01
Physical geography
Mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna.
Local timeThimphu ·
Asia / Southern Asia · Card 006
Bhutan
Bhutan is a country in Southern Asia. Its capital is Thimphu.
Find Bhutan
● Capital · Gold highlights this card’s area.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
Map: Natural Earth. Boundaries show geographic context, not a position on sovereignty. Small islands may use enlarged markers.
At a glance
- Capital
- Thimphu
- Languages
- Dzongkha
- Currency
- Bhutanese ngultrum (BTN)
- Population
- 796,6822025 · World Bank
- Area
- 38,394 km²14,824 square miles
- Monarchy established
- 1907
Bhutan in context
Asia and its surrounding regions. The dot marks Thimphu; the mapped territory is highlighted in gold.
Natural Earth · locator mapGeography & languages
02
Languages
Languages used in public life include Dzongkha.
03
Location
Southern Asia, between China and India.
Flag
Divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner; the upper triangle is yellow, and the lower triangle is dark orange; centered along the dividing line is a large, stylized black-and-white dragon facing to the right; the dragon is called the Druk (Thunder Dragon) and is the national emblem
History & status
Bhutan’s hereditary monarchy began in 1907. Treaties with Britain and later India shaped external relations, but Bhutan was not a British colony. A revised treaty with India in 2007 removed earlier language about guidance on foreign policy. Bhutan adopted a constitution and held its first parliamentary election in 2008.
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Hereditary monarchy established
-
Bhutan joins the United Nations
-
Constitution and first parliamentary election
Economy
Main activities
Hydroelectricity exports to India, agriculture, tourism and public services are central activities. Mountainous terrain and a small domestic market shape transport and development costs.
Industry and production
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism
Population & economic trends
Dated World Bank observations. Population uses selected years; real GDP uses all available annual observations.
Population, 1970–2025
Thousands of people796.72025 · thousands of people
Population estimates may be revised. Selected years are shown.
Sources: World Bank · Population
View data table
| Year | People | Thousands of people |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 308,528 | 308.528 |
| 1980 | 433,404 | 433.404 |
| 1990 | 589,287 | 589.287 |
| 2000 | 596,863 | 596.863 |
| 2010 | 701,632 | 701.632 |
| 2020 | 770,006 | 770.006 |
| 2025 | 796,682 | 796.682 |
Real GDP, 1990–2025
Billions of constant 2015 US dollars3.22025 · billions of constant 2015 US dollars
Constant prices adjust for inflation. This is total economic output, not current-dollar GDP or income per person. Missing years are left as gaps.
Sources: World Bank · Real GDP
View data table
| Year | Constant 2015 US$ | Billions of constant 2015 US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 478,896,647 | 0.479 |
| 1991 | 476,943,344 | 0.477 |
| 1992 | 498,886,989 | 0.499 |
| 1993 | 508,796,713 | 0.509 |
| 1994 | 533,989,801 | 0.534 |
| 1995 | 571,764,867 | 0.572 |
| 1996 | 603,584,570 | 0.604 |
| 1997 | 636,020,231 | 0.636 |
| 1998 | 673,634,664 | 0.674 |
| 1999 | 727,417,466 | 0.727 |
| 2000 | 751,822,819 | 0.752 |
| 2001 | 806,919,210 | 0.807 |
| 2002 | 891,192,074 | 0.891 |
| 2003 | 960,585,284 | 0.961 |
| 2004 | 1,010,125,139 | 1.010 |
| 2005 | 1,080,178,039 | 1.080 |
| 2006 | 1,141,108,778 | 1.141 |
| 2007 | 1,324,881,878 | 1.325 |
| 2008 | 1,384,891,724 | 1.385 |
| 2009 | 1,491,078,191 | 1.491 |
| 2010 | 1,668,991,760 | 1.669 |
| 2011 | 1,810,676,784 | 1.811 |
| 2012 | 1,904,194,983 | 1.904 |
| 2013 | 1,937,258,290 | 1.937 |
| 2014 | 2,051,190,106 | 2.051 |
| 2015 | 2,187,815,803 | 2.188 |
| 2016 | 2,373,253,832 | 2.373 |
| 2017 | 2,422,779,967 | 2.423 |
| 2018 | 2,507,622,617 | 2.508 |
| 2019 | 2,651,940,022 | 2.652 |
| 2020 | 2,380,954,251 | 2.381 |
| 2021 | 2,486,224,986 | 2.486 |
| 2022 | 2,615,853,471 | 2.616 |
| 2023 | 2,737,023,912 | 2.737 |
| 2024 | 2,942,261,348 | 2.942 |
| 2025 | 3,177,790,169 | 3.178 |
Human development
The Human Development Index combines health, education and income. Scores range from 0 to 1.
HDI · 20230.698Medium human developmentRank 125 of 193 · 2025 report
Human Development Index over time
20100.593
20200.688
20230.698
73.0 yearsLife expectancy at birth
5.8 yearsMean schooling, adults aged 25+
The latest values refer to 2023. All historical scores use the same report edition. HDI does not describe every aspect of inequality or quality of life.
Sources: UNDP · Human Development Report 2025
Government
Constitutional monarchy. Parliament (Chi Tshog) has two chambers (a bicameral legislature).
Knowledge check
Three questions about Bhutan.
QUESTION 1 OF 3
Which currency is listed for Bhutan?
Sources & notes
Sources: CIA World Factbook · archived profile
Prepared 24 September 2026. World Bank series: SP.POP.TOTL (persons) and NY.GDP.MKTP.KD (constant 2015 US dollars); downloaded 24 September 2026, provider update 13 July 2026. UNDP values use the 2025 report and 2023 observation year. These are dated statistical snapshots, not live population or economic counters.
Maps use Natural Earth geographic data. Background geography, flag descriptions and selected historical facts use archived public-domain CIA World Factbook profiles, supplemented by the sources linked above. The Factbook is no longer updated; dated statistics here come from the separately named providers.