If you lived in Niger instead of Bhutan, you would:

Health

be 48.2% less likely to be obese

In Bhutan, 13.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Niger, that number is 6.8% of people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

live 11.8 years less

In Bhutan, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2024. In Niger, that number is 61 years (60 years for men, 62 years for women) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

see 88.7% less spent on your healthcare

Bhutan spends $677 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Niger spends $76 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 93.1% fewer doctors per person

Bhutan has 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Niger has 0.4 as of 2023.

View global rankings →

have 41.7% less access to essential health services

Bhutan scores 60 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Niger scores 35 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Economy

be 87.9% less likely to be unemployed

In Bhutan, 3.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Niger, that number is 0.4% as of 2025.

View global rankings →

be 3.3 times more likely to live below the poverty line

In Bhutan, 12.4% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Niger, however, that number is 41.2% as of 2021.

View global rankings →

make 82.7% less money

Bhutan has a GDP per capita of $4,493 as of 2025, while in Niger, the GDP per capita is $775 as of 2025.

View global rankings →

Life

have 3.3 times more children

In Bhutan, there are approximately 12.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Niger, there are 41.4 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 7.4 times more 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 Niger, 350.0 women do as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 45.1% less likely to be literate

In Bhutan, the literacy rate is 64.9% as of 2022. In Niger, it is 35.6% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

be 4.8 times more 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 Niger, on the other hand, 65.6 children do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Basic Needs

be 79.9% less likely to have access to electricity

In Bhutan, approximately 100% of people have electricity access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Niger, that number is 20% of people on average (67% in urban areas, and 10% in rural areas) as of 2023.

View global rankings →

be 83.0% less likely to have internet access

In Bhutan, approximately 91.3% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Niger, about 15.6% do as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 46.3% less likely to have access to drinking water

In Bhutan, approximately 100% of people have access to drinking water (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Niger, that number is 53% of people on average (87% in urban areas, and 46% in rural areas) as of 2024.

View global rankings →

Expenditures

spend 30.4% less on education

Bhutan spends 5.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Niger spends 4.1% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

View global rankings →

Safety

be 2.0 times more likely to die in a road accident

In Bhutan, road accidents kill 12.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Niger, they kill 24.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

View global rankings →

Infrastructure

find 96.2% less home broadband

Bhutan has 2.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Niger has 0.1 as of 2024.

View global rankings →

live with 7.8 times more strain on fresh water

Bhutan withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Niger withdraws 11% as of 2022.

View global rankings →

Environment

emit 94.0% less CO2

Bhutan emits 2.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Niger emits 0.1 tonnes as of 2024.

View global rankings →

be 63.2% more likely to die from air pollution

In Bhutan, air pollution causes 57.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Niger, it causes 93.0 as of 2019.

View global rankings →


Sources: World Bank (2021–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Niger: At a glance

Niger is a sovereign country in Africa, with a total land area of approximately 1,266,700 sq km. Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999, BARE was killed in a counter coup by military officers who restored democratic rule and held elections that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year. TANDJA was reelected in 2004 and in 2009 spearheaded a constitutional amendment that would allow him to extend his term as president. In February 2010, a military coup deposed TANDJA, immediately suspended the constitution, and dissolved the Cabinet. ISSOUFOU Mahamadou emerged victorious from a crowded field in the election following the coup and was inaugurated in April 2011. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa. The Nigerien Movement for Justice, a predominantly ethnic Tuareg rebel group, emerged in February 2007, and attacked several military targets in Niger's northern region throughout 2007 and 2008. Successful government offensives in 2009 ended the rebellion. Niger is facing increased security concerns on its borders from various external threats including insecurity in Libya, spillover from the conflict in Mali, and violent extremism in northeastern Nigeria.
Read more

How big is Niger compared to Bhutan? See an in-depth size comparison.

Share this

Ask the Elsewhere Community

Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Niger or Bhutan. It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss what life is like in countries and cities around the world.