.
Analysis
In 2025, rural population growth in Bhutan stood at -0.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 11.1% on the previous year and down 792.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, rural population growth in Bhutan peaked at 3.3% in 1969 and was at its lowest, -5.1%, in 1993.
That places Bhutan 161st out of 209 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Rural population growth in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 2.8% | — |
| 1962 | 3.0% | +4.9% |
| 1963 | 3.1% | +3.7% |
| 1964 | 3.1% | +0.8% |
| 1965 | 3.1% | +1.5% |
| 1966 | 3.2% | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 3.2% | +1.1% |
| 1968 | 3.3% | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 3.3% | +0.8% |
| 1970 | 3.2% | -1.3% |
| 1971 | 3.0% | -6.0% |
| 1972 | 2.8% | -8.1% |
| 1973 | 2.6% | -6.9% |
| 1974 | 2.4% | -6.2% |
| 1975 | 2.3% | -5.0% |
| 1976 | 2.2% | -3.5% |
| 1977 | 2.2% | -2.1% |
| 1978 | 2.2% | -0.5% |
| 1979 | 2.2% | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 2.2% | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 2.3% | +2.9% |
| 1982 | 2.3% | +0.7% |
| 1983 | 2.2% | -1.7% |
| 1984 | 2.2% | -1.5% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | -2.1% |
| 1986 | 2.1% | -1.7% |
| 1987 | 2.1% | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 2.0% | -2.8% |
| 1989 | 2.0% | -3.0% |
| 1990 | 1.7% | -12.1% |
| 1991 | 0.8% | -54.1% |
| 1992 | -4.7% | -693.7% |
| 1993 | -5.1% | +7.3% |
| 1994 | -1.0% | -80.1% |
| 1995 | -2.2% | +114.1% |
| 1996 | -0.8% | -61.5% |
| 1997 | 0.8% | -198.6% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | +14.2% |
| 1999 | 1.3% | +40.8% |
| 2000 | 1.5% | +11.0% |
| 2001 | 1.3% | -7.6% |
| 2002 | 1.3% | -7.2% |
| 2003 | 1.2% | -7.8% |
| 2004 | 1.1% | -8.1% |
| 2005 | 0.8% | -25.1% |
| 2006 | 0.4% | -46.2% |
| 2007 | 0.3% | -36.5% |
| 2008 | 0.3% | -5.4% |
| 2009 | 0.2% | -3.9% |
| 2010 | 0.2% | -1.2% |
| 2011 | 0.2% | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 0.3% | +3.2% |
| 2013 | 0.3% | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 0.2% | -17.0% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -39.6% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | -52.6% |
| 2017 | -0.1% | -241.2% |
| 2018 | -0.3% | +205.1% |
| 2019 | -0.3% | +28.5% |
| 2020 | -0.3% | +2.6% |
| 2021 | -0.3% | -3.1% |
| 2022 | -0.4% | +8.8% |
| 2023 | -0.7% | +86.2% |
| 2024 | -0.8% | +17.9% |
| 2025 | -0.9% | +11.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.1% | 2.8% | 3.3% | 9 |
| 1970s | 2.5% | 2.2% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.2% | 2.0% | 2.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | -0.8% | -5.1% | 1.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.8% | 0.2% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | -0.3% | 0.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | -0.6% | -0.9% | -0.3% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More agriculture & rural data for Bhutan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 3.41 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1368 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 614.64 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.8653 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5657 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture share gdp 13.68 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 13.68 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.8% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is rural population growth in Bhutan?
- Rural population growth in Bhutan was -0.9% in 2025, according to World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN).
- What is the highest rural population growth recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 3.3% in 1969.
- What is the lowest rural population growth recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was -5.1% in 1993.
- How does Bhutan rank for rural population growth?
- Bhutan ranks 161st out of 209 countries with data for 2025.
- Is rural population growth rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 792.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from World Urbanization Prospects, United Nations (UN), published as part of Rural population growth (annual %). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Annual rural population growth rate for year t is the exponential rate of growth of midyear rural population from year t-1 to t, expressed as a percentage. Rural population refers to people living in rural areas as defined by national statistical offices. It is calculated as the difference between total population and urban population.