Population and Demographics

The population of Bhutan, once estimated at several million, has now been officially downgraded by the Bhutanese government to 750,000, after a census in the early nineties. An extensive census carried out in June of 2005 resulted in a further reduction of the population figure to 672,425 . The government has yet to release demographic breakdown on the new population figures. Most believe that the population was artificially inflated in the seventies because of an earlier perception that nations with populations of less than a million would not be admitted to the United Nations. Hence the United Nation population figures are much higher than the figures provided by the government. The CIA World Factbook gives a population figure of 2,279,723 (as of July 2006) while also noting that some estimates are as low as 810,000 (see Facts and Figures below).

The population density, 45 per square kilometres, makes Bhutan one of the least densely populated countries in Asia. Roughly 20% of the population lives in urban areas composed of small towns mainly along the central valley and the southern border. This percentage is increasing rapidly as the pace of rural to urban migration has increased. The largest town is the capital, Thimphu, which has a population of 50,000. Other urban areas with significant populations are Paro and Phuentsholing.

Among the Bhutanese people, several principal ethnic groups may be distinguished. The dominant group are the Ngalops, a Buddhist group based in the western part of the country. Their culture is closely related to that of Tibet. Much the same could be said of the Sharchops ('Easterners'), who are associated with the eastern part of Bhutan (but who traditionally follow the Nyingmapa rather than the official Drukpa Kagyu form of Tibetan Buddhism). These two groups together are called Bhutanese. The remaining 15% of the population is ethnic Nepali, most of whom are Hindu.

Facts and Figures

• Population: 2,327,849
  Note: other estimates range as low as 810,000
• Age Structure:
  • 0-14 years: 38.6% (male 465,340/female 433,184)
  • 15-64 years: 57.4% (male 688,428/female 647,134)
  • 65 years and over: 4% (male 47,123/female 46,640)
• Median Age:
  • Total: 20.5 years
  • Male: 20.4 years
  • Female: 20.7 years
• Population Growth Rate: 2.082%
• Birth Rate: 33.28 births/1,000 population
• Death Rate: 12.46 deaths/1,000 population
• Net Migration Rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
• Sex Ratio:
  • At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
  • Under 15 years: 1.074 male(s)/female
  • 15-64 years: 1.064 male(s)/female
  • 65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
  • Total population: 1.066 male(s)/female
• Infant Mortality Rate:
  • Total: 96.37 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Male: 94.09 deaths/1,000 live births
  • Female: 98.77 deaths/1,000 live births
• Life Expectancy at Birth:
  • Total population: 55.17 years
  • Male: 55.38 years
  • Female: 54.96 years
• Total Fertility Rate: 4.67 children born/woman
• HIV/AIDS:
  • Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1%
  • People living with HIV/AIDS: less than 100
• Ethnic Groups:
  • Bhote 50%
  • Ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups)
  • Indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
• Religions:
  • Lamaistic Buddhist 75%
  • Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
• Languages:
  • Dzongkha (official)
  • Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects
  • Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
• Literacy:
  • Total population: 47%
  • Male: 60%
  • Female: 34%