Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bhutan
Bhutan: Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) was 71.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bhutan, 1990–2025
Source: ILO Modelled Estimates database (ILOEST), International Labour Organization (ILO).
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bhutan is 71.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bhutan peaked at 84.7% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 65.5%, in 2012.
That places Bhutan 76th out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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+) in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 84.7% | — |
| 1991 | 84.4% | -0.3% |
| 1992 | 84.1% | -0.4% |
| 1993 | 83.7% | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 83.3% | -0.5% |
| 1995 | 82.9% | -0.5% |
| 1996 | 82.4% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 81.9% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 81.4% | -0.7% |
| 1999 | 80.5% | -1.1% |
| 2000 | 79.3% | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 78.1% | -1.5% |
| 2002 | 77.0% | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 75.9% | -1.4% |
| 2004 | 74.9% | -1.3% |
| 2005 | 74.2% | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 73.8% | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 73.6% | -0.3% |
| 2008 | 73.3% | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 73.1% | -0.3% |
| 2010 | 72.2% | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 71.7% | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 65.5% | -8.6% |
| 2013 | 71.2% | +8.7% |
| 2014 | 69.9% | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 70.0% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 69.7% | -0.4% |
| 2017 | 69.5% | -0.4% |
| 2018 | 69.2% | -0.3% |
| 2019 | 71.2% | +2.9% |
| 2020 | 71.9% | +1.0% |
| 2021 | 72.7% | +1.0% |
| 2022 | 72.1% | -0.7% |
| 2023 | 72.1% | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 72.0% | -0.2% |
| 2025 | 71.8% | -0.3% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 71.8% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 70.3%, 1.0× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 71.8% is below the median for South Asia, which is 74.1%, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 82.9% | 80.5% | 84.7% | 10 |
| 2000s | 75.3% | 73.1% | 79.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 70.0% | 65.5% | 72.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 72.1% | 71.8% | 72.7% | 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+) in Bhutan?
- Labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) in Bhutan was 71.8% 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+) recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 84.7% in 1990.
- What is the lowest labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 65.5% in 2012.
- How does Bhutan rank for labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+)?
- Bhutan ranks 76th out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force participation rate, male (% of male population ages 15+) rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.6%. 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+) (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 and older that is economically active: all people who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period.