Bhutan/Society

Society in Bhutan

An overview of key social indicators. Select a category for detailed trends, charts, and insights.

Explore Social Domains

Demographics

Coming Soon
Population
786.4K(2023)
Population Growth
0.7%(2023)
Fertility Rate
1.46(2023)
Death Rate
6.1 per 1k(2023)
Net Migration
-277(2024)

Public Health

Coming Soon
Life Expectancy
73.0 years(2023)
Under-5 Mortality
23.1 per 1k(2023)
Maternal Mortality
47 per 100k(2023)
Health Expenditure
4.4%(2022)

Education & Human Capital

Coming Soon
Literacy Rate
72.1%(2022)
Primary Enrollment
88%(2018)
Secondary Enrollment
90%(2022)
Tertiary Enrollment
15(2023)
Education Expenditure
5.8%(2023)

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Coming Soon
Internet Users
88.4%(2023)
Access to Electricity
100%(2023)
Access to Basic Drinking Water
99.1%(2022)
Urban Population
348.8K(2023)
Rural Population
437.6K(2023)

Current Social Overview of Bhutan

A summary based on key social and demographic indicators.

  • Bhutan has an estimated population of 786K
    2023
    , with a modest annual growth rate of 0.7%
    2023
    , suggesting a mature demographic transition with stable, but limitated, population increase. The critically low fertility rate of 1.5 births per woman
    2023
    presents severe demographic challenges, including accelerated population aging and contraction, impacting economic and social systems. Net emigration is relatively minor, impacting the population by approximately 277 individuals annually (or -0.4 per 1,000 inhabitants)
    2024
    .
  • Regarding public health, the country maintains a reasonable health standard with a life expectancy of 73.0 years
    2023
    , though there is scope for further improvements to achieve higher global benchmarks. Concurrently, maternal and child health indicators show solid progress, with child mortality (under 5 years) at 23.1 per 1,000 live births
    2023
    and maternal mortality at 47 per 100,000 live births
    2023
    , indicating improving but still developing services. These outcomes are supported by limited healthcare spending, at 4.4% of GDP
    2022
    , which may constrain comprehensive health system improvements and the attainment of higher health outcomes.
  • Basic literacy development shows promise at 72%
    2022
    , but substantial and targeted investment is required to expand educational access and improve outcomes comprehensively. Complementing this, educational access shows solid progress through 88% primary enrollment
    2018
    and 90% secondary participation rates
    2022
    . This educational framework is supported by moderate public support, with 5.8% of GDP allocated to public educational expenditure
    2023
    , reflecting a balanced approach to funding.
  • In terms of infrastructure and connectivity, a still balanced urban-rural distribution (44% urban population
    2023
    ) creates diverse economic opportunities but necessitates coordinated infrastructure development to bridge potential disparities. Furthermore, infrastructure development shows strong progress with 100% electricity access
    2023
    and 88% internet penetration
    2023
    , supporting ongoing modernization efforts and enhancing quality of life.

Key Development Insights

Population Dynamics

The combination of low fertility and net emigration poses significant long-term risks to workforce sustainability and economic vitality.

Public Health System

Public health outcomes are a core indicator of national development and quality of life. Access to healthcare is essential for sustainable growth.

Human Capital Formation

Improving foundational literacy and secondary school completion is a critical priority for unlocking future economic potential.

Infrastructure & Connectivity

Infrastructure shapes economic efficiency, urbanization patterns, and digital integration, being critical for modern economies.

More About This Country

Neighbors & Regional Peers

Note: The information on this page has been compiled from authoritative sources. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, please note that some figures may not be current or entirely precise.