Labor force, total in Bhutan
Bhutan: Labor force, total was 411,263 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, total in Bhutan, 1990–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
Analysis
In 2025, labor force, total in Bhutan stood at 411,263.
The figure is up 1.2% on the previous year and up 20.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, total in Bhutan peaked at 414,321 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 224,336, in 1995.
That places Bhutan 160th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, total in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 237,503 | — |
| 1991 | 241,880 | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 233,433 | -3.5% |
| 1993 | 224,823 | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 225,719 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 224,336 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 226,241 | +0.8% |
| 1997 | 232,244 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 239,059 | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 247,167 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 256,106 | +3.6% |
| 2001 | 265,537 | +3.7% |
| 2002 | 275,468 | +3.7% |
| 2003 | 285,884 | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 296,828 | +3.8% |
| 2005 | 307,038 | +3.4% |
| 2006 | 315,480 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 323,188 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 330,817 | +2.4% |
| 2009 | 338,169 | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 337,478 | -0.2% |
| 2011 | 340,377 | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 331,207 | -2.7% |
| 2013 | 341,708 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 333,159 | -2.5% |
| 2015 | 341,579 | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 346,258 | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 351,309 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 356,713 | +1.5% |
| 2019 | 384,922 | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 400,199 | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 414,321 | +3.5% |
| 2022 | 384,122 | -7.3% |
| 2023 | 401,407 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 406,288 | +1.2% |
| 2025 | 411,263 | +1.2% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 411,263 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5.00 million, 8% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 411,263 is below the median for South Asia, which is 8.31 million, 5% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 233,240 | 224,336 | 247,167 | 10 |
| 2000s | 299,452 | 256,106 | 338,169 | 10 |
| 2010s | 346,471 | 331,207 | 384,922 | 10 |
| 2020s | 402,933 | 384,122 | 414,321 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More education data for Bhutan
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 6,995 (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 9,961 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 6,905 (2024)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 6,735 (2024)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 67,821 (2024)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 91,759 (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 3.26 % change on previous year (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.1159 units per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, total in Bhutan?
- Labor force, total in Bhutan was 411,263 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database.
- What is the highest labor force, total recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 414,321 in 2021.
- What is the lowest labor force, total recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 224,336 in 1995.
- How does Bhutan rank for labor force, total?
- Bhutan ranks 160th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, total rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILO), type: estimates based on external database, published as part of Labor force, total. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force comprises people ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.