Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bhutan
Bhutan: Share of workers in vulnerable employment was 69.0% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bhutan, 1991–2025
Source: International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bhutan is 69.0%, measured in 2025. That is the lowest value across all 35 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.5% on the previous year and down 5.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bhutan peaked at 77.9% in 1991 and was at its lowest, 69.0%, in 2025.
Bhutan ranks 29th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 77.9% | — |
| 1992 | 77.4% | -0.6% |
| 1993 | 77.0% | -0.6% |
| 1994 | 76.5% | -0.6% |
| 1995 | 76.0% | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 75.5% | -0.6% |
| 1997 | 75.1% | -0.6% |
| 1998 | 74.7% | -0.5% |
| 1999 | 74.2% | -0.6% |
| 2000 | 73.8% | -0.5% |
| 2001 | 73.3% | -0.6% |
| 2002 | 72.8% | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 72.3% | -0.7% |
| 2004 | 71.8% | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 71.3% | -0.7% |
| 2006 | 70.9% | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 70.4% | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 70.0% | -0.5% |
| 2009 | 69.6% | -0.5% |
| 2010 | 69.1% | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 70.9% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 70.8% | -0.1% |
| 2013 | 70.9% | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 71.0% | +0.2% |
| 2015 | 72.8% | +2.5% |
| 2016 | 72.3% | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 71.9% | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 71.5% | -0.5% |
| 2019 | 70.7% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 70.5% | -0.3% |
| 2021 | 70.2% | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 69.9% | -0.5% |
| 2023 | 69.7% | -0.2% |
| 2024 | 69.4% | -0.4% |
| 2025 | 69.0% | -0.5% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 69.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 59.3%, 1.2× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 69.0% is above the median for South Asia, which is 63.2%, 1.1× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 76.0% | 74.2% | 77.9% | 9 |
| 2000s | 71.6% | 69.6% | 73.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.2% | 69.1% | 72.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 69.8% | 69.0% | 70.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 26 Papua New Guinea 71.2% compare
- 27 Zambia 70.2% compare
- 28 Cote d'Ivoire 69.4% compare
- 30 Solomon Islands 68.7% compare
- 31 Zimbabwe 68.2% compare
- 32 Cameroon 67.6% compare
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 share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bhutan?
- Share of workers in vulnerable employment in Bhutan was 69.0% in 2025, according to International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 77.9% in 1991.
- What is the lowest share of workers in vulnerable employment recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 69.0% in 2025.
- How does Bhutan rank for share of workers in vulnerable employment?
- Bhutan ranks 29th out of 186 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of workers in vulnerable employment rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (ILOEST/ILOSTAT) and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of workers in vulnerable employment. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of employed population who are working as independent own-account workers (self-employed without staff), or contributing family workers (self-employed in a household business or farm).