If you lived in Bhutan instead of Central African Republic, you would:

Health

be 91.7% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Central African Republic, 2.4% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2024. In Bhutan, that number is 0.2% of people as of 2024.

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live 15.6 years longer

In Central African Republic, the average life expectancy is 58 years (56 years for men, 60 years for women) as of 2024. In Bhutan, that number is 73 years (72 years for men, 75 years for women) as of 2024.

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see 5.0 times more spent on your healthcare

Central African Republic spends $137 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Bhutan spends $677 as of 2023.

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have 7.5 times more doctors per person

Central African Republic has 0.7 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2023. Bhutan has 5.5 as of 2022.

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have 87.5% more access to essential health services

Central African Republic scores 32 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Bhutan scores 60 as of 2021.

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be 46.7% less likely to die by suicide

Central African Republic has a suicide rate of 9.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Bhutan, it is 4.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 19.6% more likely to be obese

In Central African Republic, 10.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Bhutan, that number is 13.1% of people as of 2024.

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Economy

be 48.3% less likely to be unemployed

In Central African Republic, 6.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Bhutan, that number is 3.2% as of 2025.

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be 82.0% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Central African Republic, 68.8% live below the poverty line as of 2021. In Bhutan, however, that number is 12.4% as of 2022.

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make 8.1 times more money

Central African Republic has a GDP per capita of $556 as of 2025, while in Bhutan, the GDP per capita is $4,493 as of 2025.

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Life

be 93.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Central African Republic, approximately 692.0 women die from pregnancy or childbirth per 100,000 live births as of 2023. In Bhutan, 47.0 women do as of 2023.

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be 73.1% more likely to be literate

In Central African Republic, the literacy rate is 37.5% as of 2020. In Bhutan, it is 64.9% as of 2022.

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be 76.7% less likely to die during infancy

In Central African Republic, approximately 58.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2024. In Bhutan, on the other hand, 13.7 children do as of 2024.

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have 72.9% fewer children

In Central African Republic, there are approximately 46.2 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Bhutan, there are 12.5 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

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Basic Needs

be 5.7 times more likely to have access to electricity

In Central African Republic, approximately 18% of people have electricity access (37% in urban areas, and 2% in rural areas) as of 2023. In Bhutan, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2023.

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be 6.6 times more likely to have internet access

In Central African Republic, approximately 13.8% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Bhutan, about 91.3% do as of 2024.

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be 2.7 times more likely to have access to drinking water

In Central African Republic, approximately 36% of people have access to drinking water (48% in urban areas, and 27% in rural areas) as of 2024. In Bhutan, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 99% in rural areas) as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 58.5% less on healthcare

Central African Republic spends 10.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2023. In Bhutan, that number is 4.4% of GDP as of 2023.

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spend 3.2 times more on education

Central African Republic spends 1.8% of its total GDP on education as of 2023. Bhutan spends 5.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 52.9% less likely to die in a road accident

In Central African Republic, road accidents kill 25.9 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Bhutan, they kill 12.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

find 146.0 times more home broadband

Central African Republic has 0.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Bhutan has 2.9 as of 2024.

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live with 4.1 times more strain on fresh water

Central African Republic withdraws 0% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Bhutan withdraws 1% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 41.8% less likely to die from air pollution

In Central African Republic, air pollution causes 98.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Bhutan, it causes 57.0 as of 2019.

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emit 33.5 times more CO2

Central African Republic emits 0.1 tonnes of CO2 per person each year as of 2024. Bhutan emits 2.0 tonnes as of 2024.

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

Bhutan: At a glance

Bhutan is a sovereign country in South Asia, with a total land area of approximately 38,394 sq km. In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land to British India. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned to Bhutan the areas annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which introduced major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK, in order to give him experience as head of state before the democratic transition. In early 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. Elections for seating the country's first parliament were completed in March 2008; the king ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following parliamentary elections in 2013, which routed the incumbent party. The disposition of some 30,000 Bhutanese refugees - housed in two UN refugee camps in Nepal - remains unresolved.
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