Bhutan: cities by population
Bhutan has a population of 802,214 (UN estimate, 2026), with Thimphu as its capital. The 33 largest of its 33 recorded towns and cities, ranked.
+34%
since 2000 (596,863)
+10%
projected by 2050 (882,340)
21
people per km²
Figures are the latest available in GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), which draws on national censuses of varying dates — treat them as recent, not same-year. Country totals are UN World Population Prospects 2024 (medium variant) where the UN lists the country separately; the handful it reports under a parent state keep a GeoNames figure and are marked as such. Sources & method.
Largest cities in Bhutan
| # | Place | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thimphu | Thimphu District | 98,676 |
| 2 | Phuntsholing | Chukha | 27,658 |
| 3 | Tsirang | Tsirang District | 22,376 |
| 4 | Punākha | Punakha | 21,500 |
| 5 | Pemagatshel | Pemagatshel | 13,864 |
| 6 | Paro | Paro | 11,448 |
| 7 | Sarpang | Sarpang District | 10,416 |
| 8 | Geylegphug | Sarpang District | 9,858 |
| 9 | Samdrup Jongkhar | Samdrup Jongkhar | 9,325 |
| 10 | Wangdue Phodrang | Wangdi Phodrang | 8,954 |
| 11 | Jakar | Bumthang District | 6,243 |
| 12 | Samtse | Samtse District | 5,396 |
| 13 | Pajo | Punakha | 3,032 |
| 14 | Trashi Yangtse | Trashi Yangste | 3,025 |
| 15 | Mongar | Mongar | 2,969 |
| 16 | Tsimasham | Chukha | 2,855 |
| 17 | Mebisa | Chukha | 2,855 |
| 18 | Trongsa | Tongsa | 2,805 |
| 19 | Ura | Bumthang District | 2,288 |
| 20 | Daga | Dagana | 2,243 |
| 21 | Laya | Gasa | 2,000 |
| 22 | Lhuentse | Lhuntse | 1,935 |
| 23 | Daphu | Chukha | 1,666 |
| 24 | Ha | Haa | 1,449 |
| 25 | Autsho | Lhuntse | 1,447 |
| 26 | Panbang | Zhemgang District | 1,360 |
| 27 | Trashigang | Trashigang District | 872 |
| 28 | Shemgang | Zhemgang District | 852 |
| 29 | Nganglam | Samdrup Jongkhar | 707 |
| 30 | Daifam | Samdrup Jongkhar | 662 |
| 31 | Bhangtar | Samdrup Jongkhar | 656 |
| 32 | Tashi Chho Dzong | 600 | |
| 33 | Gasa | Gasa | 548 |
Twenty years earlier: Bhutan in the 2005 World Gazetteer — population then 779,421.
Common questions
What is the population of Bhutan?
Bhutan has a population of 802,214, the UN World Population Prospects estimate for 2026. The UN's medium-variant projection for 2050 is 882,340 — a forecast, not a measurement.
What is the capital of Bhutan?
Thimphu.