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

Health

be 99.1% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In Swaziland, 23.4% 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 9.0 years longer

In Swaziland, the average life expectancy is 64 years (61 years for men, 67 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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be 55.8% less likely to be obese

In Swaziland, 29.6% of adults are obese as of 2024. In Bhutan, that number is 13.1% of people as of 2024.

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be 82.0% less likely to die by suicide

Swaziland has a suicide rate of 27.2 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Bhutan, it is 4.9 per 100,000 as of 2021.

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see 26.6% less spent on your healthcare

Swaziland spends $922 per person on healthcare as of 2023 (international dollars, adjusted for prices). Bhutan spends $677 as of 2023.

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Economy

be 90.6% less likely to be unemployed

In Swaziland, 34.2% of the labor force is unemployed as of 2025. In Bhutan, that number is 3.2% as of 2025.

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be 76.8% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Swaziland, 53.5% live below the poverty line as of 2023. In Bhutan, however, that number is 12.4% as of 2022.

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Life

be 60.2% less likely to die during childbirth

In Swaziland, approximately 118.0 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 67.5% less likely to die during infancy

In Swaziland, approximately 42.2 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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be 28.5% less likely to be literate

In Swaziland, the literacy rate is 90.8% as of 2022. In Bhutan, it is 64.9% as of 2022.

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have 47.0% fewer children

In Swaziland, there are approximately 23.6 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 15.7% more likely to have access to electricity

In Swaziland, approximately 86% of people have electricity access (91% in urban areas, and 85% 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 44.0% more likely to have internet access

In Swaziland, approximately 63.4% of the population has internet access as of 2024. In Bhutan, about 91.3% do as of 2024.

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be 23.9% more likely to have access to drinking water

In Swaziland, approximately 80% of people have access to drinking water (98% in urban areas, and 74% 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 41.1% less on healthcare

Swaziland spends 7.5% 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 80.3% less likely to be murdered

Swaziland has a homicide rate of 12.5 per 100,000 people as of 2021. In Bhutan, that number is 2.5 per 100,000 as of 2020.

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be 50.6% less likely to die in a road accident

In Swaziland, road accidents kill 24.7 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 16.3% more home broadband

Swaziland has 2.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people as of 2024. Bhutan has 2.9 as of 2024.

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live with 98.2% less strain on fresh water

Swaziland withdraws 78% of its available fresh water each year as of 2022. Bhutan withdraws 1% as of 2022.

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Environment

be 13.6% less likely to die from air pollution

In Swaziland, air pollution causes 66.0 deaths per 100,000 people as of 2019. In Bhutan, it causes 57.0 as of 2019.

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emit 2.3 times more CO2

Swaziland emits 0.9 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 (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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