Imports of goods and services in Bhutan
Bhutan: Imports of goods and services was 47.9% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Imports of goods and services in Bhutan, 1980–2024
Source: Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs). Measured in % of GDP.
Analysis
In 2024, imports of goods and services in Bhutan stood at 47.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.3% on the previous year and down 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, imports of goods and services in Bhutan peaked at 65.6% in 2010 and was at its lowest, 33.3%, in 1990.
That places Bhutan 91st out of 193 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 45 years of available data.
Imports of goods and services in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % of GDP | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 39.7% | — |
| 1981 | 50.5% | +27.2% |
| 1982 | 50.2% | -0.6% |
| 1983 | 48.4% | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 47.6% | -1.6% |
| 1985 | 53.9% | +13.3% |
| 1986 | 55.2% | +2.3% |
| 1987 | 39.7% | -28.0% |
| 1988 | 51.2% | +28.9% |
| 1989 | 39.6% | -22.7% |
| 1990 | 33.3% | -16.0% |
| 1991 | 42.5% | +27.8% |
| 1992 | 58.4% | +37.3% |
| 1993 | 45.9% | -21.4% |
| 1994 | 41.2% | -10.2% |
| 1995 | 44.5% | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 47.6% | +7.1% |
| 1997 | 47.9% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 51.3% | +7.0% |
| 1999 | 53.2% | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 46.0% | -13.5% |
| 2001 | 45.9% | -0.4% |
| 2002 | 47.4% | +3.3% |
| 2003 | 48.5% | +2.4% |
| 2004 | 59.4% | +22.5% |
| 2005 | 61.3% | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 56.3% | -8.1% |
| 2007 | 54.6% | -3.1% |
| 2008 | 55.4% | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 59.1% | +6.8% |
| 2010 | 65.6% | +11.1% |
| 2011 | 64.9% | -1.1% |
| 2012 | 58.3% | -10.2% |
| 2013 | 57.6% | -1.1% |
| 2014 | 53.7% | -6.7% |
| 2015 | 58.1% | +8.1% |
| 2016 | 49.3% | -15.2% |
| 2017 | 48.3% | -1.9% |
| 2018 | 50.5% | +4.6% |
| 2019 | 44.7% | -11.6% |
| 2020 | 43.8% | -2.0% |
| 2021 | 48.4% | +10.6% |
| 2022 | 60.1% | +24.2% |
| 2023 | 53.3% | -11.2% |
| 2024 | 47.9% | -10.3% |
Bhutan compared with similar countries
- Bhutan's 47.9% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 41.9%, 1.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Bhutan's 47.9% is above the median for South Asia, which is 28.9%, 1.7× the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 47.6% | 39.6% | 55.2% | 10 |
| 1990s | 46.6% | 33.3% | 58.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 53.4% | 45.9% | 61.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 55.1% | 44.7% | 65.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 50.7% | 43.8% | 60.1% | 5 |
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 imports of goods and services in Bhutan?
- Imports of goods and services in Bhutan was 47.9% in 2024, according to Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs).
- What is the highest imports of goods and services recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 65.6% in 2010.
- What is the lowest imports of goods and services recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.3% in 1990.
- How does Bhutan rank for imports of goods and services?
- Bhutan ranks 91st out of 193 countries with data for 2024.
- Is imports of goods and services rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from Country official statistics, National Statistical Offices (NSOs), published as part of Imports of goods and services (% of GDP). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Imports of goods includes change in the economic ownership of goods from non-residents to residents of the compiling economy, irrespective of physical movement of goods across national borders. Imports of services includes services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which is the total income earned through the production of goods and services in an economic territory during an accounting period.