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Bhutan vs Nepal
Side-by-side comparison of Bhutan and Nepal from official statistics: size, economy, people, trade, natural resources, health, infrastructure and military, with world ranks, years and sources.
In short
Bhutan scores 52.0 in the NationsTree Index (79th in the world) and Nepal scores 44.6 (111th), a gap of 7.4 points. Their trees are 2.4 m and 7.8 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Nepal has 37 times the population of Bhutan. Nepal is 3.8 times larger than Bhutan by land area. Nepal has an economy 12 times the size of Bhutan (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Bhutan 796,682 and Nepal 29.6 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $19,594 in Bhutan and $6,175 in Nepal (2025, international dollars). People in Bhutan live on average 2.6 years longer (73.3 vs 70.6 years).
Of 38 indicators reported by both countries, Bhutan ranks higher in the world on 25 and Nepal on 13. Bhutan is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, main industries and environment & energy. Nepal is clearly stronger in science & innovation, military and land & people.
As a nation, Nepal is the older of the two (statehood since 1768, 258 years), compared with Bhutan (since 1949). Over the last five years Bhutan improved faster (direction score 100 vs 97 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Bhutan and Nepal.
Bhutanbetter
90.0
10th of 207
Nepal
57.8
149th of 207
Access to electricityInfrastructure & digital
Bhutanbetter
100.0%
1st of 215
Nepal
97.9%
142nd of 215
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Bhutanbetter
77.8
21st of 207
Nepal
32.5
153rd of 207
Central government debtEconomy
Bhutan
111.0%
51st of 55
Nepalbetter
39.9%
16th of 55
Extreme povertySociety & health
Bhutanbetter
0.0%
1st of 108
Nepal
2.4%
65th of 108
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Bhutan overtook Nepal in the NationsTree Index in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Bhutan overtook Nepal in life expectancy in 2001 and has stayed ahead since.
Bhutan has been ahead of Nepal in GDP per person (PPP) in every year since 1990.
Nepal has been ahead of Bhutan in GDP (PPP) and 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
BhutanNepal 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 | Nepal |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 38,390134th/216 · 2024 | 147,18194th/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 38,140133rd/216 · 2024 | 143,35093rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 796,682165th/217 · 2025 | 29.6 m52nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.65%127th/217 · 2025 | -0.11%179th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 20.8184th/216 · 2024 | 206.866th/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 43.4%166th/217 · 2025 | 67.0%99th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 20.4%122nd/217 · 2025 | 28.1%81st/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 6.6%132nd/217 · 2025 | 6.6%133rd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.58 bn175th/210 · 2025 | $45.49 bn103rd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $15.61 bn156th/199 · 2025 | $182.90 bn82nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $13.34 bn156th/199 · 2025 | $156.29 bn82nd/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $4,493144th/210 · 2025 | $1,536182nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $19,594108th/199 · 2025 | $6,175159th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $4,310138th/201 · 2025 | $1,570172nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 8.0%13th/210 · 2025 | 4.4%65th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.6%105th/180 · 2025 | 2.7%81st/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.2%47th/187 · 2025 | 10.5%152nd/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 111.0%51st/55 · 2020 | 39.9%16th/55 · 2021 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 102.6%172nd/189 · 2025 | 47.4%80th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.7%97th/192 · 2025 | -1.8%71st/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 13.7%57th/197 · 2025 | 21.6%32nd/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 33.2%41st/200 · 2025 | 12.1%174th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 6.6%136th/192 · 2024 | 5.0%152nd/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 53.2%130th/200 · 2025 | 54.4%124th/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.05 bn160th/182 · 2024 | $4.02 bn137th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.60 bn163rd/182 · 2024 | $15.34 bn103rd/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 31.5%107th/183 · 2024 | 8.8%178th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 47.9%86th/183 · 2024 | 33.7%118th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 79.4%97th/183 · 2024 | 42.6%156th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%162nd/170 · 2025 | 0.0%158th/170 · 2022 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 58.7%57th/171 · 2025 | 47.5%68th/171 · 2022 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 5.9%136th/171 · 2025 | 49.4%31st/171 · 2022 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 26.0%22nd/171 · 2025 | 1.4%121st/171 · 2022 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.0%163rd/168 · 2023 | 0.6%152nd/168 · 2022 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -16.0%179th/191 · 2025 | 6.6%28th/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.2%168th/196 · 2025 | 0.1%173rd/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 2.7%88th/209 · 2021 | 0.5%132nd/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 | 0.01%55th/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 | 0.49%69th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.6%162nd/206 · 2024 | 12.6%83rd/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 99,8834th/183 · 2022 | 6,67059th/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 29,800183rd/194 · 2020 | 230,000148th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $84.0 m145th/175 · 2020 | $238.0 m117th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 10.7%55th/168 · 2020 | 13.4%45th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 72,00099th/107 · 2019 | 1.2 m62nd/107 · 2017 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 73.3123rd/217 · 2024 | 70.6150th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 17.2111th/196 · 2024 | 25.1131st/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.55120th/174 · 2022 | 1.01106th/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.285th/145 · 2023 | 0.5135th/145 · 2023 |
| DPT immunization % of children 12–23 months | 98%20th/193 · 2024 | 97%29th/193 · 2024 |
| Completed lower secondary, 25+ % of adults | 27.8%134th/153 · 2022 | 33.9%127th/153 · 2021 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 86.2%115th/173 · 2024 | 90.4%102nd/173 · 2024 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 9.0%52nd/55 · 2022 | 43.5%2010 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 9.1%138th/217 · 2025 | 10.1%131st/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.4%143rd/193 · 2023 | 6.2%100th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 64.9%84th/98 · 2022 | 68.7%2019 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 13.0%134th/150 · 2024 | 21.3%121st/150 · 2024 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.698125th/193 · 2023 | 0.622145th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 28.515th/108 · 2022 | 30.024th/108 · 2022 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%1st/108 · 2022 | 2.4%65th/108 · 2022 |
| Infrastructure & digital | ||
| Access to electricity % of population | 100.0%1st/215 · 2024 | 97.9%142nd/215 · 2024 |
| Safely managed drinking water % of population | 65.6%93rd/150 · 2024 | 16.5%143rd/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 49.5%84th/144 · 2024 | 53.4%80th/144 · 2024 |
| Internet users % of population | 91.3%49th/186 · 2024 | 46.3%151st/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 100139th/210 · 2024 | 100138th/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 2.9151st/208 · 2024 | 10.1119th/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 | 2.19139th/164 · 2018 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 189,878129th/161 · 2023 | 4.3 m64th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.0189th/203 · 2024 | 0.5444th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 82.5%12th/212 · 2022 | 73.7%24th/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 30.1152nd/200 · 2023 | 53.2189th/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 70.4%18th/214 · 2024 | 43.6%70th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3602007 | 451123rd/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 66.856th/205 · 2025 | 36.6162nd/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 77.821st/207 · 2025 | 32.5153rd/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 70.550th/207 · 2025 | 53.6117th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 90.010th/207 · 2025 | 57.8149th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 53.9103rd/205 · 2025 | 44.2149th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 61.689th/205 · 2025 | 54.6112th/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.576th/145 · 2020 | 2.169th/145 · 2020 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | — | $428.3 m108th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | — | 1.0%117th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | — | 4.5%93rd/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 6,0002000 | 112,00052nd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 2.34%2000 | 1.40%44th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 5.0 m129th/163 · 2021 | 6.0 m125th/163 · 2025 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.10%98th/110 · 2024 | 0.30%2010 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 6113th/137 · 2024 | 202017 |
| Scientific articles articles | 103140th/197 · 2023 | 1,59177th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Bhutan or Nepal?
Nepal has the larger population: 29.6 m (2025) compared with 796,682 for Bhutan (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Bhutan or Nepal?
Nepal is larger: 147,181 km² (2024) compared with 38,390 km² for Bhutan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Bhutan or Nepal?
Nepal has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $182.90 bn intl. (2025) compared with $15.61 bn intl. for Bhutan (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD.
Which is richer per person, Bhutan or Nepal?
Bhutan has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $19,594 intl. (2025) compared with $6,175 intl. for Nepal (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Bhutan or Nepal?
Bhutan has the higher life expectancy at birth: 73.3 years (2024) compared with 70.6 years for Nepal (2024). Source: World Bank, SP.DYN.LE00.IN.
Which ranks higher in the NationsTree Index, Bhutan or Nepal?
Bhutan: 52.0 points (79th in the world); Nepal: 44.6 points (111th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bangladesh
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 Nepal — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/bhutan-vs-nepal. Data as of 26 October 2026.