Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Bhutan
Bhutan: Central government revenues as a share of GDP was 20.0% in 2020. ▲ Rising
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Bhutan, 1982–2020
Source: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
The most recent figure for central government revenues as a share of gdp in Bhutan is 20.0%, measured in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 6.3% on the previous year and up 0.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, central government revenues as a share of gdp in Bhutan peaked at 21.9% in 1988 and was at its lowest, 10.3%, in 1982.
That places Bhutan 104th out of 157 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 37 years of available data.
Central government revenues as a share of GDP in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 10.3% | — |
| 1984 | 15.1% | +46.6% |
| 1985 | 13.1% | -13.0% |
| 1986 | 14.0% | +7.1% |
| 1988 | 21.9% | +56.3% |
| 1989 | 19.0% | -13.2% |
| 1990 | 17.7% | -6.9% |
| 1991 | 17.9% | +0.8% |
| 1992 | 17.8% | -0.3% |
| 1993 | 21.0% | +18.2% |
| 1994 | 19.2% | -8.6% |
| 1995 | 19.0% | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 19.0% | +0.1% |
| 1997 | 18.4% | -3.2% |
| 1998 | 20.4% | +10.8% |
| 1999 | 20.8% | +1.7% |
| 2000 | 21.8% | +5.0% |
| 2001 | 20.9% | -4.0% |
| 2002 | 18.5% | -11.4% |
| 2003 | 15.6% | -15.7% |
| 2004 | 15.0% | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 16.0% | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 16.2% | +1.1% |
| 2007 | 19.4% | +20.2% |
| 2008 | 21.5% | +10.9% |
| 2009 | 21.8% | +1.2% |
| 2010 | 19.9% | -8.6% |
| 2011 | 18.8% | -5.5% |
| 2012 | 19.2% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 18.5% | -4.0% |
| 2014 | 18.2% | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 18.0% | -1.2% |
| 2016 | 17.2% | -4.2% |
| 2017 | 17.7% | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 21.7% | +23.2% |
| 2019 | 18.8% | -13.4% |
| 2020 | 20.0% | +6.3% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 20.0% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 19.7%, 1.0× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 20.0% is above the median for South Asia, which is 13.8%, 1.5× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Central government revenues as a share of GDP 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | +56.3% | 14.0% | 21.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 15.6% | 10.3% | 21.9% | 6 |
| 1990s | 19.1% | 17.7% | 21.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.7% | 15.0% | 21.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 18.8% | 17.2% | 21.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 20.0% | 20.0% | 20.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
More economy & growth data for Bhutan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 4.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 5.11 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 2.82 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -72.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0008 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 3.56 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 26.59 % change on previous year (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3328 includes gold, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), per capita 1,495 includes gold, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves minus gold (current US$), annual growth rate 24.21 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is central government revenues as a share of gdp in Bhutan?
- Central government revenues as a share of gdp in Bhutan was 20.0% in 2020, according to International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 21.9% in 1988.
- What is the lowest central government revenues as a share of gdp recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.3% in 1982.
- How does Bhutan rank for central government revenues as a share of gdp?
- Bhutan ranks 104th out of 157 countries with data for 2020.
- Is central government revenues as a share of gdp rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund (IMF) Government Finance Statistics, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Central government revenues as a share of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Taxes, social contributions, and other revenues such as fines, fees, rent, and income from property or sales included. Grants excluded.