Nepal vs Bhutan — Country Comparison
Nepal and Bhutan side by side: Nepal is the larger country (147,181 km² vs 38,394 km², roughly 3.8× the size), while Nepal has the bigger population (29.9 million vs 784,000). The full comparison table below covers capitals, currencies, languages, dialling codes, timezones and more.
Facts last checked 9 October 2026.
| Fact | Nepal | Bhutan |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Kathmandu | Thimphu |
| Population | 29,911,840 | 784,043 |
| Area | 147,181 km² | 38,394 km² |
| Currency | Nepalese rupee | Bhutanese ngultrum |
| Language | Nepali | Dzongkha |
| Dialling code | +977 | +975 |
| Main timezone | UTC+05:45 | UTC+06:00 |
| Drives on the | Left | Left |
| Region | Southern Asia | Southern Asia |
| Emergency number | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) | 112 (works on most mobile networks worldwide) |
Key differences: Nepal vs Bhutan
- Nepal has about 38.2 times the population of Bhutan.
- Nepal is about 3.8 times larger by area.
- Nepal is the more densely populated of the two.
- They use different currencies: NPR and BTN.
- They do not share an official language.
- They do not share a land border.
- Their geographic centres are about 640 km apart.
- Bhutan is 15 minutes ahead of Nepal (UTC+05:45 vs UTC+06:00), not accounting for daylight saving changes.
Want the full picture for each country? See Nepal and Bhutan, or compare their population pages: Nepal · Bhutan.
Visiting Nepal or Bhutan?
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Nepal vs Bhutan — FAQ
Which is bigger, Nepal or Bhutan?
Nepal is bigger by area: 147,181 km² vs 38,394 km², roughly 3.8× the size of Bhutan.
Is Nepal bigger than Bhutan?
Yes — Nepal covers 147,181 km², compared to 38,394 km² for Bhutan.
Which has more people, Nepal or Bhutan?
Nepal has the larger population: 29,911,840 (29.9 million) vs 784,043 (784,000).
How does the size of Nepal compare to Bhutan?
Nepal (147,181 km²) is about 3.8× larger than Bhutan (38,394 km²).
Do Nepal and Bhutan use the same currency?
No — Nepal uses the Nepalese rupee and Bhutan uses the Bhutanese ngultrum.
Are Nepal and Bhutan on the same continent?
Yes — both are in Asia.
What is the time difference between Nepal and Bhutan?
Bhutan is 15 minutes ahead of Nepal (UTC+05:45 vs UTC+06:00), not accounting for daylight saving changes.
Do Nepal and Bhutan share an official language?
No — Nepal and Bhutan do not share an official language.
Do Nepal and Bhutan share a border?
No — Nepal and Bhutan do not share a land border.
Which is more densely populated, Nepal or Bhutan?
Nepal is more densely populated at roughly 203 people per km², compared to 20 for Bhutan.
How far is Nepal from Bhutan?
The distance between the geographic centres of Nepal and Bhutan is roughly 640 km (400 miles) in a straight line. Actual travel distances between cities will differ.
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