Quality of life comparison

compared to

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

Health

live 4.2 years longer

In Laos, the average life expectancy is 68 years (66 years for men, 70 years for women) as of 2022. In Bhutan, that number is 72 years (71 years for men, 73 years for women) as of 2022.

be 20.8% more likely to be obese

In Laos, 5.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Bhutan, that number is 6.4% of people as of 2016.

Economy

make 66.7% more money

Laos has a GDP per capita of $8,400 as of 2023, while in Bhutan, the GDP per capita is $14,000 as of 2022.

be 32.2% less likely to live below the poverty line

In Laos, 18.3% live below the poverty line as of 2018. In Bhutan, however, that number is 12.4% as of 2022.

be 4.8 times more likely to be unemployed

In Laos, 1.2% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Bhutan, that number is 5.7% as of 2023.

Life

be 52.4% less likely to die during childbirth

In Laos, approximately 126.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Bhutan, 60.0 women do as of 2020.

be 28.4% less likely to die during infancy

In Laos, approximately 37.8 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. In Bhutan, on the other hand, 27.0 children do as of 2022.

be 18.6% less likely to be literate

In Laos, the literacy rate is 87.1% as of 2021. In Bhutan, it is 70.9% as of 2021.

have 22.7% fewer children

In Laos, there are approximately 19.8 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024. In Bhutan, there are 15.3 babies per 1,000 people as of 2024.

Basic Needs

be 38.7% more likely to have internet access

In Laos, approximately 62.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Bhutan, about 86.0% do as of 2021.

be 12.4% more likely to have access to improved drinking water

In Laos, approximately 89% of people have improved drinking water access (97% in urban areas, and 84% in rural areas) as of 2020. In Bhutan, that number is 100% of people on average (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020.

Expenditures

spend 3.0 times more on education

Laos spends 2.3% of its total GDP on education as of 2020. Bhutan spends 7.0% of total GDP on education as of 2021.

spend 63.0% more on healthcare

Laos spends 2.7% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2020. In Bhutan, that number is 4.4% of GDP as of 2020.

The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: The World Factbook.

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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