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

Health

live 5.0 years longer

In Bhutan, the average life expectancy is 73 years (72 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2024. In Uruguay, that number is 78 years (74 years for men, 82 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 4.6 times more spent on your healthcare

Bhutan spends $677 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Uruguay spends $3,135 as of 2023.

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have 8.5 times more doctors per person

Bhutan has 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Uruguay has 46.7 as of 2022.

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have 36.7% more access to essential health services

Bhutan scores 60 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Uruguay scores 82 as of 2021.

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be 2.7 times more likely to be obese

In Bhutan, 13.1% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Uruguay, that number is 35.0% of people as of 2024.

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be 5.1 times more likely to die by suicide

Bhutan has a suicide rate of 4.9 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Uruguay, it is 24.8 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Economy

make 5.6 times more money

Bhutan has a GDP per capita of $4,493 as of 2025, while in Uruguay, the GDP per capita is $25,216 as of 2025.

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be 2.3 times more likely to be unemployed

In Bhutan, 3.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Uruguay, that number is 7.5% as of 2025.

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be 39.5% more likely to live below the poverty line

In Bhutan, 12.4% live below the poverty line as of 2022. In Uruguay, however, that number is 17.3% as of 2024.

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Life

be 68.1% 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 Uruguay, 15.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 52.4% more likely to be literate

In Bhutan, the literacy rate is 64.9% as of 2022. In Uruguay, it is 98.9% as of 2024.

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be 54.7% 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 Uruguay, on the other hand, 6.2 children do as of 2024.

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have 21.8% fewer children

In Bhutan, there are approximately 12.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Uruguay, there are 9.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 18.6% less on education

Bhutan spends 5.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Uruguay spends 4.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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spend 2.0 times more on healthcare

Bhutan spends 4.4% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Uruguay, that number is 9.0% of GDP as of 2023.

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Safety

be 4.6 times more likely to be murdered

Bhutan has a homicide rate of 2.5 per 100,000 people as of 2020. In Uruguay, that number is 11.2 per 100,000 as of 2023.

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Infrastructure

find 11.3 times more home broadband

Bhutan has 2.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Uruguay has 33.0 as of 2024.

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live with 8.5 times more strain on fresh water

Bhutan withdraws 1% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Uruguay withdraws 12% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 71.9% less likely to die from air pollution

In Bhutan, air pollution causes 57.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Uruguay, it causes 16.0 as of 2019.

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emit 27.9% more CO2

Bhutan emits 2.0 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Uruguay emits 2.6 tonnes as of 2024.

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Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024). How we calculate this

Uruguay: At a glance

Uruguay is a sovereign country in South America, with a total land area of approximately 175,015 sq km. Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century launched widespread political, social, and economic reforms that established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170 years of political control previously held by the Colorado and Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.
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