Bhutan
Asia · Southern Asia
Measures gross national happiness and limits tourism by design; a pristine Himalayan kingdom.
At a Glance
📈Bhutan's Human Development Index
0.681
Medium human development#123 of 191 countries worldwide, #31 of 43 in Asia.
Higher than 36% of countries with data. UNDP Human Development Report.
UNDP builds the index from three dimensions: a long and healthy life, being knowledgeable, and a decent standard of living. They are measured by life expectancy at birth, mean and expected years of schooling, and gross national income per capita.
Closest indicators in this dataset
World Bank, own vintages. UNDP’s own component values are not carried here, so these are related measures rather than the index inputs.
Nearest countries by HDI
Full HDI ranking, all 191 countries →Bhutan
Bhutan is a small Himalayan kingdom that has deliberately limited tourism to protect its environment and culture, resulting in an extraordinary state of preservation, both natural and cultural. The landscape is dominated by dramatic mountain scenery, ancient fortresses called dzongs, and dense forests, and the national philosophy of Gross National Happiness shapes a pace of life that feels intentional and grounded. It is a destination for those who value depth over convenience.
- First country to measure Gross National Happiness as official government policy.
- First carbon-negative country in the world — absorbs more CO₂ than it produces.
- Plastic bags were banned in 1999, a decade before most Western cities considered it.
Quick Facts
Capital
Thimphu
Language
Dzongkha
Currency
Nu. BTN
Area
38,140 km²
Nomad Hub
GDP / Capita
$4K
PPP / Capita
$20K
Inflation
3.6%
Unemployment
3.2%
GNI / Capita
$4K
Tax Revenue
12.3%
FDI Inflows
0.1%
Education Spend
5.8%
Price Level Index
96th pct
20-Year Trend + IMF Forecast
Income & inflation over time
HDI since 2010
0.582 → 0.681 (+0.099)Year by year →UNDP Human Development Report, 2023-24 edition. 13 annual values, none interpolated; hover any point for its year.
Twenty years here
Year by year →The world report →World Bank observations, first to last available year per indicator (roughly 2005–2024; each series has its own window).
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💬Quick answers
What is Bhutan's Human Development Index?
Bhutan's Human Development Index is 0.681 (UNDP Human Development Report), ranked #123 of 191 countries.
Is Bhutan safe?
Bhutan scores 1.55 on the Global Peace Index (lower is more peaceful), ranked #16 of 160 countries by the Institute for Economics & Peace. That measures national-level peace, not street crime; both are covered below.
What is life expectancy in Bhutan?
Life expectancy at birth in Bhutan is 73.3 yrs (World Bank), ranked #104 of 195 countries.