Bhutanese Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Bhutan is a small Buddhist kingdom in the eastern Himalayas, between India and China, which measures its progress through Gross National Happiness as well as economic growth. Bhutanese people in Britain include students and professionals, as well as some families from Bhutan's Nepali-speaking Lhotshampa community.

The community in numbers

The 2021 Census does not publish a separate Birmingham figure for the Bhutanese community, which is counted within the census's figures for other Asian ethnic groups. By any measure it is one of the city's smaller communities, which makes the ties between its members all the closer.

Working for Birmingham

Bhutanese residents study and work in fields such as healthcare, engineering, education and environmental science, a subject close to the hearts of a country that has pledged to keep much of its land forested. They bring a strong sense of duty and community to their studies and jobs.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Bhutanese community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Losar, the Bhutanese new year, and Buddhist festivals are marked with prayer and family meals, and ema datshi, a dish of chillies and cheese, is the national favourite. The national sport is archery. Birmingham's Buddhist centres offer a welcoming place for reflection and friendship.

The story of the Bhutanese community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.