Bhutan Unemployment Rate
Unemployment as % of total labor force SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS
Bhutan's unemployment rate was 3.23% in 2025, ranked 47th globally. This represents a 1.7% decrease from 2024. Data from World Bank, covering 1991–2025.
Overview
Bhutan's unemployment rate stood at 3.23% in 2025, a decline of +0.06pp from 2024. Bhutan ranked 47th globally.
Bhutan’s unemployment rate has risen steadily since the early 1990s, moving from a trough of 1.38 % in 1991 to an all‑time peak of 5.95 % in 2022, before easing to 3.23 % in 2025, which places the kingdom at 47th globally. The 35‑year series shows a clear upward bias, reflecting structural adjustments in the labor market as the economy diversified beyond traditional agriculture. The 2025 figure is marginally lower than Indonesia’s 3.24 % and Slovenia’s 3.17 %, its closest peers in the World Bank ranking, suggesting that Bhutan’s labor market is converging with other middle‑income economies that balance modest growth with limited job creation. The post‑peak decline indicates that policy measures aimed at expanding vocational training and tourism‑related employment may be taking effect, yet the rate remains above the 1991 low. Continued investment in human‑capital development and infrastructure is likely to determine whether the downward trajectory can be sustained or if the rate will plateau near the current level.
Data & projection
| Year | Unemployment Rate | YoY change | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3.23% | −0.06pp | #47 |
| 2024 | 3.28% | −0.22pp | #51 |
| 2023 | 3.13% | −2.77pp | #49 |
| 2022 | 5.95% | +1.15pp | #108 |
| 2021 | 4.80% | −0.23pp | #65 |
| 2020 | 5.03% | +2.31pp | #68 |
| 2019 | 2.72% | −0.68pp | #32 |
| 2018 | 3.35% | +0.21pp | #42 |
| 2017 | 3.03% | +0.93pp | #31 |
| 2016 | 2.71% | +0.21pp | #28 |
| 2015 | 2.45% | −0.15pp | #24 |
| 2014 | 2.63% | −0.27pp | #27 |
| 2013 | 2.87% | +0.77pp | #28 |
| 2012 | 2.05% | −1.05pp | #16 |
| 2011 | 3.23% | −0.07pp | #33 |
Detected Pattern
Analysis
Bhutan matched the Export Boom Cycle pattern in 2007. Historically, 71% of countries showing this pattern (546 out of 768) saw unemployment rate improve within 24 months. View full analysis →
Frequently Asked Questions
Bhutan's unemployment rate was 3.23% in 2025. Ranked 47th globally. This represents a 1.7% decrease from the previous year.
Bhutan's unemployment rate peaked at 5.95% in 2022.
The lowest unemployment rate in Bhutan was 1.38% in 1991.
Bhutan ranks 47th globally in unemployment rate as of 2025.
The World Bank indicator code is SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS. Data sourced from World Bank.
The unemployment rate of Bhutan in 2025 was 3.23%. This ranks 47th in the world.
Cite this page
@misc{historysaid_bhutan_unemployment-rate,
title = {Bhutan Unemployment Rate},
url = {https://historysaid.com/bhutan/unemployment-rate/},
publisher = {HistorySaid},
year = {2026}
}