Demographics of Bhutan - Demographic Statistics

Demographic Statistics

The following demographic statistics are from the CIA World Factbook, unless otherwise indicated.

Nationality

Noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)

Adjective: Bhutanese

Ethnic groups

Ngalop (Northern Bhutanese) 50%, Lhotshampa (ethnic Nepalese) 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Religions

Approximately two-thirds to three-quarters of the population practice Drukpa Kagyupa or Ningmapa Buddhism, both of which are disciplines of Mahayana Buddhism. Approximately one-quarter of the population is ethnic Nepalese and practice Hinduism. They live mainly in the south and follow the Shaivite, Vaishnavite, Shakta, Ghanapathi, Puranic, and Vedic schools. Christians both Roman Catholic and Protestant and nonreligious groups comprised less than 1 percent of the population. Bön, the country's animist and shamanistic belief system, revolves around the worship of nature and predates Buddhism. Very few citizens adhere exclusively to this religious group.

Languages

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects. Ethnologue lists 25 languages for Bhutan. Up to 109,000 immigrants speak Assamese.

• Nepali: 256,000 (40.1%)
• Dzongkha: 160,000 (2006) (25.1%)
• Tshangla: 157,000 (24.6%)

Literacy

Definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Total population: 47%

Male: 60%

Female: 34% (2003 est.)

Population

708,427 (July 2011 est.)

716,896 (July 2012 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28.9% (male 104,622/female 100,383)

15-64 years: 65.3% (male 245,054/female 217,864)

65 years and over: 5.7% (male 21,347/female 19,157) (2011 est.)

Median age

Total: 24.8 years

Male: 25.4 years

Female: 24.2 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.201% (2011 est.)

Birth rate

18.75 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Death rate

6.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.13 children born/woman (2012 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 35% of total population (2010)

rate of urbanization: 3.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Sex ratio

At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

Under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female

Total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

Total population: 67.3 years

Male: 66.46 years

Female: 68.19 years (2011 est.)