Pray for Bhutan
A monastery built on a cliff high above the Paro valley in Bhutan.
Photo: Original: Nina R from Africa Derivative work: UnpetitproleX, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
About Bhutan
The capital is Thimphu. People speak Dzongkha. The largest faith is Buddhism.
Source: Wikipedia, with the cited sources it lists.
Prayer briefing for Bhutan
Last updated October 2026. Facts come from the sources listed below.
Current events
On the night of 7 June 2026 an earthquake of magnitude 5.5, centred in Punakha, shook Bhutan. More than 400 households were damaged, along with schools, health centres and monasteries, mostly with cracks, and no one died. Many families are also feeling the loss of young people who have moved abroad for work and study.
We pray for: Immediate relief, safety and urgent help.
Leadership and politics
Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy. The King is Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Prime Minister is Tshering Tobgay, who began his second term in January 2024 after his People's Democratic Party won 30 of the 47 seats in the National Assembly. The government is working to create jobs at home so that skilled young people stay.
We pray for: Wisdom, integrity and justice for those in authority.
Economic health
The World Bank expects growth of about 7% this year, helped by new hydropower plants, with inflation of about 5%. Poverty is low and expected to fall to about 5% in 2026. But about one in five young people is unemployed, and about 9% of the population had emigrated by 2025. The government hopes the Gelephu Mindfulness City project will bring new work.
We pray for: Provision for families and honest stewardship.
Social and cultural issues
Bhutan's peoples include the Ngalop of the west, the Sharchop of the east and the Lhotshampa of the south, who are of Nepali descent and mostly Hindu. More than half of all workers earn their living from farming and food, and far more in rural areas. Young people leaving for jobs overseas is changing many homes and villages.
We pray for: Reconciliation, peace and protection of the vulnerable.
Spiritual landscape
About 83% of Bhutanese are Buddhist and about 11% Hindu, with Christians at about 2%, according to a 2020 estimate based on 2019 data. Pastors estimate about 30,000 Christians meeting in 250 to 300 small congregations. Christians are found mainly in Thimphu and the towns of the south, and Hindus mostly in the south.
We pray for: Spiritual awakening, hope and the spread of truth.
Religious freedom
The constitution protects freedom of religion and calls Buddhism the spiritual heritage of the nation. Religious groups must register, and the US State Department reports that no Christian church has been registered, so churches cannot own property or hold public services. Believers can worship privately in homes and offices, but many cannot get burial plots. Converts often face strong family and community pressure.
We pray for: Protection for believers and freedom to worship safely.
Historical wounds
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, citizenship checks and new rules on dress and language in the south led to unrest. More than 100,000 Lhotshampa people left or were forced out, and many lived for years in refugee camps in Nepal. From 2007 most were resettled in countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia, and the memory of those years is still painful.
We pray for: National healing, breaking old cycles and deep forgiveness.
Let us pray together
Our Father, we come to You together for Bhutan. Comfort the families whose homes were damaged by the earthquake, and keep every valley safe. Give the King, the Prime Minister and all leaders wisdom, integrity and justice. Provide good work for young people, so that families can flourish at home. Bring peace and care between the peoples of the west, east and south, and protect the vulnerable. Let Your hope and truth be known in every town and village, and strengthen the small churches that meet in homes. Grant believers freedom to worship safely and a place to lay their loved ones to rest. Heal the wounds of the past, bring forgiveness and peace to families scattered across the world, and lead Bhutan in Your ways. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Sources
- BBS: 404 households damaged in earthquake (June 2026)
- World Bank: Bhutan growth outlook remains strong (April 2026)
- US State Department: 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, Bhutan (2024)
- Wikipedia: Tshering Tobgay
- Wikipedia: Lhotshampa people
- The Bhutanese: strategy to bring back youth and boost the economy (July 2025)
More ways to pray
PrayerCast shares short prayer videos for the nations. Watch its video for Bhutan and pray along.
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