South Asia

Bhutan: official statistics and sources

12 official bodies for Bhutan, from National Statistics Bureau to Electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP), with key figures from the World Bank and IMF. Official language: Dzongkha. Capital: Thimphu.

Who holds power in Bhutan

• Head of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (King of Bhutan)
• Head of government: Tshering Tobgay (Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bhutan)
• Foreign minister: Dina Nath Dhungyel (Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of the Kingdom of Bhutan)

Source: UN Protocol and Liaison Service list, dated 15 October 2026. All world leaders.

Unitary constitutional monarchy (parliamentary democracy since 2008). How local power works in Bhutan: 4 tiers of government below the nation, who is elected and who they answer to.

Part of level 6 of the 10 levels of power.

Government, regions and cities

• Government and power in Bhutan: leaders, governance scores, women in parliament, spending and the bodies that hold power to account
• All 20 dzongkhags: Thimphu, Chhukha, Samtse, Paro, Sarpang…
• Thimphu (capital)

Key figures

What the figures show

World Bank data give a population of 796,682 for Bhutan in 2025, against 740,618 in 2015. Of the 6 UN members in the World Bank's South Asia region, 4 have more people; worldwide it comes 161st.

Bhutan's economy produced $3.6 billion of goods and services in 2025, in current US dollars. That works out at $4,493 a head; the regional median is $3,598.

Real GDP grew by 8.0% in 2025, World Bank figures show. For 2026 the IMF expects 7.0%.

Across 2025 the annual rate was 3.6%. The IMF forecasts 5.6% for 2026.

The ILO's modelled unemployment rate for 2025 is 3.2%; the national statistics office may publish a different figure from its own survey.

The IMF records general government gross debt of 102.6% of GDP for 2025, compared with a median of 90.6% across the World Bank's South Asia region; its 2026 projection is 116.2%.

Life expectancy at birth: 73.3 years (2024).

• Annual inflation since 2015: highest 7.3% (2021), lowest 2.7% (2018).
• Debt ratio 2015: 90.2%; 2025: 102.6%.
• GDP per person in dollars, 2015 to 2025: +52%.

Figures checked 2026-10-13; how they are compiled.

Official sources in Bhutan

Statistics office prices, jobs, people, output

• National Statistics Bureau
  Publishes Bhutan's consumer price index, national accounts, labour force survey and statistical yearbook.

Central bank interest rates and money

• Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan
  Publishes monetary statistics, exchange rates, financial regulations and the annual report.

Parliament debates, votes, bills

• National Council of Bhutan (Gyelyong Tshogde)
  Publishes debates, reviews of legislation and membership of the upper chamber.

Government

• Cabinet Secretariat (Lhengye Zhungtshog)
  Publishes cabinet decisions, executive orders and government news.

Courts judgments

• Judiciary of Bhutan
  Publishes Supreme Court and High Court judgments and the laws of Bhutan.

Public audit how public money was spent

• Royal Audit Authority
  Publishes the annual audit report and audit reports on public agencies.

Elections results and rules

• Election Commission of Bhutan
  Publishes electoral rolls, candidate lists and official results of parliamentary and local elections.

Regulators

• Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority
  Publishes telecoms and media regulations, licences and market data.
• Anti-Corruption Commission
  Publishes investigation reports, asset declaration rules and the annual report.

Public registers companies, land, charities

• Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment
  Registers companies and business licences and publishes trade and industry notices.
• National Land Commission
  Keeps the land register and cadastral maps and publishes land transaction services.

Public contracts government tenders and awards

• Electronic Government Procurement System (e-GP)
  Publishes government tenders, bid submissions and contract awards.

Freedom of information in Bhutan

No general access-to-information law for Bhutan was found in the official sources checked on 2026-10-13. No national access-to-information law could be identified during today's checks of the official sources already listed for this country.

What Bhutan does not have

• No register of civil society organisations could be reached (csoa.org.bt did not resolve on 2026-10-13).
• No access-to-information law and no information commissioner.
• No public register of lobbyists; asset declarations go to the Anti-Corruption Commission (already listed) and are not published.
• No official state database of court judgments beyond the Judiciary's own site, already listed.

Also: World Bank country data · IMF country page · UN Sustainable Development Goals country profile · IPU Parline parliament profile.

Bhutan by subject

• Economy GDP, growth, trade and investment
• Jobs and pay unemployment, jobs and work
• Cost of living inflation, poverty and inequality
• Public finances debt, deficit, tax and spending
• Health and care life expectancy, doctors and spending
• Housing homes, cities, water and power
• Crime and justice murder rate, courts and crime
• Immigration migrants, refugees and remittances
• Education schools, universities and literacy
• Environment emissions, air, forests and water

Common questions

What is the population of Bhutan?

796,682 (2025, World Bank). National figures: National Statistics Bureau.

What is the inflation rate in Bhutan?

3.6% (2025, World Bank). Official index: National Statistics Bureau.

What is Bhutan's GDP?

$3.6 billion (2025, World Bank).

How much government debt does Bhutan have?

102.6% of GDP (2025, International Monetary Fund).

Who publishes official statistics in Bhutan?

National Statistics Bureau: https://nsb.gov.bt/

What is the central bank of Bhutan?

Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan: https://www.rma.org.bt/

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