EnglishEnglish
中文Chinese (Simplified)
EspañolSpanish
हिन्दीHindi
العربيةArabic
FrançaisFrench
PortuguêsPortuguese
РусскийRussian
DeutschGerman
日本語Japanese
United States
Poland
Maldives
Iraq ↑ 54
Austria vs Czechia
Bhutan vs Sri Lanka
Side-by-side comparison of Bhutan and Sri Lanka 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 Sri Lanka scores 50.1 (88th), a gap of 1.9 points. Their trees are 2.4 m and 11 m tall; tree height grows with real GDP and is adjusted by the index.
Sri Lanka has 27 times the population of Bhutan. Sri Lanka has 71% more land area than Bhutan. Sri Lanka has an economy 24 times the size of Bhutan (GDP at purchasing power parity). Population: Bhutan 796,682 and Sri Lanka 21.8 million (2025).
GDP per person at purchasing power parity is $19,594 in Bhutan and $17,065 in Sri Lanka (2025, international dollars). People in Sri Lanka live on average 4.4 years longer (77.7 vs 73.3 years).
Of 36 indicators reported by both countries, Bhutan ranks higher in the world on 15 and Sri Lanka on 21. Bhutan is clearly stronger in institutions & safety, environment & energy and natural resources. Sri Lanka is clearly stronger in military, science & innovation and economy.
As a nation, Sri Lanka is the older of the two (statehood since 377 BC, 2,402 years), compared with Bhutan (since 1949). Over the last five years Bhutan improved faster (direction score 100 vs 48 out of 100).
Where they differ most
The indicators with the biggest gap in world position between Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Bhutan
3.6%
105th of 180
Sri Lankabetter
-4.8%
2nd of 180
Political stabilityInstitutions & safety
Bhutanbetter
90.0
10th of 207
Sri Lanka
64.9
120th of 207
Internet usersInfrastructure & digital
Bhutanbetter
91.3%
49th of 186
Sri Lanka
54.6%
145th of 186
Renewable freshwater per personNatural resources
Bhutanbetter
99,883
4th of 183
Sri Lanka
2,380
93rd of 183
Control of corruptionInstitutions & safety
Bhutanbetter
77.8
21st of 207
Sri Lanka
42.3
113th of 207
Over time
How the two countries moved against each other, from the yearly data.
Bhutan overtook Sri Lanka in the NationsTree Index and GDP per person (PPP) in 2022 and has stayed ahead since.
Sri Lanka has been ahead of Bhutan in GDP (PPP), life expectancy 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
BhutanSri Lanka 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 | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Land & people | ||
| Surface area km² | 38,390134th/216 · 2024 | 65,610123rd/216 · 2024 |
| Land area km² | 38,140133rd/216 · 2024 | 61,860123rd/216 · 2024 |
| Population people | 796,682165th/217 · 2025 | 21.8 m62nd/217 · 2025 |
| Population growth % | 0.65%127th/217 · 2025 | -0.73%206th/217 · 2025 |
| Population density people/km² | 20.8184th/216 · 2024 | 354.333rd/216 · 2024 |
| Urban population % | 43.4%166th/217 · 2025 | 20.5%212th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 0–14 % | 20.4%122nd/217 · 2025 | 21.7%110th/217 · 2025 |
| Population aged 65+ % | 6.6%132nd/217 · 2025 | 12.5%82nd/217 · 2025 |
| Economy | ||
| GDP USD | $3.58 bn175th/210 · 2025 | $108.83 bn72nd/210 · 2025 |
| GDP (PPP) intl. USD | $15.61 bn156th/199 · 2025 | $371.27 bn62nd/199 · 2025 |
| Real GDP (PPP, constant 2021 prices) intl. USD 2021 | $13.34 bn156th/199 · 2025 | $317.26 bn61st/199 · 2025 |
| GDP per person USD | $4,493144th/210 · 2025 | $5,002140th/210 · 2025 |
| GDP per person (PPP) intl. USD | $19,594108th/199 · 2025 | $17,065115th/199 · 2025 |
| GNI per person (Atlas) USD | $4,310138th/201 · 2025 | $4,670132nd/201 · 2025 |
| GDP growth % | 8.0%13th/210 · 2025 | 5.0%54th/210 · 2025 |
| Inflation % | 3.6%105th/180 · 2025 | -4.8%2nd/180 · 2025 |
| Unemployment % | 3.2%47th/187 · 2025 | 4.0%68th/187 · 2025 |
| Central government debt % of GDP | 111.0%51st/55 · 2020 | 73.5%2015 |
| General government gross debt % of GDP | 102.6%172nd/189 · 2025 | 96.8%164th/189 · 2025 |
| Government budget balance % of GDP | -2.7%97th/192 · 2025 | -2.3%86th/192 · 2025 |
| Main industries | ||
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing % of GDP | 13.7%57th/197 · 2025 | 8.4%81st/197 · 2025 |
| Industry incl. construction % of GDP | 33.2%41st/200 · 2025 | 25.4%78th/200 · 2025 |
| Manufacturing % of GDP | 6.6%136th/192 · 2024 | 17.1%34th/192 · 2025 |
| Services % of GDP | 53.2%130th/200 · 2025 | 54.6%123rd/200 · 2025 |
| Trade | ||
| Exports of goods & services USD | $1.05 bn160th/182 · 2024 | $20.64 bn90th/182 · 2025 |
| Imports of goods & services USD | $1.60 bn163rd/182 · 2024 | $24.86 bn88th/182 · 2025 |
| Exports % of GDP | 31.5%107th/183 · 2024 | 19.0%149th/183 · 2025 |
| Imports % of GDP | 47.9%86th/183 · 2024 | 22.8%158th/183 · 2025 |
| Trade openness % of GDP | 79.4%97th/183 · 2024 | 41.8%157th/183 · 2025 |
| Fuel exports % of merchandise exports | 0.0%162nd/170 · 2025 | 3.6%81st/170 · 2025 |
| Manufactures exports % of merchandise exports | 58.7%57th/171 · 2025 | 63.7%49th/171 · 2025 |
| Food exports % of merchandise exports | 5.9%136th/171 · 2025 | 29.0%51st/171 · 2025 |
| Ores & metals exports % of merchandise exports | 26.0%22nd/171 · 2025 | 0.5%153rd/171 · 2025 |
| High-tech exports % of manufactured exports | 0.0%163rd/168 · 2023 | 1.5%140th/168 · 2024 |
| Current account balance % of GDP | -16.0%179th/191 · 2025 | 1.6%61st/191 · 2025 |
| Foreign direct investment, inflows % of GDP | 0.2%168th/196 · 2025 | 1.0%146th/196 · 2025 |
| Natural resources | ||
| Natural resource rents % of GDP | 2.7%88th/209 · 2021 | 0.1%159th/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 | 0.08%117th/209 · 2021 |
| Arable land % of land area | 2.6%162nd/206 · 2024 | 22.2%46th/206 · 2024 |
| Renewable freshwater per person m³ | 99,8834th/183 · 2022 | 2,38093rd/183 · 2022 |
| Tourism | ||
| International tourist arrivals arrivals | 29,800183rd/194 · 2020 | 540,000119th/194 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts USD | $84.0 m145th/175 · 2020 | $1.08 bn69th/175 · 2020 |
| Tourism receipts % of exports | 10.7%55th/168 · 2020 | 8.2%66th/168 · 2020 |
| Outbound trips departures | 72,00099th/107 · 2019 | 305,00088th/107 · 2020 |
| Society & health | ||
| Life expectancy years | 73.3123rd/217 · 2024 | 77.778th/217 · 2024 |
| Under-5 mortality per 1,000 births | 17.2111th/196 · 2024 | 5.949th/196 · 2024 |
| Physicians per 1,000 people | 0.55120th/174 · 2022 | 1.14102nd/174 · 2023 |
| Hospital beds per 1,000 people | 2.285th/145 · 2023 | 3.941st/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 | 82.7%67th/153 · 2024 |
| Secondary enrolment % gross | 86.2%115th/173 · 2024 | 88.0%109th/173 · 2023 |
| Social protection coverage (incl. pensions) % of population | 9.0%52nd/55 · 2022 | 37.5%37th/55 · 2019 |
| Old-age dependency ratio % of working-age population | 9.1%138th/217 · 2025 | 19.0%78th/217 · 2025 |
| Health spending % of GDP | 4.4%143rd/193 · 2023 | 3.7%165th/193 · 2023 |
| Adult literacy % | 64.9%84th/98 · 2022 | 92.7%47th/98 · 2024 |
| Tertiary enrolment % gross | 13.0%134th/150 · 2024 | 20.7%122nd/150 · 2023 |
| Human Development Index index 0–1 | 0.698125th/193 · 2023 | 0.77689th/193 · 2023 |
| Income inequality (Gini) index | 28.515th/108 · 2022 | 37.72019 |
| Extreme poverty % of population | 0.0%1st/108 · 2022 | 2.7%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 | 46.9%113th/150 · 2024 |
| Safely managed sanitation % of population | 49.5%84th/144 · 2024 | — |
| Internet users % of population | 91.3%49th/186 · 2024 | 54.6%145th/186 · 2024 |
| Mobile subscriptions per 100 people | 100139th/210 · 2024 | 13353rd/210 · 2024 |
| Fixed broadband per 100 people | 2.9151st/208 · 2024 | 8.5122nd/208 · 2024 |
| Trade & transport infrastructure quality (LPI) score 1–5 | 2.20131st/164 · 2022 | 2.4096th/164 · 2022 |
| Rail lines route-km | — | 1,56259th/82 · 2019 |
| Air passengers carried passengers | 189,878129th/161 · 2023 | 3.9 m67th/161 · 2023 |
| Environment & energy | ||
| CO₂ emissions per person t CO₂e | 2.0189th/203 · 2024 | 1.0664th/203 · 2024 |
| Renewable energy % of final energy use | 82.5%12th/212 · 2022 | 48.8%51st/212 · 2021 |
| Air pollution (PM2.5) µg/m³ | 30.1152nd/200 · 2023 | 22.7133rd/200 · 2023 |
| Forest area % of land area | 70.4%18th/214 · 2024 | 34.4%98th/214 · 2024 |
| Energy use per person kg oil eq. | 3602007 | 439124th/149 · 2024 |
| Institutions & safety | ||
| Government effectiveness score 0–100 | 66.856th/205 · 2025 | 49.7118th/205 · 2025 |
| Control of corruption score 0–100 | 77.821st/207 · 2025 | 42.3113th/207 · 2025 |
| Rule of law score 0–100 | 70.550th/207 · 2025 | 55.2112th/207 · 2025 |
| Political stability score 0–100 | 90.010th/207 · 2025 | 64.9120th/207 · 2025 |
| Regulatory quality score 0–100 | 53.9103rd/205 · 2025 | 50.3120th/205 · 2025 |
| Voice & accountability score 0–100 | 61.689th/205 · 2025 | 57.9102nd/205 · 2025 |
| Homicide rate per 100,000 | 2.576th/145 · 2020 | 3.385th/145 · 2019 |
| Military | ||
| Military expenditure USD | — | $1.39 bn77th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of GDP | — | 1.3%98th/156 · 2025 |
| Military expenditure % of government spending | — | 4.9%81st/154 · 2025 |
| Armed forces personnel people | 6,0002000 | 317,00022nd/170 · 2020 |
| Armed forces personnel % of labour force | 2.34%2000 | 3.74%11th/168 · 2020 |
| Arms imports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | 5.0 m129th/163 · 2021 | 11.0 m105th/163 · 2025 |
| Arms exports (SIPRI TIV) TIV | — | 8.0 m1998 |
| Science & innovation | ||
| R&D spending % of GDP | 0.10%98th/110 · 2024 | 0.11%94th/110 · 2022 |
| Patent applications by residents applications | 6113th/137 · 2024 | 25359th/137 · 2024 |
| Scientific articles articles | 103140th/197 · 2023 | 2,32270th/197 · 2023 |
Questions and answers
Which has more people, Bhutan or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has the larger population: 21.8 m (2025) compared with 796,682 for Bhutan (2025). Source: World Bank, SP.POP.TOTL.
Which is bigger by area, Bhutan or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is larger: 65,610 km² (2024) compared with 38,390 km² for Bhutan (2024). Source: World Bank, AG.SRF.TOTL.K2.
Which economy is larger, Bhutan or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has the larger economy at purchasing power parity: $371.27 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 Sri Lanka?
Bhutan has the higher GDP per person (PPP): $19,594 intl. (2025) compared with $17,065 intl. for Sri Lanka (2025). Source: World Bank, NY.GDP.PCAP.PP.CD.
Where do people live longer, in Bhutan or Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka has the higher life expectancy at birth: 77.7 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 Sri Lanka?
Bhutan: 52.0 points (79th in the world); Sri Lanka: 50.1 points (88th). The index combines foundations, economic strength, quality of life, problems and 5-year direction from public statistics.
Bangladesh
NepalSources
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 Sri Lanka — country comparison. https://nationstree.org/compare/bhutan-vs-sri-lanka. Data as of 26 October 2026.