Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bhutan
Bhutan: Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) was 3.2% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bhutan, 1991–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bhutan is 3.2%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.7% on the previous year and up 31.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bhutan peaked at 5.9% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 1.4%, in 1991.
That places Bhutan 141st out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1.4% | — |
| 1992 | 1.4% | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 1.4% | +1.9% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 1.4% | -0.4% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 1.4% | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 1.4% | +0.5% |
| 1999 | 1.4% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 1.7% | +18.2% |
| 2001 | 1.9% | +14.8% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | -2.4% |
| 2003 | 1.8% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 2.5% | +38.3% |
| 2005 | 3.1% | +24.5% |
| 2006 | 3.1% | +1.0% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | +18.2% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 4.0% | +2.9% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -16.2% |
| 2011 | 3.2% | -2.7% |
| 2012 | 2.0% | -36.5% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | +40.0% |
| 2014 | 2.6% | -8.4% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | +10.5% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | +11.8% |
| 2018 | 3.4% | +10.7% |
| 2019 | 2.7% | -18.8% |
| 2020 | 5.0% | +84.9% |
| 2021 | 4.8% | -4.5% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | +23.8% |
| 2023 | 3.1% | -47.4% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | +5.0% |
| 2025 | 3.2% | -1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 1.4% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 9 |
| 2000s | 2.7% | 1.7% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 2.0% | 3.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.2% | 3.1% | 5.9% | 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 unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bhutan?
- Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) in Bhutan was 3.2% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 5.9% in 2022.
- What is the lowest unemployment, total (% of total labor force) recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.4% in 1991.
- How does Bhutan rank for unemployment, total (% of total labor force)?
- Bhutan ranks 141st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is unemployment, total (% of total labor force) rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 31.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Unemployment refers to the share of the labor force that is without work but available for and seeking employment.