Bhutan·Topic

Population

Bhutan's population is relatively small, estimated at just over 780,000 people. The population is youthful but undergoing a gradual demographic transition toward an older age structure, alongside increasing urbanization as youth migrate from rural farms to cities like Thimphu and Phuentsholing.

The population comprises three main ethnic groups: the Ngalops in the west and north, the Sharchops in the east, and the Lhotshampas (of Nepalese descent) in the south.

Vajrayana Buddhism is the state religion and the spiritual lifeblood of the country, practiced by over 75% of the population. Hinduism, practiced predominantly in the southern regions, accounts for about 22% of the populace. While Dzongkha is the official language, English is widely spoken and is the medium of instruction in schools, alongside various regional languages like Tshangla and Nepali.

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