Bhutan: education

How many schools are there in Bhutan?

Bhutan had 1,674 schools, institutes and centres in 2024, with 196,612 students and 13,255 teachers, lecturers, instructors, trainers and facilitators, according to the Statistical Yearbook of Bhutan 2025 from the National Statistics Bureau.

The totals include early childhood care centres, monastic institutions, tertiary institutes and non-formal education centres as well as ordinary schools, so they are wider than school counts alone. The yearbook's education chapter breaks the numbers down by type, school level and dzongkhag, using data from the Ministry of Education and Skills Development.

Official sources: NSB: Statistical Yearbook of Bhutan 2025 (PDF)

What is primary school enrolment in Bhutan?

In 2018, net primary school enrolment in Bhutan was 88.0%, according to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Its high point since 2005 was 2012, at 90.2%; its low point was 2005, at 69.6%. Worldwide: 48th of 69.

How many children in Bhutan go to secondary school?

The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2024, is 86.2%. The peak was 92.5% in 2021 and the low 43.9% in 2005. Of 100 countries with 2024 data, 71st highest.

How many students are in higher education in Bhutan?

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts gross tertiary enrolment in Bhutan at 13.0% in 2024. Since 2005 it has ranged from 4.9% (2005) to 16.9% (2020). Worldwide: 80th of 90.

What is Bhutan's literacy rate?

The UNESCO Institute for Statistics puts the adult literacy rate in Bhutan at 64.9% in 2022. In 2012 the figure was 55.3%. World rank, highest first: 37th of 44.

What is Bhutan's education spending?

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, government spending on education in Bhutan was 5.8% of GDP in 2023. The peak was 7.5% of GDP in 2022 and the low 3.8% of GDP in 2010. Across South Asia the middle value was 4.0% of GDP, and Bhutan placed 1st highest of 5. Of 112 countries with 2023 data, 15th highest.

What is the pupil-teacher ratio in Bhutan?

According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, the number of primary pupils per teacher in Bhutan was 35 in 2018. Since 2005 it has ranged from 24 (2012) to 40 (2015). World rank, highest first: 19th of 85.

What share of children in Bhutan finish primary school?

The latest figure from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for 2024, is 86.5%. The peak was 102.1% in 2012 and the low 65.1% in 2005. Across South Asia the middle value was 94.3%, and Bhutan placed 5th highest of 5. World rank, highest first: 79th of 104.