Economy of Bhutan

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The economy of Bhutan is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult. Bhutan is among the richest by gross domestic product (nominal) per capita in South Asia, at $3,491 as of 2022, but it still places 153rd, and among the poorest in the world. The total gross domestic product is only $2.898 billion, placing Bhutan at 178th according to the IMF.

Bhutan's economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. Most production in the industrial sector is of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labour. Model education, social, and environment programmes are underway with support from multilateral development organisations.

Each economic programme takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labour, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Hydropower exports to India have boosted Bhutan's overall growth, even though GDP fell in 2008 as a result of a slowdown in India, its predominant export market.

Since 1961, the government of Bhutan has guided the economy through five-year plans in order to promote economic development.[1]

In the 1970s, the king placed importance on Gross National Happiness (GNH) over gross domestic product (GDP).[2][3]

On 8 December 2023, Bhutan graduated from the UN's list of least developed countries (LDCs), making it only the 7th country to do so and the first in 3 years.[4][5]

Macro-economic trend

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Trend of Gross Domestic Product of Bhutan at market prices reported by the IMF[6]
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Year (millions of BTN) (millions of USD)
1985 2,166 175
1990 4,877 279
1995 9,531 294
2000 20,060 460
2005 36,915 828
2008 45,000 1,280
2011 84,950 1,695
2014 119,546 1,784
2017 159,572 2,294

Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare.

In 2010, Bhutan became the first country in the world to ban smoking and the selling of tobacco. In order to stamp out cross-border smuggling during the pandemic, a new Tobacco Control Rules and Regulations (TCRR) 2021 allowed the import, sales and consumption of tobacco products.[7]

Membership of economic organisations and agreements

In terms of trade, Bhutan is a member of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).[8][9][10] Bhutan is also a member of the pan-Asian Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), and the Asian Development Bank.[11][12]

Bhutan first applied to join the WTO in 1999 and as an applicant, was quickly granted observer status[13] Beyond that, ascension proceedings at the WTO have been much delayed and periodically put on pause, largely stemming from concerns and considerations of the Bhutanese government itself.[13][14][15][16] The Bhutanese government approved ascension to the WTO in April 2023, at least partly hastened by the country's upcoming graduation from the UN-defined 'least developed country (LDC) category.[17][18] Under WTO rules and processes, ascent of a country with LDC status comes with some leniency in certain requirements, more relaxed timeframes for compliance, and additional support;[19] so, whilst the loss of LDC status, as happened in December 2023, was a reflection of Bhutan's success and development progress, it also meant much further delay in WTO ascension (that is, ascent after the loss of LDC status) would make the journey through to full WTO member status even harder.[15][17][20]

Modern economic resources

Since the early 2020s, Bhutan has adopted cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, as a strategic economic resource. Facing declining tourism revenue, youth unemployment (which reached 19% in 2024), and a growing brain drain, the government began mining Bitcoin using surplus hydropower during high-flow summer months. By 2023, Bhutan had sold $100 million in cryptocurrency to double civil servant salaries, leading to a drop in resignations. As of April 2025, blockchain analysts estimate Bhutan's Bitcoin holdings at over $600 million; around 30% of its GDP. Mining is powered by the kingdom's carbon-negative hydropower and cool climate, aligning with its environmental values. Bhutan also plans to develop Gelephu Mindfulness City, a sustainable economic hub.[21]

See also

References

Notes

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Public domain
Citations

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Further reading

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External links

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