Quality of life comparison
If you lived in Belgium instead of Bhutan, you would:
Health
live 9.0 years longer
In Bhutan, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 82 years (80 years for men, 84 years for women) as of 2024.
see 11.1 times more spent on your healthcare
Bhutan spends $677 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Belgium spends $7,489 as of 2023.
have 6.5 times more doctors per person
Bhutan has 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Belgium has 35.7 as of 2022.
have 43.3% more access to essential health services
Bhutan scores 60 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Belgium scores 86 as of 2021.
be 59.5% more likely to be obese
In Bhutan, 13.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Belgium, that number is 20.9% of people as of 2024.
be 3.7 times more likely to die by suicide
Bhutan has a suicide rate of 4.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Belgium, it is 18.4 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
make 13.5 times more money
Bhutan has a GDP per capita of $4,493 as of 2025, while in Belgium, the GDP per capita is $60,750 as of 2025.
be 83.0% more likely to be unemployed
In Bhutan, 3.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Belgium, that number is 5.9% as of 2025.
Life
be 91.5% less likely to die during childbirth
In Bhutan, approximately 47.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Belgium, 4.0 women do as of 2023.
be 77.4% less likely to die during infancy
In Bhutan, approximately 13.7 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Belgium, on the other hand, 3.1 children do as of 2024.
have 26.6% fewer children
In Bhutan, there are approximately 12.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Belgium, there are 9.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 2.4 times more on healthcare
Bhutan spends 4.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Belgium, that number is 10.8% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 56.3% less likely to be murdered
Bhutan has a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Belgium, that number is 1.1 per 100,000 as of 2021.
be 62.3% less likely to die in a road accident
In Bhutan, road accidents kill 12.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Belgium, they kill 4.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 15.1 times more home broadband
Bhutan has 2.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Belgium has 44.2 as of 2024.
live with 37.5 times more strain on fresh water
Bhutan withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Belgium withdraws 53% as of 2022.
Environment
be 73.7% less likely to die from air pollution
In Bhutan, air pollution causes 57.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Belgium, it causes 15.0 as of 2019.
emit 3.6 times more CO2
Bhutan emits 2.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Belgium emits 7.3 tonnes as of 2024.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this
Compare further: Bhutan vs. Belgium
Belgium: At a glance
How big is Belgium compared to Bhutan? See an in-depth size comparison.