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Topic 05 of 18 · Country Index 2026
Bhutan: Health & Wellbeing
How long, and how well fed, do people live?
Bhutan is placed joint 118th of 200 countries on health & wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics. Readings behind it: Life Expectancy at Birth 72.98 (2023); Under-Five Mortality Rate 17.17 (2024).
Share
Health & Wellbeing
joint118th
of 200 countries placed
Placed from 3 of 4 key statistics
- 72.98Life Expectancy at Birth, 2023Years a newborn would live at current death rates
- 17.17Under-Five Mortality Rate, 2024Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
- 17.9Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five, 2024Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
- —Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity, 2024No reading for this country
01The evidence
The 4 key statistics that decide it
Only these place Bhutan on health & wellbeing — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used — or, for a survey-based key, each country’s latest reading; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.
Key 1 of 4
Life Expectancy at Birth
UN DESA Population Division
2023 edition · data for 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
72.98
Years a newborn would live at current death rates
Higher is better
Bhutan: 72.98. Across the 222 countries in this edition, values run from 54.46 (Nigeria) to 86.37 (Monaco); the world median is 74.63.
- World median
- 74.63
- Best in Southern Asia
- 81.04 Maldives
- Land neighbours
- China 77.95 · India 72
Key 2 of 4
Under-Five Mortality Rate
UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
17.17
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)
Lower is better
Bhutan: 17.17. Across the 200 countries in this edition, values run from 1.26 (San Marino) to 115.65 (Nigeria); the world median is 14.54.
- World median
- 14.54
- Best in Southern Asia
- 5.439 Maldives
- Land neighbours
- China 5.724 · India 26.58
Key 3 of 4
Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five
UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates)
Latest reading per country, 2014–2024 · Bhutan’s is from 2023 · CC BY 3.0 IGO
17.9
Children under 5 who are stunted (%)
Lower is better
Bhutan: 17.9. Across the 162 countries at their latest reading, values run from 0.518 (Latvia) to 52.8 (Burundi); the world median is 13.8.
- World median
- 13.8
- Best in Southern Asia
- 4.8 Iran
- Land neighbours
- China 4.8 · India 35.47
Key 4 of 4
Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
No reading
Population in severe food insecurity (%)
Lower is better
FAO publishes no 2024 figure for Bhutan, so the standing rests on the other keys.
Across the 125 countries in this edition, values run from 0.6 (Brazil) to 62.9 (South Sudan); the world median is 4.9.
- World median
- 4.9
- Best in Southern Asia
- 1.1 Sri Lanka
02Over time
Which way Bhutan is moving
Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.
Life Expectancy at Birth
Years a newborn would live at current death rates · higher is better
BhutanWorld median
Bhutan rose from 61.84 in 2000 to 72.98 in 2023; the world median went from 70.68 to 74.63.
Every year’s figures
Year Bhutan World median 2023 73.0 74.630 2022 72.8 74.313 2021 72.4 72.433 2020 72.3 73.063 2019 72.0 74.196 2018 71.7 74.081 2017 71.4 74.029 2016 71.1 74.013 2015 70.8 73.783 2014 70.5 73.330 2013 70.2 73.386 2012 69.8 73.210 2011 69.3 73.003 2010 68.8 72.827 2009 68.2 72.426 2008 67.7 72.264 2007 67.2 72.113 2006 66.5 72.027 2005 65.9 71.876 2004 65.3 71.477 2003 64.7 71.409 2002 64.0 71.173 2001 63.3 70.926 2000 61.8 70.678 Under-Five Mortality Rate
Deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) · lower is better
BhutanWorld median
Bhutan fell from 77.67 in 2000 to 17.17 in 2024; the world median went from 30.43 to 14.54.
Every year’s figures
Year Bhutan World median 2024 17 14.5 2023 18 15.2 2022 19 14.7 2021 20 15.1 2020 21 15.3 2019 23 15.7 2018 24 16.3 2017 26 16.8 2016 27 17.5 2015 29 17.9 2014 31 18.3 2013 33 18.7 2012 35 18.8 2011 38 19.0 2010 41 19.2 2009 43 20.8 2008 46 20.7 2007 49 21.8 2006 53 22.8 2005 57 24.0 2004 61 25.9 2003 65 26.9 2002 69 28.0 2001 73 29.1 2000 78 30.4
03In context
Bhutan beside its neighbours
A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 200 countries on health & wellbeing, never a place within the region.
Bhutan and the countries it borders
Standing among all 200; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.
| Country | Standing | Life Expectancy at BirthYears a newborn would live at current death rates | Under-Five Mortality RateDeaths before age five (per 1,000 live births) | Stunting Prevalence in Children Under FiveChildren under 5 who are stunted (%) | Prevalence of Severe Food InsecurityPopulation in severe food insecurity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 China | 47th | 77.95 | 5.724 | 4.8 | — |
| Bhutan | =118th | 72.98 | 17.17 | 17.9 | — |
 India | 150th | 72 | 26.58 | 35.47 | — |
“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is
Across Southern Asia
Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 200.
Placed either side on health & wellbeing
The countries immediately above and below Bhutan in the topic’s list.
04Context, no vote
Where Bhutan is ahead of the world, and behind
46 more statistics filed under health & wellbeing, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.
Ahead of the world median15
Statistics on which Bhutan does better than the middle country measured.
HPV Vaccination Coverage, GirlsWUENIC · 2025 · world median 65.59865.5No real change since 2018
Bhutan: 98 · world median 65.5 · Girls in the target group given the final dose of HPV vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 1 to 99; higher is better.
Immunisation Coverage, DTP3WUENIC · 2025 · world median 919991▲ Improved since 2015
Bhutan: 99 · world median 91 · Infants given a third dose of DTP vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 39 to 99; higher is better.
Exclusive Breastfeeding Under Six MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 40.7469.440.74No earlier reading
Bhutan: 69.4 · world median 40.74 · Infants under 6 months exclusively breastfed (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 3.497 to 83.3; higher is better.
Position 8th of 136 · derived.
Early Initiation of BreastfeedingUNICEF · 2024 · world median 52.9581.852.95No earlier reading
Bhutan: 81.8 · world median 52.95 · Newborns put to the breast within one hour of birth (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 7.749 to 93.1; higher is better.
Position 9th of 136 · derived.
Excess Mortality During the COVID-19 PandemicAriel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset) · 2026 · world median 272.3571.5272.35No earlier reading
Bhutan: 71.5 · world median 272.35 · Excess deaths per 100,000 people, March 2020 to the end of each country's data (at most December 2023). Ariel Karlinsky and Dmitry Kobak (World Mortality Dataset), 2026 edition, data for 2026.
Published values in that edition run from -264.9 to 1,013; lower is better.
Immunisation Coverage, Measles First Dose (MCV1)WUENIC · 2025 · world median 909890▲ Improved since 2015
Bhutan: 98 · world median 90 · Infants given a first dose of measles vaccine (%). WHO and UNICEF (WUENIC), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 13 to 99; higher is better.
Share of Population Unable to Afford a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 26.43.726.4▲ Improved since 2017
Bhutan: 3.7 · world median 26.4 · Share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 93.9; lower is better.
Position 122nd of 145 · derived, 1st = worst.
Demand for Family Planning Satisfied by Modern MethodsUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 71.2580.471.25▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 80.4 · world median 71.25 · Share of women aged 15–49 wanting to avoid pregnancy who use a modern method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 8.4 to 92.4; higher is better.
Position 46th of 196 · derived.
Adolescent Birth Rate (Ages 15–19)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 27.469.36427.46▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 9.364 · world median 27.46 · Live births per 1,000 women aged 15–19. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.465 to 163.09; lower is better.
Position 164th of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Oral Rehydration Salts for Children with DiarrhoeaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 41.552.341.5No earlier reading
Bhutan: 52.3 · world median 41.5 · Children under 5 with diarrhoea given oral rehydration salts (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 9.9 to 95.4; higher is better.
Position 45th of 127 · derived.
Days Above 35°CECMWF · 2025 · world median 3.480.13.48▼ Worsened since 2015
Bhutan: 0.1 · world median 3.48 · Days a year with a maximum temperature above 35°C, averaged over the country’s land. World Bank Group (Climate Change Knowledge Portal), from Copernicus ERA5 (ECMWF), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 222.89; lower is better.
Antenatal Care Coverage, At Least Four VisitsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 8187.281No earlier reading
Bhutan: 87.2 · world median 81 · Women with a live birth who had 4+ antenatal visits (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 22.6 to 100; higher is better.
Position 58th of 153 · derived.
Gender Inequality IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.3510.2780.351▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 0.278 · world median 0.351 · GII (0 = full equality, 1 = maximum inequality). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.003 to 0.838; lower is better.
Ranked 71st of 172 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Adult Mortality (Probability of Dying Between 15 and 60)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 133.7120.97133.7▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 120.97 · world median 133.7 · Deaths before age 60 per 1,000 people alive at 15, at that year's death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 25.15 to 415.44; lower is better.
Position 123rd of 222 · derived, 1st = worst.
Neonatal Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 8.1347.3098.134▲ Improved since 2014
Bhutan: 7.309 · world median 8.134 · Deaths in the first 28 days (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.544 to 39.47; lower is better.
Position 107th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Behind the world median20
Statistics on which Bhutan does worse than the middle country measured.
Infant Mortality RateUN IGME · 2024 · world median 12.2613.6912.26▲ Improved since 2014
Bhutan: 13.69 · world median 12.26 · Deaths before age one (per 1,000 live births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.214 to 71.87; lower is better.
Position 94th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Stillbirth RateUN IGME · 2023 · world median 8.1638.4378.163▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 8.437 · world median 8.163 · Stillbirths (per 1,000 total births). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 1.18 to 34.9; lower is better.
Position 94th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
Care-Seeking for Children with Symptoms of PneumoniaUNICEF · 2024 · world median 67.764.767.7No earlier reading
Bhutan: 64.7 · world median 67.7 · Children under 5 with pneumonia symptoms taken to a health provider (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 14 to 99.1; higher is better.
Position 72nd of 127 · derived.
Low Birthweight PrevalenceUNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates) · 2020 · world median 10.2111.4310.21No real change since 2010
Bhutan: 11.43 · world median 10.21 · Live births weighing under 2,500 g (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Low Birthweight Estimates), 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 3.993 to 27.44; lower is better.
Position 63rd of 158 · derived, 1st = worst.
Births Attended by Skilled Health StaffUNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance) · 2023 · world median 99.398.599.3▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 98.5 · world median 99.3 · Births attended by skilled health staff (%). UNICEF and WHO (Joint Database on Skilled Birth Attendance), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 60.9 to 100; higher is better.
Position 53rd of 84 · derived.
Human Development IndexUNDP Human Development Report Office · 2023 · world median 0.7620.6980.762▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 0.698 · world median 0.762 · HDI score (0–1). UNDP Human Development Report Office, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.388 to 0.972; higher is better.
Ranked 125th of 193 by UNDP Human Development Report Office.
Overweight Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 5.57.9875.5No real change since 2014
Bhutan: 7.987 · world median 5.5 · Children under 5 who are overweight (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.623 to 26.43; lower is better.
Position 58th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Wasting Prevalence in Children Under FiveUNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates) · 2024 · world median 3.5465.13.546No earlier reading
Bhutan: 5.1 · world median 3.546 · Children under 5 who are wasted (%). UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.1 to 22.74; lower is better.
Position 56th of 163 · derived, 1st = worst.
Life Expectancy at Age 65UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 16.3914.8116.39▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 14.81 · world median 16.39 · Further years a 65-year-old would live at current death rates. UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 12.13 to 23.21; higher is better.
Position 147th of 222 · derived.
Vegetable Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 102.6963.5102.69▲ Improved since 2019
Bhutan: 63.5 · world median 102.69 · Vegetables available as food (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.89 to 412.72; higher is better.
Violent Discipline of ChildrenUNICEF · 2025 · world median 75.882.275.8No earlier reading
Bhutan: 82.2 · world median 75.8 · Children aged 1-14 experiencing violent discipline (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 37.6 to 94; lower is better.
Position 30th of 90 · derived, 1st = worst.
Human Capital IndexWorld Bank Group · 2020 · world median 0.5640.4750.564No earlier reading
Bhutan: 0.475 · world median 0.564 · HCI score (0–1). World Bank Group, 2020 edition, data for 2020.
Published values in that edition run from 0.292 to 0.879; higher is better.
Position 119th of 172 · derived.
Mortality Rate, Ages 5–14UN IGME · 2024 · world median 2.8586.8272.858No real change since 2014
Bhutan: 6.827 · world median 2.858 · Deaths between ages 5 and 14 (per 1,000 children aged 5). UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0.392 to 59.04; lower is better.
Position 44th of 200 · derived, 1st = worst.
PM2.5 Air Pollution ExposureAtmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis · 2023 · world median 14.4528.914.45▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 28.9 · world median 14.45 · Population-weighted PM2.5 concentration (µg/m³). Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group, Washington University in St. Louis, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2.5 to 68.2; lower is better.
Position 39th of 220 · derived, 1st = worst.
Institutional DeliveriesUNICEF · 2025 · world median 96.978.696.9No earlier reading
Bhutan: 78.6 · world median 96.9 · Live births delivered in a health facility (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 11.5 to 100; higher is better.
Minimum Dietary Diversity, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2025 · world median 37.5715.537.57No earlier reading
Bhutan: 15.5 · world median 37.57 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at least 5 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 8.089 to 85.88; higher is better.
Position 101st of 115 · derived.
Fruit Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 84.8330.8784.83▲ Improved since 2019
Bhutan: 30.87 · world median 84.83 · Fruit available as food, excluding wine (kg per person per year). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 4.27 to 379.63; higher is better.
Share of Dietary Energy Supply from Cereals, Roots and TubersFAO · 2022 · world median 416541No real change since 2020
Bhutan: 65 · world median 41 · Share of dietary energy supply from cereals, roots and tubers (%). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2022 edition, data for 2022.
Published values in that edition run from 21 to 82; lower is better.
Postnatal Care for Newborns Within Two DaysUNICEF · 2025 · world median 82.929.782.9No earlier reading
Bhutan: 29.7 · world median 82.9 · Newborns with a health check within 2 days of birth (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 7.3 to 99.9; higher is better.
Position 101st of 109 · derived.
Severe Child Food Poverty, Children Aged 6–23 MonthsUNICEF · 2024 · world median 21.2647.3421.26No earlier reading
Bhutan: 47.34 · world median 21.26 · Children aged 6-23 months fed from at most 2 of 8 food groups (%). UNICEF, 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 1.169 to 63.08; lower is better.
Position 5th of 113 · derived, 1st = worst.
Level with the median, or no median to compare2
Global Multidimensional Poverty IndexOPHI · 2025 · world median 0.0390.0390.039▲ Improved since 2018
Bhutan: 0.039 · world median 0.039 · MPI (0–1). Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 0.517; lower is better.
Position 55th of 109 · derived, 1st = worst.
Maternal Mortality RatioMMEIG · 2023 · world median 46.6546.6546.65▲ Improved since 2013
Bhutan: 46.65 · world median 46.65 · Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. UN Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.11 to 992.83; lower is better.
Position 98th of 195 · derived, 1st = worst.
No better end9
These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.
Average Weekly Hours WorkedILO · 2025 · world median 38.8954.738.89No real change since 2015
Bhutan: 54.7 · world median 38.89 · Average weekly hours actually worked per employed person. International Labour Organization (ILO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 23.64 to 54.7.
Position 1st of 182 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Cost of a Healthy DietFAO · 2025 · world median 4.556.174.55No real change since 2017
Bhutan: 6.17 · world median 4.55 · Cost of the cheapest locally available healthy diet, PPP dollars per person per day. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 2.66 to 8.27.
Modern Contraceptive PrevalenceUN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 35.438.135.4Moved since 2013
Bhutan: 38.1 · world median 35.4 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using a modern contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 2 to 73.8.
Pesticide Use per HectareFAO · 2024 · world median 1.732.191.73Moved since 2014
Bhutan: 2.19 · world median 1.73 · Pesticide use (kg per hectare of cropland). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2024 edition, data for 2024.
Published values in that edition run from 0 to 37.72.
Position 81st of 178 · derived, counted from the highest value.
Contraceptive Prevalence (Any Method)UN DESA Population Division · 2023 · world median 41.2539.441.25Moved since 2013
Bhutan: 39.4 · world median 41.25 · Share of all women aged 15–49 using any contraceptive method (%). UN DESA Population Division, 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 6.6 to 78.7.
Caesarean Section RateUNICEF · 2025 · world median 20.6512.420.65No earlier reading
Bhutan: 12.4 · world median 20.65 · Live births delivered by caesarean section (%). UNICEF, 2025 edition, data for 2025.
Published values in that edition run from 0.6 to 72.2.
Catastrophic Out-of-Pocket Health SpendingWorld Bank Group · 2019 · world median 6.883.9856.88No earlier reading
Bhutan: 3.985 · world median 6.88 · Population in households spending more than 10% of their budget on health out of pocket (%). World Bank Group, 2019 edition, data for 2019.
Published values in that edition run from 0.133 to 31.21.
Fish and Seafood Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 16.176.2616.17No real change since 2019
Bhutan: 6.26 · world median 16.17 · Fish and seafood available as food (kg per person per year, live-weight equivalent). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 0.38 to 83.81.
Meat Supply per PersonFAO · 2023 · world median 57.8314.6657.83Moved since 2019
Bhutan: 14.66 · world median 57.83 · Meat available as food (kg per person per year, carcass weight). Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2023 edition, data for 2023.
Published values in that edition run from 3.49 to 156.95.
No current reading for Bhutan
Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Children with Functional Difficulties, Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric Consumption, Dietary Energy Supply, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum) (last 2021), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax) (last 2021), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum) (last 2021), Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity and Prevalence of Undernourishment. Listed rather than hidden, so the page can be checked against it.
“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing
05Country Index 2026
Health & Wellbeing among Bhutan’s 15 topics
Health & Wellbeing is Bhutan’s 12th best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.
- Energy1st of 1652/3 keys
- Poverty & Inequality10th of 1593/3 keys
- Peace & Security28th of 1773/4 keys
- Governance & Institutions51st of 1944/4 keys
- Democracy & Civil Liberties71st of 1984/4 keys
- Economy & Innovation68th of 1762/4 keys
- Risk & Resilience76th of 1933/4 keys
- Work & Labourjoint 72nd of 1824/4 keys
- Environment & Sustainability87th of 1864/4 keys
- Food & Agriculture88th of 1843/4 keys
- Digital & Technology111th of 1984/4 keys
- Health & Wellbeingjoint 118th of 2003/4 keys
- Education & Knowledge120th of 1984/4 keys
- Gender & Equalityjoint 122nd of 1834/4 keys
- Development & Human Capital133rd of 1963/3 keys
No standing on Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.
06The top of the list
Who leads on health & wellbeing
The three countries placed highest of 200, and the leaders Bhutan can most readily be measured against.
1
San MarinoSouthern Europe
1st of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Matl derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
2
MonacoWestern Europe
2nd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
3
AndorraSouthern Europe
3rd of 200 · 2 of 4 keys
Photo: Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
Placed highest nearby
Highest placed on all 4 keys
South Korea5th4/4 keysHighest in Southern Asia
Sri Lanka51st4/4 keysThis page
Bhutan=118th3/4 keys
Positions out of 200 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.
07Analysis
Charts and analysis about Bhutan and health & wellbeing
On health & wellbeing
Global Hunger Index 2025: Countries with the Most Alarming Hunger Crisis
Thirteen countries scored across four editions — 2000, 2008, 2016 and 2025 — and five the report could not score at all. DR Congo and South Sudan share 121st place on 37.5.
On health & wellbeing
World Happiness Report 2025: Finland Leads Again as the US and UK Face Major Declines
The ten highest life evaluations of 2025, drawn on a world map, and the six things the report uses to explain them. Costa Rica and Mexico are the only two outside Europe and the Middle East.
08Questions
Bhutan on health & wellbeing: questions answered
Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.
How does Bhutan rank on health & wellbeing?
Bhutan is placed joint 118th of 200 countries on Health & Wellbeing in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 4 key statistics (Life Expectancy at Birth, Under-Five Mortality Rate and Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.
What is the latest Life Expectancy at Birth figure for Bhutan?
72.98 in 2023 (years a newborn would live at current death rates), according to UN DESA Population Division. The world median in the same edition was 74.63.
What is the latest Under-Five Mortality Rate figure for Bhutan?
17.17 in 2024 (deaths before age five (per 1,000 live births)), according to UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME). The world median in the same edition was 14.54.
How does Bhutan compare with India on health & wellbeing?
India is placed 150th of 200, and Bhutan joint 118th. Life Expectancy at Birth: India 72, Bhutan 72.98; Under-Five Mortality Rate: India 26.58, Bhutan 17.17; Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five: India 35.47, Bhutan 17.9.
How have Bhutan’s health & wellbeing figures changed?
Life Expectancy at Birth rose from 61.84 in 2000 to 72.98 in 2023; Under-Five Mortality Rate fell from 77.67 in 2000 to 17.17 in 2024.
Which health & wellbeing statistics are missing for Bhutan?
No current reading is published for Bhutan on Adults Who Have Been Too Anxious or Depressed to Carry On, Agreement That Vaccines Are Safe, Children with Functional Difficulties, Coefficient of Variation of Habitual Caloric Consumption, Dietary Energy Supply, Fatal Occupational Injuries, Female Genital Mutilation Prevalence, Global Report on Food Crises, INFORM Severity Index, Insecticide-Treated Net Use, Malaria Incidence (P. falciparum), Malaria Incidence (P. vivax), Malaria Mortality (P. falciparum), Prevalence of Moderate or Severe Food Insecurity, Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity and Prevalence of Undernourishment. They are listed rather than hidden, so the evidence on the page can be checked against it.
09Method
Method, sources and how to cite
What this topic does not measure
Health spending, hospital beds and doctors per person are not measured, because more of any of them does not guarantee better outcomes. Mental health and self-reported happiness are not part of this topic. Food supply per person is measured under Food & Agriculture. Maternal mortality and many other indicators are published here as context; maternal mortality is a key in Development & Human Capital instead.
How the Health & Wellbeing standing is decided
A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 4 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 4 keys to be placed.
The health & wellbeing method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built
The key statistics and their licences
- Life Expectancy at Birth — UN DESA Population Division, CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Under-Five Mortality Rate — UN Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Stunting Prevalence in Children Under Five — UNICEF, WHO and World Bank Group (Joint Malnutrition Estimates), CC BY 3.0 IGO
- Prevalence of Severe Food Insecurity — Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), CC BY 4.0
The other 46 statistics on this page come from 16 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.
The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Photographs
Bhutan’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.
- Bhutan (banner) — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
- San Marino — Matl derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Monaco — Martin Weber derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andorra — Tiia Monto derivative work: Jjtkk, CC BY-SA 3.0
Cite this page
Nations Inquiry (2026). Bhutan: Health & Wellbeing — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/bhutan/health