Labor force, female in Bhutan
Bhutan: Labor force, female was 166,082 in 2025. ▲ Rising
Labor force, female in Bhutan, 1990–2025
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
Analysis
The most recent figure for labor force, female in Bhutan is 166,082, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, labor force, female in Bhutan peaked at 178,774 in 2021 and was at its lowest, 83,966, in 1993.
That places Bhutan 161st out of 187 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Labor force, female in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 86,481 | — |
| 1991 | 88,712 | +2.6% |
| 1992 | 86,339 | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 83,966 | -2.7% |
| 1994 | 85,142 | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 85,542 | +0.5% |
| 1996 | 87,269 | +2.0% |
| 1997 | 90,668 | +3.9% |
| 1998 | 94,503 | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 98,515 | +4.2% |
| 2000 | 102,536 | +4.1% |
| 2001 | 106,887 | +4.2% |
| 2002 | 111,576 | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 116,616 | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 122,045 | +4.7% |
| 2005 | 127,360 | +4.4% |
| 2006 | 132,075 | +3.7% |
| 2007 | 136,487 | +3.3% |
| 2008 | 140,757 | +3.1% |
| 2009 | 144,742 | +2.8% |
| 2010 | 142,636 | -1.5% |
| 2011 | 143,182 | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 147,559 | +3.1% |
| 2013 | 138,492 | -6.1% |
| 2014 | 130,515 | -5.8% |
| 2015 | 135,294 | +3.7% |
| 2016 | 137,394 | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 139,793 | +1.7% |
| 2018 | 142,465 | +1.9% |
| 2019 | 160,949 | +13.0% |
| 2020 | 170,459 | +5.9% |
| 2021 | 178,774 | +4.9% |
| 2022 | 147,079 | -17.7% |
| 2023 | 161,108 | +9.5% |
| 2024 | 163,542 | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 166,082 | +1.6% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 166,082 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.10 million, 8% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 166,082 is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.95 million, 6% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 88,714 | 83,966 | 98,515 | 10 |
| 2000s | 124,108 | 102,536 | 144,742 | 10 |
| 2010s | 141,828 | 130,515 | 160,949 | 10 |
| 2020s | 164,507 | 147,079 | 178,774 | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More gender data for Bhutan
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 147.07 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.49 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 673.62 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 673.62 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.997 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 4,751 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 4,967 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 4,765 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 4,981 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 4,779 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is labor force, female in Bhutan?
- Labor force, female in Bhutan was 166,082 in 2025, according to World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division.
- What is the highest labor force, female recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 178,774 in 2021.
- What is the lowest labor force, female recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 83,966 in 1993.
- How does Bhutan rank for labor force, female?
- Bhutan ranks 161st out of 187 countries with data for 2025.
- Is labor force, female rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from World Bank, World Development Indicators database. Estimates are based on data obtained from International Labour Organization and United Nations Population Division, published as part of Labor force, female. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Female labor force comprises women ages 15 and older who supply labor for the production of goods and services during a specified period. It includes people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but seeking work as well as first-time job-seekers. Not everyone who works is included, however. Unpaid workers, family workers, and students are often omitted, and some countries do not count members of the armed forces. Labor force size tends to vary during the year as seasonal workers enter and leave.