Air passengers in Bhutan
Bhutan: Air passengers was 189,878 in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Air passengers in Bhutan, 1988–2023
Source: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2023, air passengers in Bhutan stood at 189,878.
That represents a change of up 45.5% on the previous year and down 8.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, air passengers in Bhutan peaked at 302,160 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 8,000, in 1988.
Bhutan ranks 132nd of 183 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Air passengers in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 8,000 | — |
| 1989 | 8,000 | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 8,000 | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 8,000 | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 8,700 | +8.8% |
| 1993 | 8,700 | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 8,700 | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 29,700 | +241.4% |
| 1996 | 35,000 | +17.8% |
| 1997 | 36,100 | +3.1% |
| 1998 | 36,100 | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 30,700 | -15.0% |
| 2000 | 34,425 | +12.1% |
| 2001 | 35,114 | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 40,859 | +16.4% |
| 2003 | 36,365 | -11.0% |
| 2004 | 45,456 | +25.0% |
| 2005 | 49,092 | +8.0% |
| 2006 | 51,056 | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 53,609 | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 52,805 | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 49,056 | -7.1% |
| 2010 | 181,537 | +270.1% |
| 2011 | 226,153 | +24.6% |
| 2012 | 193,405 | -14.5% |
| 2013 | 207,996 | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 302,160 | +45.3% |
| 2015 | 162,864 | -46.1% |
| 2016 | 224,101 | +37.6% |
| 2017 | 254,643 | +13.6% |
| 2018 | 275,849 | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 276,092 | +0.1% |
| 2020 | 48,825 | -82.3% |
| 2021 | 22,380 | -54.2% |
| 2022 | 130,457 | +482.9% |
| 2023 | 189,878 | +45.5% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 189,878 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 690,677, 27% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 189,878 is below the median for South Asia, which is 4.08 million, 5% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Air passengers in Bhutan changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | +482.9% | 22,380 | 130,457 |
| 2010 | +270.1% | 49,056 | 181,537 |
| 1995 | +241.4% | 8,700 | 29,700 |
| 2020 | -82.3% | 276,092 | 48,825 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 2 |
| 1990s | 20,970 | 8,000 | 36,100 | 10 |
| 2000s | 44,784 | 34,425 | 53,609 | 10 |
| 2010s | 230,480 | 162,864 | 302,160 | 10 |
| 2020s | 97,885 | 22,380 | 189,878 | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 129 Madagascar 313,313 compare
- 130 Seychelles 236,917 compare
- 131 Guatemala 221,478 compare
- 133 Jamaica 180,951 compare
- 134 Botswana 172,720 compare
- 135 Solomon Islands 157,418 compare
More reference data data for Bhutan
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0217 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.0671 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.1192 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0167 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 0.1192 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.0727 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 0.0153 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.3489 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 0.5881 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.0909 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is air passengers in Bhutan?
- Air passengers in Bhutan was 189,878 in 2023, according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest air passengers recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 302,160 in 2014.
- What is the lowest air passengers recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8,000 in 1988.
- How does Bhutan rank for air passengers?
- Bhutan ranks 132nd out of 183 countries with data for 2023.
- Is air passengers rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Air passengers. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Domestic and international passengers of airlines registered in the country. Passengers counted each time they travel.