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Bhutan vs Maldives
Side-by-side comparison of Bhutan and Maldives from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Maldives scores 53.3 in the NationsTree Index (75th in the world) and Bhutan scores 52.0 (79th), a gap of 1.3 points. Their trees are 2.4 m and 2.3 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Bhutan has 50% more people than Maldives. Bhutan is 128 times larger than Maldives by land area. Bhutan and Maldives have economies of similar size (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Bhutan 796,682 and Maldives 529,676 (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $28,555 in Maldives and $19,594 in Bhutan (2025, international dollars). People in Maldives live on average 8.0 years longer (81.3 vs 73.3 years).
Of 32 indicators reported by both countries, Bhutan ranks higher in the world on 17 and Maldives on 15. Bhutan is clearly stronger in environment & energy, natural resources and institutions & safety. Maldives is clearly stronger in tourism, infrastructure & digital and trade.
As a nation, Bhutan is the older of the two (statehood since 1949, 77 years), compared with Maldives (since 1965). Over the last five years Bhutan improved faster (direction score 100 vs 66 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Bhutan and Maldives.
Bhutanbetter
99,883
4th of 183
Maldives
57
177th of 183
Renewable energyEnvironment & energy
Bhutanbetter
82.5%
12th of 212
Maldives
1.2%
186th of 212
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Bhutanbetter
90.0
10th of 207
Maldives
67.0
113th of 207
Air pollution (PM2.5)Environment & energy
Bhutan
30.1
152nd of 200
Maldivesbetter
11.2
55th of 200
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Bhutanbetter
77.8
21st of 207
Maldives
41.3
118th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Bhutan overtook Maldives in GDP (PPP) in 2024 and has stayed ahead since.
Maldives overtook Bhutan in the NationsTree Index in 2007 and has stayed ahead since.
Maldives has been ahead of Bhutan in GDP per person (PPP) and life expectancy in every year since 1990.
Bhutan has been ahead of Maldives in population in every year since 1990.
Strength by category
Average world percentile of the indicators in each category (0–100, direction taken into account). i
BhutanMaldives All indicators
Latest available value for each country with its year and world rank. Green: the better world position of the two, red: the weaker one.
| Indicator | Bhutan | Maldives |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 38,390134th/216 · 2024 | 300200th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 38,140133rd/216 · 2024 | 298199th/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 796,682165th/217 · 2025 | 529,676171st/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.65%127th/217 · 2025 | 0.35%151st/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 20.8184th/216 · 2024 | 1,771.18th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 43.4%166th/217 · 2025 | 42.5%168th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 20.4%122nd/217 · 2025 | 19.0%129th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 6.6%132nd/217 · 2025 | 5.0%149th/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.58 bn175th/210 · 2025 | $7.74 bn161st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $15.61 bn156th/199 · 2025 | $15.12 bn158th/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $13.34 bn156th/199 · 2025 | $12.92 bn158th/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $4,493144th/210 · 2025 | $14,61591st/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $19,594108th/199 · 2025 | $28,55584th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $4,310138th/201 · 2025 | $12,95085th/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 8.0%13th/210 · 2025 | 6.3%29th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.6%105th/180 · 2025 | 4.0%124th/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.2%47th/187 · 2025 | 4.5%74th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 111.0%51st/55 · 2020 | 57.3%2011 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 102.6%172nd/189 · 2025 | 129.4%181st/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.7%97th/192 · 2025 | -3.6%121st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 13.7%57th/197 · 2025 | 4.6%110th/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 33.2%41st/200 · 2025 | 9.3%189th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 6.6%136th/192 · 2024 | 1.8%178th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 53.2%130th/200 · 2025 | 69.9%36th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.05 bn160th/182 · 2024 | $5.52 bn129th/182 · 2024 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.60 bn163rd/182 · 2024 | $5.53 bn138th/182 · 2024 |
| Exports % of GDP | 31.5%107th/183 · 2024 | 78.2%20th/183 · 2024 |
| Imports % of GDP | 47.9%86th/183 · 2024 | 78.3%21st/183 · 2024 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 79.4%97th/183 · 2024 | 156.5%17th/183 · 2024 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%162nd/170 · 2025 | 0.1%134th/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 58.7%57th/171 · 2025 | 0.2%171st/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 5.9%136th/171 · 2025 | 97.0%3rd/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 26.0%22nd/171 · 2025 | 2.7%93rd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.0%163rd/168 · 2023 | 0.0%164th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -16.0%179th/191 · 2025 | -6.1%153rd/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.2%168th/196 · 2025 | 11.1%14th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 2.7%88th/209 · 2021 | 0.0%176th/209 · 2021 |
| Oil rents % of GDP | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%120th/197 · 2021 |
| Natural gas rents % of GDP | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 | 0.00%100th/197 · 2021 |
| Coal rents % of GDP | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 | 0.00%68th/195 · 2021 |
| Mineral rents % of GDP | 0.08%73rd/209 · 2021 | 0.00%91st/209 · 2021 |
| Forest rents % of GDP | 2.66%27th/209 · 2021 | 0.00%161st/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.6%162nd/206 · 2024 | 13.1%82nd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 99,8834th/183 · 2022 | 57177th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 29,800183rd/194 · 2020 | 555,000118th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $84.0 m145th/175 · 2020 | $1.41 bn62nd/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 10.7%55th/168 · 2020 | 78.9%5th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 72,00099th/107 · 2019 | 123,0002008 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 73.3123rd/217 · 2024 | 81.344th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 17.2111th/196 · 2024 | 5.443rd/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.55120th/174 · 2022 | 2.2480th/174 · 2019 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.285th/145 · 2023 | 4.628th/145 · 2021 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 98%20th/193 · 2024 | 99%1st/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 27.8%134th/153 · 2022 | 41.4%2017 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 86.2%115th/173 · 2024 | 79.4%130th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 9.0%52nd/55 · 2022 | 28.6%43rd/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 9.1%138th/217 · 2025 | 6.5%167th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.4%143rd/193 · 2023 | 9.2%41st/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 64.9%84th/98 · 2022 | 98.2%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 13.0%134th/150 · 2024 | 48.5%80th/150 · 2022 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.698125th/193 · 2023 | 0.76693rd/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 28.515th/108 · 2022 | 29.32019 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%1st/108 · 2022 | 0.0%2019 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 65.6%93rd/150 · 2024 | — |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 49.5%84th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 91.3%49th/186 · 2024 | 85.2%82nd/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 100139th/210 · 2024 | 14832nd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 2.9151st/208 · 2024 | 19.689th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 | 2.7268th/164 · 2018 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 189,878129th/161 · 2023 | 1.4 m90th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.0189th/203 · 2024 | 3.57121st/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 82.5%12th/212 · 2022 | 1.2%186th/212 · 2022 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 30.1152nd/200 · 2023 | 11.255th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 70.4%18th/214 · 2024 | 12.5%153rd/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3602007 | 9212007 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 66.856th/205 · 2025 | 47.4129th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 77.821st/207 · 2025 | 41.3118th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 70.550th/207 · 2025 | 58.598th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 90.010th/207 · 2025 | 67.0113th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 53.9103rd/205 · 2025 | 48.7125th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 61.689th/205 · 2025 | 49.3127th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.576th/145 · 2020 | 0.617th/145 · 2019 |
| Military | ||
| Armed forces personnel people | 6,0002000 | 5,0002000 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 2.34%2000 | 5.41%2000 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 5.0 m129th/163 · 2021 | 11.0 m105th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.10%98th/110 · 2024 | — |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 6113th/137 · 2024 | — |
| Scientific articles articles | 103140th/197 · 2023 | 32164th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Bhutan or Maldives?
Bhutan has the larger population: 796,682 (2025) compared with 529,676 for Maldives (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Bhutan or Maldives?
Bhutan is larger: 38,390 km² (2024) compared with 300 km² for Maldives (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Bhutan or Maldives?
Bhutan has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $15.61 bn intl. (2025) compared with $15.12 bn intl. for Maldives (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Bhutan or Maldives?
Maldives has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $28,555 intl. (2025) compared with $19,594 intl. for Bhutan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Bhutan or Maldives?
Maldives has the higher life expectancy at birth: 81.3 years (2024) compared with 73.3 years for Bhutan (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Bhutan or Maldives?
Maldives: 53.3 points (75th in the world); Bhutan: 52.0 points (79th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bangladesh
Nepal
Sri LankaSources
World Bank World Development Indicators and Worldwide Governance Indicators, compiling UN agencies, the IMF, WHO, SIPRI and national statistical offices; every row links to its world ranking with the source series. See Sources & licences and Methodology.
Cite as: NationsTree (2026). Bhutan vs Maldives — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/bhutan-vs-maldives. Data as of 26 October 2026.