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

Health

be 54.8% less likely to be obese

In Ecuador, 28.9% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Bhutan, that number is 13.1% of people as of 2024.

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be 35.2% less likely to die by suicide

Ecuador has a suicide rate of 7.6 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Bhutan, it is 4.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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live 4.3 years less

In Ecuador, the average life expectancy is 78 years (75 years for men, 80 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 45.3% less spent on your healthcare

Ecuador spends $1,238 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Bhutan spends $677 as of 2023.

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have 76.1% fewer doctors per person

Ecuador has 23.1 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2020. Bhutan has 5.5 as of 2022.

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have 22.1% less access to essential health services

Ecuador scores 77 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Bhutan scores 60 as of 2021.

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Economy

be 42.1% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Ecuador, 21.4% live below the poverty line as of 2025. In Bhutan, however, that number is 12.4% as of 2022.

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make 36.9% less money

Ecuador has a GDP per capita of $7,125 as of 2025, while in Bhutan, the GDP per capita is $4,493 as of 2025.

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Life

be 30.6% less likely to be literate

In Ecuador, the literacy rate is 93.5% as of 2024. In Bhutan, it is 64.9% as of 2022.

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be 25.7% more likely to die during infancy

In Ecuador, approximately 10.9 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 15.5% fewer children

In Ecuador, there are approximately 14.8 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 18.3% more likely to have internet access

In Ecuador, approximately 77.2% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Bhutan, about 91.3% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 41.5% less on healthcare

Ecuador spends 7.6% 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 58.5% more on education

Ecuador spends 3.7% of its total GDP on education as of 2024. Bhutan spends 5.8% of total GDP on education as of 2023.

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Safety

be 94.6% less likely to be murdered

Ecuador has a homicide rate of 45.7 per 100,000 people as of 2023. In Bhutan, that number is 2.5 per 100,000 as of 2020.

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be 47.9% less likely to die in a road accident

In Ecuador, road accidents kill 23.4 people per 100,000 as of 2021. In Bhutan, they kill 12.2 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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Infrastructure

live with 79.2% less strain on fresh water

Ecuador withdraws 7% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Bhutan withdraws 1% as of 2022.

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find 83.1% less home broadband

Ecuador has 17.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Bhutan has 2.9 as of 2024.

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Environment

emit 23.9% less CO2

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

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be 2.5 times more likely to die from air pollution

In Ecuador, air pollution causes 23.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Bhutan, it causes 57.0 as of 2019.

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