MigrantoBhutanese Diaspora
66.1K Bhutanese live abroad — 8% of the population of Bhutan
Bhutanese diaspora by country
The top 3 countries are home to 88% of the diaspora
| Country | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| Nepal | 26552 |
| Australia | 25363 |
| India | 6555 |
| Canada | 6227 |
| Denmark | 617 |
| Norway | 415 |
| Sri Lanka | 236 |
| China | 113 |
| Bulgaria | 32 |
| Hungary | 14 |
| Dominican Republic | 9 |
| Costa Rica | 5 |
| Estonia | 3 |
| Finland | 2 |
| Guinea | 1 |
| Luxembourg | 1 |
| Greece | 0 |
By region
51% of the diaspora lives in Asia
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Key facts
The Bhutanese diaspora in numbers
The share of the diaspora living in Asia has declined since 1990
99.8% of the diaspora lived in Asia in 1990, compared with 50.6% today.
Most Bhutanese abroad live in Nepal
40% of the diaspora lives in Nepal, while the next country accounts for just 38%.
The diaspora is spread more widely than in 1990
The largest country's share fell from 62% to 40%.
The diaspora has grown 26% since 2020
The number of Bhutanese living abroad rose from 52.3K to 66.1K in four years.
1 in 12 people born in Bhutan lives abroad
66.1K people born in Bhutan now live in other countries — 8.4% of a population of 791.5K.
Bhutanese diaspora population over time
People living abroad, by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 27169 |
| 1995 | 117210 |
| 2000 | 119788 |
| 2005 | 117140 |
| 2010 | 88335 |
| 2015 | 47807 |
| 2020 | 52339 |
| 2024 | 66145 |
Largest communities over time
Bhutanese living in the 5 largest countries, by year
| Year | Nepal | Australia | India | Canada | Denmark |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 16805 | 29 | 10033 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 | 107664 | 48 | 9109 | 7 | 1 |
| 2000 | 111196 | 70 | 7999 | 30 | 9 |
| 2005 | 108387 | 129 | 7903 | 74 | 18 |
| 2010 | 75457 | 1700 | 7936 | 1926 | 283 |
| 2015 | 28740 | 5834 | 7422 | 4284 | 646 |
| 2020 | 27502 | 12424 | 6922 | 4097 | 625 |
| 2024 | 26552 | 25363 | 6555 | 6227 | 617 |
Fastest-changing communities
How the number of Bhutanese in each country has changed since the selected year
Bhutanese among immigrants in other countries
Where Bhutanese make up the largest share of a country's immigrants
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many Bhutanese live outside Bhutan?
Around 66.1K Bhutanese live abroad, the world's #158 largest diaspora.
Where do most Bhutanese abroad live?
Most Bhutanese live in Nepal, Australia and India — these three countries account for about 88% of all Bhutanese living abroad.
Which country has the largest Bhutanese population outside Bhutan?
Nepal is home to the largest Bhutanese community abroad — 26.6K people, about 40% of all Bhutanese living abroad.
What share of the population of Bhutan lives abroad?
About 8% of the population of Bhutan lives abroad — that's 66.1K out of a total population of 791.5K.
Is the Bhutanese diaspora growing?
Yes — over the past decade, the number of Bhutanese living abroad has grown from 47.8K to 66.1K, about 38%.
Where does the data on the Bhutanese diaspora come from?
The source is International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division). It counts people born in Bhutan who now live in other countries. Descendants of emigrants born abroad are not included.
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Living in Bhutan
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