Quality of life comparison
If you lived in United States instead of Bhutan, you would:
Health
live 5.6 years longer
In Bhutan, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2024. In United States, that number is 79 years (76 years for men, 81 years for women) as of 2024.
see 19.9 times more spent on your healthcare
Bhutan spends $677 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). United States spends $13,473 as of 2023.
have 6.7 times more doctors per person
Bhutan has 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. United States has 36.8 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. United States scores 86 as of 2021.
be 3.1 times more likely to be obese
In Bhutan, 13.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In United States, that number is 41.0% of people as of 2024.
be 3.2 times more likely to die by suicide
Bhutan has a suicide rate of 4.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In United States, it is 15.6 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Economy
make 20.0 times more money
Bhutan has a GDP per capita of $4,493 as of 2025, while in United States, the GDP per capita is $90,027 as of 2025.
be 30.0% more likely to be unemployed
In Bhutan, 3.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In United States, that number is 4.2% as of 2025.
Life
be 63.8% 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 United States, 17.0 women do as of 2023.
be 59.9% 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 United States, on the other hand, 5.5 children do as of 2024.
have 15.4% fewer children
In Bhutan, there are approximately 12.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In United States, there are 10.6 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.
Expenditures
spend 3.8 times more on healthcare
Bhutan spends 4.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In United States, that number is 16.7% of GDP as of 2023.
Safety
be 2.3 times more likely to be murdered
Bhutan has a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In United States, that number is 5.8 per 100,000 as of 2023.
be 16.4% more likely to die in a road accident
In Bhutan, road accidents kill 12.2 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In United States, they kill 14.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.
Infrastructure
find 13.3 times more home broadband
Bhutan has 2.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. United States has 38.9 as of 2024.
live with 20.0 times more strain on fresh water
Bhutan withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. United States withdraws 28% as of 2022.
Environment
be 75.4% less likely to die from air pollution
In Bhutan, air pollution causes 57.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In United States, it causes 14.0 as of 2019.
emit 6.8 times more CO2
Bhutan emits 2.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. United States emits 13.6 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. United States
United States: At a glance
How big is United States compared to Bhutan? See an in-depth size comparison.