Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Bhutan
Bhutan: Employment (ILO modelled estimates) was 397.99 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Employment in Bhutan, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment in Bhutan is 397.99, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 35 years on record.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment in Bhutan peaked at 397.99 in 2025 and was at its lowest, 221.19, in 1995.
Bhutan ranks 161st of 188 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Employment (ILO modelled estimates) in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 238.54 | — |
| 1992 | 230.19 | -3.5% |
| 1993 | 221.63 | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 222.55 | +0.4% |
| 1995 | 221.19 | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 223.09 | +0.9% |
| 1997 | 229.01 | +2.7% |
| 1998 | 235.71 | +2.9% |
| 1999 | 243.71 | +3.4% |
| 2000 | 251.87 | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 260.49 | +3.4% |
| 2002 | 270.36 | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 280.74 | +3.8% |
| 2004 | 289.44 | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 297.52 | +2.8% |
| 2006 | 305.61 | +2.7% |
| 2007 | 311.23 | +1.8% |
| 2008 | 318.09 | +2.2% |
| 2009 | 324.78 | +2.1% |
| 2010 | 326.27 | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 329.38 | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 324.42 | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 331.9 | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 324.4 | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 333.21 | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 336.89 | +1.1% |
| 2017 | 340.68 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 344.76 | +1.2% |
| 2019 | 374.45 | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 380.07 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 394.42 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 361.28 | -8.4% |
| 2023 | 388.86 | +7.6% |
| 2024 | 392.95 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | 397.99 | +1.3% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 397.99 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4,480, 9% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 397.99 is below the median for South Asia, which is 7,979, 5% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 229.51 | 221.19 | 243.71 | 9 |
| 2000s | 291.01 | 251.87 | 324.78 | 10 |
| 2010s | 336.64 | 324.4 | 374.45 | 10 |
| 2020s | 385.93 | 361.28 | 397.99 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More work & labour data for Bhutan
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes, annual -0.7164 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male, annual growth -0.6963 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female, annual growth -0.7381 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population, annual growth rate -0.816 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population, annual growth rate 0.9406 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Urban population 573.27 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Rural population 420.94 1000 No (2050)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Female 334.32 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Male 356.11 1000 No (2100)
- Population - Est. & Proj. — Total Population - Both sexes 690.43 1000 No (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is employment in Bhutan?
- Employment in Bhutan was 397.99 in 2025, according to International Labour Organization.
- What is the highest employment recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 397.99 in 2025.
- What is the lowest employment recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 221.19 in 1995.
- How does Bhutan rank for employment?
- Bhutan ranks 161st out of 188 countries with data for 2025.
- Is employment rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization, published as part of Employment (ILO modelled estimates). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 35 observations, free to reuse under ILO Terms of Use (attribution required).
About this data
Imputed observations are not based on national data, are subject to high uncertainty and should not be used for country comparisons or rankings. This series is based on the 13th ICLS definitions. The employed comprise all persons of working age who, during a specified brief period, were in one of the following categories: a) paid employment (whether at work or with a job but not at work); or b) self-employment (whether at work or with an enterprise but not at work). Data disaggregated by economic activity are provided according to the latest version of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) available for that year. Data may have been regrouped from national classifications, which may not be strictly compatible with ISIC. For more information, refer to the ILO Modelled Estimates (ILOEST) database description.