Quality of life comparison

compared to

If you lived in Bhutan instead of South Africa, you would:

Health

be 99.0% less likely to be living with HIV/AIDS

In South Africa, 19.1% of people are living with AIDS/HIV as of 2020. In Bhutan, that number is 0.2% of people as of 2020.

live 7.0 years longer

In South Africa, the average life expectancy is 65 years (64 years for men, 67 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 77.4% less likely to be obese

In South Africa, 28.3% of adults are obese as of 2016. In Bhutan, that number is 6.4% of people as of 2016.

Economy

be 79.8% less likely to be unemployed

In South Africa, 28.0% of adults are unemployed as of 2023. In Bhutan, that number is 5.7% as of 2023.

be 25.3% less likely to live below the poverty line

In South Africa, 16.6% live below the poverty line as of 2016. In Bhutan, however, that number is 12.4% as of 2022.

Life

be 52.8% less likely to die during childbirth

In South Africa, approximately 127.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2020. In Bhutan, 60.0 women do as of 2020.

be 25.4% less likely to be literate

In South Africa, the literacy rate is 95.0% as of 2019. In Bhutan, it is 70.9% as of 2021.

have 13.6% fewer children

In South Africa, there are approximately 17.7 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 15.6% more likely to have access to electricity

In South Africa, approximately 86% of the population has electricity access as of 2022. In Bhutan, 100% of the population do as of 2022.

be 19.4% more likely to have internet access

In South Africa, approximately 72.0% of the population has internet access as of 2021. In Bhutan, about 86.0% do as of 2021.

Expenditures

spend 48.8% less on healthcare

South Africa spends 8.6% 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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