Urban area over the long-term in Bhutan
Bhutan: Urban area over the long-term was 56.15 km² per grid cell in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
56.15 km² per grid cell
Change on year
up 3.7%
World rank
172nd
of 202 countries
All-time high
56.15 km² per grid cell
in 2025
All-time low
0 km² per grid cell
in 1000
Years of data
108
1000–2025
Urban area over the long-term in Bhutan, 1000–2025
Source: HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in km² per grid cell.
Analysis
The most recent figure for urban area over the long-term in Bhutan is 56.15 km² per grid cell, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 108 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.7% on the previous year and up 47.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, urban area over the long-term in Bhutan peaked at 56.15 km² per grid cell in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 km² per grid cell, in 1000.
Bhutan ranks 172nd of 202 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Urban area over the long-term in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | km² per grid cell | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 | 0 km² per grid cell | — |
| 1100 | 0 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1200 | 0 km² per grid cell | +200.0% |
| 1300 | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | +230.0% |
| 1400 | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | +227.3% |
| 1500 | 0.0014 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1600 | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | +300.0% |
| 1700 | 0.0204 km² per grid cell | +275.0% |
| 1710 | 0.0254 km² per grid cell | +24.5% |
| 1720 | 0.0284 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1730 | 0.0316 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1740 | 0.0353 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1750 | 0.0394 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1760 | 0.0439 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1770 | 0.049 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1780 | 0.0546 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1790 | 0.061 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1800 | 0.068 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1810 | 0.0759 km² per grid cell | +11.6% |
| 1820 | 0.0903 km² per grid cell | +19.0% |
| 1830 | 0.1075 km² per grid cell | +19.0% |
| 1840 | 0.128 km² per grid cell | +19.0% |
| 1850 | 0.1524 km² per grid cell | +19.0% |
| 1860 | 0.1814 km² per grid cell | +19.0% |
| 1870 | 0.2207 km² per grid cell | +21.7% |
| 1880 | 0.2686 km² per grid cell | +21.7% |
| 1890 | 0.3269 km² per grid cell | +21.7% |
| 1900 | 0.3978 km² per grid cell | +21.7% |
| 1910 | 0.484 km² per grid cell | +21.7% |
| 1920 | 0.6358 km² per grid cell | +31.4% |
| 1930 | 0.8329 km² per grid cell | +31.0% |
| 1940 | 1.08 km² per grid cell | +29.5% |
| 1950 | 1.34 km² per grid cell | +24.6% |
| 1951 | 1.45 km² per grid cell | +8.3% |
| 1952 | 1.57 km² per grid cell | +7.9% |
| 1953 | 1.69 km² per grid cell | +7.6% |
| 1954 | 1.81 km² per grid cell | +7.3% |
| 1955 | 1.94 km² per grid cell | +7.2% |
| 1956 | 2.08 km² per grid cell | +6.9% |
| 1957 | 2.22 km² per grid cell | +6.7% |
| 1958 | 2.36 km² per grid cell | +6.5% |
| 1959 | 2.51 km² per grid cell | +6.4% |
| 1960 | 2.67 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 1961 | 2.83 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1962 | 3 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1963 | 3.17 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1964 | 3.36 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1965 | 3.55 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1966 | 3.75 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1967 | 3.96 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1968 | 4.19 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1969 | 4.43 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1970 | 4.69 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1971 | 4.97 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1972 | 5.27 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1973 | 5.58 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1974 | 5.91 km² per grid cell | +6.0% |
| 1975 | 6.26 km² per grid cell | +5.8% |
| 1976 | 6.62 km² per grid cell | +5.7% |
| 1977 | 6.99 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1978 | 7.37 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1979 | 7.75 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 1980 | 8.15 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 1981 | 8.53 km² per grid cell | +4.8% |
| 1982 | 8.92 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1983 | 9.32 km² per grid cell | +4.5% |
| 1984 | 9.76 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 10.24 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 1986 | 10.81 km² per grid cell | +5.5% |
| 1987 | 11.44 km² per grid cell | +5.9% |
| 1988 | 12.09 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1989 | 12.65 km² per grid cell | +4.7% |
| 1990 | 13.09 km² per grid cell | +3.4% |
| 1991 | 13.35 km² per grid cell | +2.0% |
| 1992 | 13.46 km² per grid cell | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 13.49 km² per grid cell | +0.3% |
| 1994 | 13.59 km² per grid cell | +0.7% |
| 1995 | 13.84 km² per grid cell | +1.9% |
| 1996 | 14.3 km² per grid cell | +3.3% |
| 1997 | 14.96 km² per grid cell | +4.6% |
| 1998 | 15.79 km² per grid cell | +5.6% |
| 1999 | 16.76 km² per grid cell | +6.1% |
| 2000 | 17.83 km² per grid cell | +6.4% |
| 2001 | 18.96 km² per grid cell | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 20.15 km² per grid cell | +6.3% |
| 2003 | 21.4 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 2004 | 22.71 km² per grid cell | +6.2% |
| 2005 | 24.11 km² per grid cell | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 25.4 km² per grid cell | +5.4% |
| 2007 | 26.73 km² per grid cell | +5.3% |
| 2008 | 28.11 km² per grid cell | +5.1% |
| 2009 | 29.53 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 30.99 km² per grid cell | +5.0% |
| 2011 | 32.35 km² per grid cell | +4.4% |
| 2012 | 33.75 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2013 | 35.19 km² per grid cell | +4.3% |
| 2014 | 36.67 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 38.2 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2016 | 39.79 km² per grid cell | +4.2% |
| 2017 | 41.43 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2018 | 43.12 km² per grid cell | +4.1% |
| 2019 | 44.86 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2020 | 46.65 km² per grid cell | +4.0% |
| 2021 | 48.44 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2022 | 50.29 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2023 | 52.18 km² per grid cell | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 54.14 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
| 2025 | 56.15 km² per grid cell | +3.7% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 56.15 km² per grid cell is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 837.49 km² per grid cell, 7% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 56.15 km² per grid cell is below the median for South Asia, which is 680.09 km² per grid cell, 8% of the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Urban area over the long-term 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1600 | +300.0% | 0.0014 km² per grid cell | 0.0054 km² per grid cell |
| 1500 | +275.0% | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0014 km² per grid cell |
| 1700 | +275.0% | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | 0.0204 km² per grid cell |
| 1300 | +230.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell |
| 1400 | +227.3% | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell |
| 1100 | +200.0% | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1100s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1200s | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 0 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1300s | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 0.0001 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1400s | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 0.0004 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1500s | 0.0014 km² per grid cell | 0.0014 km² per grid cell | 0.0014 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1600s | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | 0.0054 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1700s | 0.0204 km² per grid cell | 0.0204 km² per grid cell | 0.0204 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1710s | 0.0254 km² per grid cell | 0.0254 km² per grid cell | 0.0254 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1720s | 0.0284 km² per grid cell | 0.0284 km² per grid cell | 0.0284 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1730s | 0.0316 km² per grid cell | 0.0316 km² per grid cell | 0.0316 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1740s | 0.0353 km² per grid cell | 0.0353 km² per grid cell | 0.0353 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1750s | 0.0394 km² per grid cell | 0.0394 km² per grid cell | 0.0394 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1760s | 0.0439 km² per grid cell | 0.0439 km² per grid cell | 0.0439 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1770s | 0.049 km² per grid cell | 0.049 km² per grid cell | 0.049 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1780s | 0.0546 km² per grid cell | 0.0546 km² per grid cell | 0.0546 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1790s | 0.061 km² per grid cell | 0.061 km² per grid cell | 0.061 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1800s | 0.068 km² per grid cell | 0.068 km² per grid cell | 0.068 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1810s | 0.0759 km² per grid cell | 0.0759 km² per grid cell | 0.0759 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1820s | 0.0903 km² per grid cell | 0.0903 km² per grid cell | 0.0903 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1830s | 0.1075 km² per grid cell | 0.1075 km² per grid cell | 0.1075 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1840s | 0.128 km² per grid cell | 0.128 km² per grid cell | 0.128 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1850s | 0.1524 km² per grid cell | 0.1524 km² per grid cell | 0.1524 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1860s | 0.1814 km² per grid cell | 0.1814 km² per grid cell | 0.1814 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1870s | 0.2207 km² per grid cell | 0.2207 km² per grid cell | 0.2207 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1880s | 0.2686 km² per grid cell | 0.2686 km² per grid cell | 0.2686 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1890s | 0.3269 km² per grid cell | 0.3269 km² per grid cell | 0.3269 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1900s | 0.3978 km² per grid cell | 0.3978 km² per grid cell | 0.3978 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1910s | 0.484 km² per grid cell | 0.484 km² per grid cell | 0.484 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1920s | 0.6358 km² per grid cell | 0.6358 km² per grid cell | 0.6358 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1930s | 0.8329 km² per grid cell | 0.8329 km² per grid cell | 0.8329 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1940s | 1.08 km² per grid cell | 1.08 km² per grid cell | 1.08 km² per grid cell | 1 |
| 1950s | 1.9 km² per grid cell | 1.34 km² per grid cell | 2.51 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.49 km² per grid cell | 2.67 km² per grid cell | 4.43 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.14 km² per grid cell | 4.69 km² per grid cell | 7.75 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.19 km² per grid cell | 8.15 km² per grid cell | 12.65 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.26 km² per grid cell | 13.09 km² per grid cell | 16.76 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2000s | 23.49 km² per grid cell | 17.83 km² per grid cell | 29.53 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2010s | 37.64 km² per grid cell | 30.99 km² per grid cell | 44.86 km² per grid cell | 10 |
| 2020s | 51.31 km² per grid cell | 46.65 km² per grid cell | 56.15 km² per grid cell | 6 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 169 Comoros 68.99 km² per grid cell compare
- 170 Equatorial Guinea 64.16 km² per grid cell compare
- 171 Sao Tome and Principe 61.99 km² per grid cell compare
- 173 French Guiana 51.9 km² per grid cell compare
- 174 Andorra 49.24 km² per grid cell compare
- 175 Guadeloupe 45.59 km² per grid cell 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 urban area over the long-term in Bhutan?
- Urban area over the long-term in Bhutan was 56.15 km² per grid cell in 2025, according to HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest urban area over the long-term recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 56.15 km² per grid cell in 2025.
- What is the lowest urban area over the long-term recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 km² per grid cell in 1000.
- How does Bhutan rank for urban area over the long-term?
- Bhutan ranks 172nd out of 202 countries with data for 2025.
- Is urban area over the long-term rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 47.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from HYDE (2025) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Urban area over the long-term. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Total built-up area of a country over time.