Which ethnic groups make up Bhutan’s population?

Bhutan’s population is primarily composed of three major ethnic groups, each with distinct cultural and historical backgrounds:

• Bhutia (also known as Ngalop): As the largest ethnic group, they make up approximately half of the population. Descended from Tibetan immigrants who arrived around the 9th century, they are dominant in northern, central, and western Bhutan and hold significant influence over the country’s political life.1
• Nepalese: Constituting roughly one-third of the population, this group resides primarily in the southern and southwestern regions. They are the most recent arrivals to the country and maintain strong cultural and religious ties to Nepal and India.12
• Sharchop: Believed to be the earliest inhabitants of Bhutan, the Sharchop are concentrated in the eastern part of the country. They are ethnically related to hill tribes in neighboring areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.1

While these groups coexist, historical tensions—particularly between the Tibetan-descended Bhutia and the Nepalese communities—have remained a significant internal political challenge for the nation.1