Moving to Bhutan from Sweden

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Sweden to Bhutan? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Sweden to Bhutan, and you’d need to navigate life in Dzongkha. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Thimphu averages 72°F vs 52°F in Stockholm, making it significantly warmer.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from Sweden to Bhutan.

Living there in 2020
22 ↓ 4% vs 2015

people born in Sweden live in Bhutan · UN DESA

Who's moving to Bhutan?

Top countries of origin for Bhutan's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Bhutan compared to Sweden.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

SE
1.1
BT
2.5
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

SE
2.1
BT
12.2

Sweden performs better than Bhutan across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

SE
$7,770
BT
$677
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

SE
71.5
BT
5.5

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan 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

SE
8.0
BT
57.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

SE
3.6t
BT
2.0t

Sweden generally does better on environment, though Bhutan leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

SE
40.4
BT
0.4
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

SE
3.6%
BT
1.4%

Sweden generally does better on infrastructure, though Bhutan leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

SE
7.6%
BT
5.7%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

SE
$64,200
BT
$14,000

Sweden generally does better on employment & economy, though Bhutan leads in unemployment rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

SE
82.7 yrs
BT
72.3 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

SE
2.3
BT
27.0

Sweden performs better than Bhutan across all family life metrics.

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

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Stockholm Rain: 21.5 in/yr (546 mm)
52° / 41°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Stockholm Thimphu
Jan–Mar 36°/28°F (2°/-2°C) 63°/33°F (17°/1°C)
Apr–Jun 61°/45°F (16°/7°C) 76°/53°F (25°/12°C)
Jul–Sep 69°/56°F (21°/13°C) 80°/60°F (27°/16°C)
Oct–Dec 43°/36°F (6°/2°C) 68°/39°F (20°/4°C)
View all months
Month Stockholm Thimphu
Jan 34°/27°F (1.0°/-2.9°C) 59°/28°F (15.1°/-2.1°C)
Feb 34°/26°F (1.2°/-3.2°C) 62°/33°F (16.7°/0.5°C)
Mar 40°/30°F (4.7°/-1.1°C) 67°/39°F (19.4°/4.0°C)
Apr 51°/37°F (10.7°/2.6°C) 72°/46°F (22.4°/7.8°C)
May 62°/45°F (16.5°/7.1°C) 76°/53°F (24.7°/11.5°C)
Jun 69°/53°F (20.8°/11.6°C) 80°/59°F (26.7°/15.2°C)
Jul 74°/59°F (23.6°/14.8°C) 81°/61°F (27.1°/16.4°C)
Aug 72°/58°F (22.1°/14.2°C) 81°/61°F (27.2°/16.1°C)
Sep 62°/50°F (16.6°/10.2°C) 79°/58°F (26.1°/14.6°C)
Oct 50°/42°F (10.1°/5.5°C) 74°/48°F (23.4°/9.0°C)
Nov 42°/35°F (5.4°/1.9°C) 67°/38°F (19.7°/3.2°C)
Dec 36°/30°F (2.5°/-1.2°C) 62°/31°F (16.5°/-0.8°C)

Data: Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI) Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM) National Center for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM)

Visitor Visa Requirements

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

Sweden passport

Sweden passport holder visiting Bhutan

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

Bhutan passport holder visiting Sweden

Visa Required
Bhutan passport holders need a visa to enter Sweden.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Bhutan?

Connectivity is usually fine (Bhutan: 0.4 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Bhutan offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Bhutan safe for expats?

Sweden performs better than Bhutan across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Bhutan is 2.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in Sweden.

How is healthcare in Bhutan compared to Sweden?

Sweden generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Bhutan leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 5.5 doctors per 10,000 people in Bhutan, compared to 71.5 in Sweden. Bhutan scores 60 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Sweden: 85).

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

The average high temperature in Thimphu is 72°F, compared to 52°F in Stockholm. Thimphu receives around 23.3 in of rainfall per year, while Stockholm gets 21.5 in.

What language do they speak in Bhutan?

The official language in Bhutan is Dzongkha. In Sweden, the official language is Swedish.

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At a Glance

SE BT
Population 10,483,647 867,775
Currency Swedish Krona (SEK) Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Languages Swedish Dzongkha
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +46 +975
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112