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

Health

live 4.4 years longer

In Eritrea, the average life expectancy is 69 years (67 years for men, 71 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 7.8 times more spent on your healthcare

Eritrea spends $87 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Bhutan spends $677 as of 2023.

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have 6.3 times more doctors per person

Eritrea has 0.9 doctors per 10,000 people as of 2022. Bhutan has 5.5 as of 2022.

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have 33.3% more access to essential health services

Eritrea scores 45 out of 100 on the universal health coverage index as of 2021. Bhutan scores 60 as of 2021.

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be 63.0% less likely to die by suicide

Eritrea has a suicide rate of 13.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Bhutan, it is 4.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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be 3.0 times more likely to be obese

In Eritrea, 4.3% 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 46.0% less likely to be unemployed

In Eritrea, 6.0% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Bhutan, that number is 3.2% as of 2025.

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Life

be 83.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In Eritrea, approximately 291.0 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 44.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Eritrea, approximately 24.7 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 56.4% fewer children

In Eritrea, there are approximately 28.7 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 83.8% more likely to have access to electricity

In Eritrea, approximately 54% of people have electricity access (77% in urban areas, and 37% 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 3.4 times more likely to have internet access

In Eritrea, approximately 26.6% of the population has internet access as of 2022. In Bhutan, about 91.3% do as of 2024.

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Expenditures

spend 20.1% more on healthcare

Eritrea spends 3.7% 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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Safety

be 31.1% less likely to die in a road accident

In Eritrea, road accidents kill 17.7 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 17.2 times more home broadband

Eritrea has 0.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2022. Bhutan has 2.9 as of 2024.

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live with 87.4% less strain on fresh water

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

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Environment

be 26.9% less likely to die from air pollution

In Eritrea, air pollution causes 78.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Bhutan, it causes 57.0 as of 2019.

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emit 9.1 times more CO2

Eritrea emits 0.2 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 (2019–2022), 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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