Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bhutan
Bhutan: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) was 74.5% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bhutan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
Bhutan recorded 74.5% for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bhutan peaked at 85.8% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 67.3%, in 2012.
Bhutan ranks 123rd of 187 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 85.8% | — |
| 1991 | 85.6% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 85.3% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 84.9% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 84.5% | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 84.1% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 83.7% | -0.5% |
| 1997 | 83.2% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 82.7% | -0.6% |
| 1999 | 81.8% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 80.7% | -1.4% |
| 2001 | 79.5% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 78.4% | -1.4% |
| 2003 | 77.4% | -1.3% |
| 2004 | 76.5% | -1.2% |
| 2005 | 75.8% | -0.8% |
| 2006 | 75.5% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 75.4% | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 75.2% | -0.2% |
| 2009 | 75.0% | -0.2% |
| 2010 | 74.0% | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 73.2% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 67.3% | -8.0% |
| 2013 | 72.9% | +8.2% |
| 2014 | 71.2% | -2.3% |
| 2015 | 72.0% | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 71.7% | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 71.5% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 71.2% | -0.4% |
| 2019 | 73.1% | +2.7% |
| 2020 | 73.7% | +0.8% |
| 2021 | 74.3% | +0.8% |
| 2022 | 74.5% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 74.7% | +0.3% |
| 2024 | 74.7% | -0.1% |
| 2025 | 74.5% | -0.2% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 74.5% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 72.6%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 74.5% is below the median for South Asia, which is 76.8%, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 84.2% | 81.8% | 85.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 76.9% | 75.0% | 80.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.8% | 67.3% | 74.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 74.4% | 73.7% | 74.7% | 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 labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bhutan?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) in Bhutan was 74.5% in 2025, according to ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
- What is the highest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 85.8% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 67.3% in 2012.
- How does Bhutan rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64)?
- Bhutan ranks 123rd out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO), published as part of Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15-64) (modeled ILO estimate). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Labor force participation rate is the proportion of the population ages 15-64 that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.