MigrantoBhutanese Diaspora
66.1K Bhutanese live abroad — the #158 largest diaspora in the world
Where emigrants go
The top 3 countries receive 88% of all emigrants
↑↓ — change vs 2020
| 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 destination region
Asia is the leading destination region at 51%
33.5K
25.4K
6.2K
1.1K
14
1
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about emigration from Bhutan.
The share of emigrants going to Asia has declined since 1990
The share of emigrants going to Asia has shifted from 99.8% to 50.6% since 1990.
Nepal is the primary destination for emigrants
Nepal attracts 40% of all emigrants from Bhutan, while the second-largest destination receives just 38%.
Emigration destinations have diversified since 1990
The top destination's share fell from 62% to 40%, indicating a broader spread of emigration patterns.
Emigration has accelerated notably since 2020
The emigrant population grew 26% from 52.3K to 66.1K, indicating an acceleration in emigration flows following COVID and recent geopolitical shifts.
How emigration changed over time
Total emigrant population by year
| Year | Emigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 27169 |
| 1995 | 117210 |
| 2000 | 119788 |
| 2005 | 117140 |
| 2010 | 88335 |
| 2015 | 47807 |
| 2020 | 52339 |
| 2024 | 66145 |
Top destinations over time
Emigration to the 5 largest destination countries
| 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 destinations
How emigration to each country has changed since the selected year
Bhutan as an emigration source
Share of immigrants in each country who originate from Bhutan
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
Where do Bhutanese move to?
Most Bhutanese have moved to Nepal, Australia and India — these three countries account for about 88% of all Bhutanese living abroad.
How many Bhutanese live abroad?
Around 66.1K Bhutanese live abroad, making it the #158-largest emigrant population in the world.
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.
How has emigration from Bhutan changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the emigrant population from Bhutan has grown from 47.8K to 66.1K people, a growth of about 38%.
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