Table of Contents

Bhutanese population in the U.S., 2000-2019


 
YearPopulation
2000200
201019,000
201524,000
201924,000

Note: Based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: 2000 and 2010 population estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, “The Asian Population: 2010” Census Brief, Table 6. 2015 and 2019 population estimates from 2015 and 2019 American Community Survey 1-year estimates (Census Data).

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

English proficiency of Bhutanese population in the U.S., 2019


% among those ages 5 and older who are English proficient
CategoryEnglish proficient
All36%
U.S. born******
Foreign born32%
Adults30%
   
All Asians72%
The symbol *** indicates insufficient number of observations to provide a reliable estimate.
Note: Proficient English speakers are those who speak only English at home, or if they speak a non-English language at home, they indicate they can speak English at least “very well.” Due to data limitations, figures for Bhutanese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Length of time in the U.S. for Bhutanese immigrants, 2000-2019


% of foreign-born population who have lived in the U.S. …
Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
2000  
2010  
201598%2%
201986%14%

Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Bhutanese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2000 decennial census, 2008-2010, 2013-2015 and 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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% of foreign-born population who have lived in the U.S. …
Year0 to 10 yearsMore than 10 years
200044%56%
201036%64%
201534%66%
201934%66%
Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2000 decennial census, 2008-2010, 2013-2015 and 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

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Educational attainment of Bhutanese population in the U.S., 2019


% of those ages 25 and older, by educational attainment
CategoryHigh school or lessSome collegeBachelor’s degreePostgrad degree
All75%10%11%4%
U.S. born***************
Foreign born75%10%11%4%
      
All Asians27%19%30%24%
All Americans39%29%20%13%


The symbol *** indicates insufficient number of observations to provide a reliable estimate.
Note: “High school” refers to those who have attained a high school diploma or its equivalent, such as a General Education Development (GED) certificate. “Some college” includes those with an associate degree and those who attended college but did not obtain a degree. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Bhutanese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

U.S. Bhutanese population living in poverty, 2019


% living in poverty
GroupAll AmericansAll AsiansAll Bhutanese
All13%10%13%
U.S. born***13%9%***
Foreign born14%11%13%


The symbol *** indicates insufficient number of observations to provide a reliable estimate.
Note: Poverty status is determined for individuals in housing units and noninstitutional group quarters. It is unavailable for children younger than 15 who are not related to the householder, people living in institutional group quarters and people living in college dormitories or military barracks. Due to the way in which the IPUMS assigns poverty values, these data will differ from those provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Due to data limitations, figures for Bhutanese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Top 10 U.S. metropolitan areas by Bhutanese population, 2019


Metro areaBhutanese population
Rochester, NY2,000
Columbus, OH2,000
Atlanta2,000
Harrisburg–Carlisle, PA2,000
Burlington, VT1,000
Pittsburgh1,000
Denver1,000
Des Moines, IA1,000
Cleveland1,000
Erie, PA1,000
Note: Due to data limitations, figures for Bhutanese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.

Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Demographic characteristics of U.S. Bhutanese population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Bhutanese in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN AGE (in years) 34 32 *** 35
AGE
Younger than 5 7 10 *** 1
5-17 17 17 *** 14
18-29 18 19 *** 21
30-39 17 21 *** 25
40-49 14 13 *** 15
50-64 16 13 *** 15
65+ 11 8 *** 9
NATIVITY
U.S. born 43 15 100
Foreign born 57 85 100
YEARS IN U.S. (among foreign born)
0-5 years 21 29
6-10 years 13 57
11-15 years 11 7
16-20 years 12 1
21+ years 44 6
CITIZENSHIP (among foreign born)
U.S. citizen 59 41
Not a U.S. citizen 41 59
MARITAL STATUS (18 and older)
Married 59 71 *** 72
Divorced/Separated/Widowed 11 11 *** 11
Never married 30 18 *** 17
FERTILITY (among women ages 15 to 44)
Women who have given birth in the past 12 months 6 *** *** ***
HOUSEHOLD TYPE, BY PERSONS
Married-couple household 71 84 *** 83
Other family household 13 12 *** 13
Non-family household 15 3 *** 4
IN A MULTIGENERATIONAL HOUSEHOLD
Multigenerational household 27 56 *** 56

The symbol *** indicates insufficient number of observations to provide a reliable estimate.
Note: Family households are those with a household head and one or more persons living in the household who are related to the household head by birth, marriage or adoption. Households with a household head and an unmarried partner are only considered family households if there are other persons in the household who are related to the household head by birth, marriage or adoption. Multigenerational households are households with two or more adult generations or one that includes grandparents and grandchildren. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Bhutanese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

Pew Research Center


Economic characteristics of U.S. Bhutanese population, 2019


% (unless otherwise noted)

Among Bhutanese in the U.S.
All Asians
in the U.S.
All U.S. born Foreign born
MEDIAN ANNUAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME $85,800 *** *** ***
MEDIAN ANNUAL PERSONAL EARNINGS (ages 16 and older with positive earnings)
All $40,000 $25,000 *** $25,000
Full-time, year-round workers $60,000 *** *** ***
EMPLOYMENT STATUS (civilians ages 16 and older)
Employed 64 61 *** 62
Not employed 3 3 *** 3
Not in labor force 34 36 *** 36
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (civilians ages 16 and older in the labor force) 4 5 *** 5
LIVING IN POVERTY
All ages 10 13 *** 13
Younger than 18 10 *** *** ***
18-64 10 13 *** 13
65 and older 12 *** *** ***
HOMEOWNERSHIP (households)
Owner-occupied 59 *** *** ***
Renter-occupied 41 *** *** ***

The symbol *** indicates insufficient number of observations to provide a reliable estimate.
Note: The household population excludes persons living in institutions, college dormitories and other group quarters. Households are classified by the race or detailed Asian group of the head. “Full-time, year-round workers” are defined as people ages 16 and older who usually worked at least 35 hours per week and at least 48 weeks in the past year. The share of the population ages 16 and older who are not employed differs from the unemployment rate because the share not employed is based on the total population, while the unemployment rate is based on those who are in the labor force (i.e. working or looking for work). Poverty status is determined for individuals in housing units and non-institutional group quarters. It is unavailable for children younger than 15 who are not related to the householder, people living in institutional group quarters and people living in college dormitories or military barracks. Due to the way in which the IPUMS assigns poverty values, these data will differ from those provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Due to data limitations, figures for Bhutanese based on single-race population only, regardless of Hispanic origin. Figures for all Asians based on mixed-race and mixed-group populations, regardless of Hispanic origin. See methodology for more detail.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of 2017-2019 American Community Survey (IPUMS).

Pew Research Center


Find out more

Explore fact sheets on other Asian groups in the U.S.

Read the methodology.