Moving to Zambia from Bhutan

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Bhutan to Zambia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Bhutan to Zambia, and you’d need to navigate life in English.

Get free moving quotes to Zambia

We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.

  • ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
  • ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
  • ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Bhutan to Zambia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

BT
2.5
ZM
5.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

BT
12.2
ZM
17.1

Bhutan performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

BT
$677
ZM
$244
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

BT
5.5
ZM
2.6

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

BT
57.0
ZM
50.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

BT
2.0t
ZM
0.5t

Zambia performs significantly better than Bhutan across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

BT
0.4
ZM
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

BT
1.4%
ZM
2.8%

Bhutan performs better than Zambia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

BT
5.7%
ZM
5.9%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

BT
$14,000
ZM
$3,700

Bhutan performs better than Zambia across all employment & economy metrics.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

BT
72.3 yrs
ZM
66.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

BT
27.0
ZM
37.1

Bhutan generally does better on family life, though Zambia leads in literacy rate.

Data: The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Thimphu Rain: 23.3 in/yr (591 mm)
72° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

Lusaka Rain: 31.4 in/yr (798 mm)
80° / 59°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Thimphu Lusaka
Jan–Mar 63°/33°F (17°/1°C) 80°/62°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 76°/53°F (25°/12°C) 77°/55°F (25°/13°C)
Jul–Sep 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 79°/55°F (26°/13°C)
Oct–Dec 68°/39°F (20°/4°C) 85°/64°F (29°/18°C)
View all months
Month Thimphu Lusaka
Jan 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C) 80°/63°F (26.6°/17.1°C)
Feb 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C) 80°/62°F (26.5°/16.8°C)
Mar 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C) 81°/62°F (27.0°/16.6°C)
Apr 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C) 80°/59°F (26.5°/15.1°C)
May 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C) 78°/55°F (25.3°/12.7°C)
Jun 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C) 74°/51°F (23.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C) 73°/50°F (23.0°/10.2°C)
Aug 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C) 79°/54°F (25.9°/12.3°C)
Sep 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C) 85°/60°F (29.4°/15.3°C)
Oct 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C) 87°/64°F (30.8°/17.5°C)
Nov 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C) 86°/64°F (29.9°/17.9°C)
Dec 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C) 81°/63°F (27.2°/17.3°C)

Data: National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD) Zambia Meteorological Department (ZMD)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Bhutan and Zambia. To live, work, or study long-term in Zambia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Zambia's immigration authority.

Bhutan passport

Bhutan passport holder visiting Zambia

Visa Free
Bhutan passport holders can enter Zambia without a visa.
Zambia passport

Zambia passport holder visiting Bhutan

Visa Online (e-Visa)
Zambia passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Bhutan.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Zambia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Zambia has 0.4 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Zambia safe for expats?

Bhutan performs better than Zambia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Zambia is 5.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.5 in Bhutan.

How is healthcare in Zambia compared to Bhutan?

Bhutan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Zambia leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Zambia, compared to 5.5 in Bhutan. Zambia scores 56 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Bhutan: 60).

What's the weather like in Zambia compared to Bhutan?

The average high temperature in Lusaka is 80°F, compared to 72°F in Thimphu. Lusaka receives around 31.4 in of rainfall per year, while Thimphu gets 23.3 in.

What language do they speak in Zambia?

The official language in Zambia is English. In Bhutan, the official language is Dzongkha.

Share this

At a Glance

BT ZM
Population 867,775 19,642,123
Currency Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN) Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
Languages Dzongkha English
Driving side Left Left
Calling code +975 +260
Time zones 1 1