Bhutanese Workers Abroad Remit USD 30.7 Million in June 2025

Remittances from Bhutanese living abroad (BLA) surged to USD 30.7 million in June 2025, a remarkable jump from USD 10.1 million in the same month last year, according to the Department of Macroeconomic Research and Statistics, Royal Monetary Authority (RMA). The increase underscores the expanding significance of overseas income as a stabilizing force in Bhutan’s economy.

Australia emerged as the dominant source, contributing USD 22.7 million in June 2025, up sharply from USD 2.8 million in July 2023 and USD 8.4 million in July 2024. This reflects a strong Bhutanese workforce presence in sectors such as healthcare, construction, and hospitality, with many workers choosing long-term employment or permanent settlement in the country.

The United States also contributed significantly, sending USD 1.9 million, mainly from professionals, students, and skilled workers. Kuwait and Canada followed with USD 1.98 million and USD 1.3 million, respectively, while the United Kingdom added USD 0.9 million. Other contributors—including Qatar, Singapore, UAE, Hong Kong, and New Zealand—collectively sent around USD 1.2 million, and an additional USD 0.8 million came from various other nations.

Experts say the surge is driven by multiple factors, including increased overseas employment opportunities, improving economic conditions in host countries, and government measures facilitating remittance processes and safeguarding migrant worker rights. The gradual recovery from COVID-19 disruptions has also allowed Bhutanese workers to resume overseas employment, further boosting inflows.

Remittances extend beyond household support; they play a vital role in the national economy by funding education, healthcare, and local development initiatives, while helping stabilize the national currency and strengthen foreign exchange reserves.

Looking ahead, analysts anticipate that remittance inflows from Bhutanese living abroad will continue to rise, driven by expanding global employment opportunities, demand for skilled labor in key sectors, and the increasing mobility of the Bhutanese workforce. As more Bhutanese professionals, students, and migrant workers take up employment in countries with strong labor markets, the volume of funds sent back home is expected to grow steadily.

Policymakers are likely to focus on creating a supportive framework that maximizes the economic benefits of these remittances. This includes streamlining remittance transfer processes, providing financial literacy programs for recipients, and offering incentives for productive investment of overseas earnings in local businesses, infrastructure, and social development projects. At the same time, authorities are expected to strengthen measures that safeguard the rights, welfare, and working conditions of Bhutanese workers abroad, ensuring their protection from exploitation, wage discrepancies, and other vulnerabilities.

Experts also note that sustained government engagement, coupled with partnerships with host countries and financial institutions, can help channel remittances toward initiatives that contribute to long-term national development, including education, healthcare, and rural development, while reinforcing Bhutan’s foreign exchange reserves and economic stability.

Sherab Dorji  from  Thimphu