Bhutan: Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2023, Bhutan's merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) rose 8% on 2022 (from US$650.96 million to US$703.02 million).

Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2022), the average change was +35.6% and a typical year strayed about 97.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 418.7% in 2005 and the biggest yearly fall was 27% in 2016. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2014 to 2023 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 21% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2023, Bhutan had the 160th highest value of the 205 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Bhutan in the 2023 ranking

• Kosovo — 157th of 205: US$932.89 million
• Cuba — 158th of 205: US$853.94 million
• Fiji — 159th of 205: US$732.24 million
• Montenegro — 161st of 205: US$689.83 million
• South Sudan — 162nd of 205: US$652.23 million
• Seychelles — 163rd of 205: US$548.98 million

What this measures

Merchandise exports by the reporting economy are the total merchandise exports by the reporting economy to the rest of the world, as reported in the IMF's Direction of trade database. Data are in current US$.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 24 values

Merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) in nearby economies

• Bangladesh — US$38.76 billion (2023)
• India — US$429.09 billion (2023)
• Maldives — US$162.22 million (2023)
• Nepal — US$1.21 billion (2023)
• Sri Lanka — US$11.56 billion (2023)

More private sector & trade data for Bhutan

• Merchandise trade (% of GDP) — 83.28% (2025)
• Merchandise imports (current US$) — US$2.18 billion (2025)
• Merchandise exports (current US$) — US$800 million (2025)
• International tourism, number of arrivals — 29,800 (2020)
• International tourism, receipts (current US$) — US$84 million (2020)
• Import unit value index (2015 = 100) — 132.5 (2025)
• Export unit value index (2015 = 100) — 150.3 (2025)
• Merchandise imports from high-income economies (% of total merchandise imports) — 4.9% (2023)
• Merchandise imports from low- and middle-income economies outside region (% of total merchandise imports)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Bhutan's merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$)?

US$703.02 million in 2023, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 2000?

It is up 4,695% from US$14.66 million in 2000 (18.32% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was US$703.02 million in 2023 and the lowest US$14.66 million in 2000.

How does Bhutan rank?

160th highest of 205 economies with data for 2023.

Is the latest change in merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) unusual for Bhutan?

In 2023, Bhutan's merchandise exports by the reporting economy (current US$) rose 8% on 2022 (from US$650.96 million to US$703.02 million). Across the 22 yearly changes before that (2001 to 2022), the average change was +35.6% and a typical year strayed about 97.5% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations below that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator TX.VAL.MRCH.WL.CD, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Staff estimates, World Bank (WB); Direction of Trade database, International Monetary Fund (IMF) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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