Employment by status in Bhutan
Bhutan: Employment by status was 30.1% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
30.1%
Change on year
up 1.1%
World rank
154th
of 186 countries
All-time high
30.8%
in 2010
All-time low
22.0%
in 1991
Years of data
34
1991–2024
Employment by status in Bhutan, 1991–2024
Source: International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for employment by status in Bhutan is 30.1%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 4.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, employment by status in Bhutan peaked at 30.8% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 22.0%, in 1991.
Bhutan ranks 154th of 186 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
Employment by status in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 22.0% | — |
| 1992 | 22.5% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 22.9% | +2.1% |
| 1994 | 23.4% | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 23.9% | +2.2% |
| 1996 | 24.4% | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 24.8% | +1.8% |
| 1998 | 25.2% | +1.6% |
| 1999 | 25.7% | +1.9% |
| 2000 | 26.1% | +1.6% |
| 2001 | 26.6% | +1.8% |
| 2002 | 27.1% | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 27.6% | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 28.1% | +1.7% |
| 2005 | 28.6% | +1.7% |
| 2006 | 29.0% | +1.5% |
| 2007 | 29.4% | +1.6% |
| 2008 | 29.8% | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 30.3% | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 30.8% | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 28.9% | -6.2% |
| 2012 | 29.1% | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 29.0% | -0.4% |
| 2014 | 28.9% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 27.0% | -6.4% |
| 2016 | 27.5% | +1.7% |
| 2017 | 27.9% | +1.4% |
| 2018 | 28.2% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 28.4% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 28.7% | +1.2% |
| 2021 | 29.2% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 29.4% | +0.8% |
| 2023 | 29.8% | +1.1% |
| 2024 | 30.1% | +1.1% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 30.1% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 35.3%, 85% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 30.1% is below the median for South Asia, which is 34.3%, 88% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 23.9% | 22.0% | 25.7% | 9 |
| 2000s | 28.3% | 26.1% | 30.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 28.6% | 27.0% | 30.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 29.5% | 28.7% | 30.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 151 Ghana 32.1% compare
- 152 Gambia 31.0% compare
- 153 Cameroon 30.4% compare
- 155 Solomon Islands 29.9% compare
- 156 Cote d'Ivoire 28.7% compare
- 157 East Timor 24.9% 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 employment by status in Bhutan?
- Employment by status in Bhutan was 30.1% in 2024, according to International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest employment by status recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 30.8% in 2010.
- What is the lowest employment by status recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.0% in 1991.
- How does Bhutan rank for employment by status?
- Bhutan ranks 154th out of 186 countries with data for 2024.
- Is employment by status rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from International Labour Organization (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Employment by status. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Share of people in employment working as employees, as a percentage of total employment.