MigrantoImmigrants in Bhutan
51.4K foreign-born residents — the #157 largest immigrant population in the world
Where immigrants come from
The top 3 countries account for 98% of all immigrants
| Country | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| India | 48810 |
| China | 986 |
| Nepal | 780 |
| USA | 147 |
| Japan | 137 |
| Thailand | 64 |
| Bangladesh | 55 |
| Denmark | 39 |
| Canada | 38 |
| United Kingdom | 37 |
| Myanmar | 35 |
| South Korea | 34 |
| Sri Lanka | 34 |
| France | 31 |
| Germany | 28 |
| Australia | 28 |
| Switzerland | 25 |
| New Zealand | 25 |
| Sweden | 23 |
| Pakistan | 22 |
| Netherlands | 20 |
| Philippines | 19 |
| Singapore | 18 |
| Italy | 12 |
By region of origin
Asia is the leading region of origin at 99%
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Interesting facts
Notable statistics about immigration in Bhutan.
India is the leading source of immigration by a wide margin
India accounts for 95% of all immigrants, far ahead of the second-largest source at just 2%.
Immigration is a key driver of population growth
15% of the population growth of Bhutan since 1990 came from new immigrants, reflecting immigration's central demographic role.
A significant share of residents were born abroad
1 in 15 residents of Bhutan is foreign-born — 51.4K out of 791.5K, representing 6.5% of the population.
How immigration changed over time
Total immigrant population by year
| Year | Immigrants |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 21982 |
| 1995 | 25828 |
| 2000 | 29673 |
| 2005 | 37191 |
| 2010 | 44708 |
| 2015 | 47189 |
| 2020 | 49514 |
| 2024 | 51447 |
Top sources over time
Immigration from the 5 largest source countries
| Year | India | China | Nepal | USA | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 20841 | 422 | 334 | 63 | 59 |
| 1995 | 24485 | 496 | 392 | 74 | 69 |
| 2000 | 28128 | 570 | 451 | 85 | 80 |
| 2005 | 35256 | 714 | 565 | 107 | 100 |
| 2010 | 42383 | 858 | 679 | 129 | 120 |
| 2015 | 44732 | 906 | 717 | 136 | 127 |
| 2020 | 46974 | 949 | 751 | 141 | 132 |
| 2024 | 48810 | 986 | 780 | 147 | 137 |
Fastest-changing origins
How immigration from each country has changed since the selected year
Data source: International Migrant Stock 2024 (UN DESA, Population Division)
Frequently asked questions
How many immigrants live in Bhutan?
Around 51.4K foreign-born residents live in Bhutan, making it the #157-largest immigrant population in the world.
Where do most immigrants in Bhutan come from?
Most immigrants in Bhutan come from India, China and Nepal — these three countries account for about 98% of all foreign-born residents.
What share of the population of Bhutan are immigrants?
Immigrants make up around 6% of the population of Bhutan — that's 51.4K out of a total population of 791.5K.
How has immigration to Bhutan changed over the past decade?
Over the past decade, the immigrant population in Bhutan has grown from 47.2K to 51.4K people, a growth of about 9%.
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