Country profile

Bhutan: Costs, Safety, Relocation and Quality of Life

Bhutan is best read in the Nomadino comparison through the lens of everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as safety, stability and risk exposure. The current data points to a mixed overall picture; its strongest main categories are Costs and Safety & Risk, while Electricity & Energy, Dining & Going Out and Food & Basic Goods stand out at topic level. Before making a decision, check residence, visas and settling abroad as well as infrastructure, mobility and digital usability more closely, because the largest deductions come from Basic Infrastructure & Logistics, Visa, Entry & Travel Freedom and Arts & Entertainment.

Overall rating 59.31 points
Global rank Rank 118 globally
Continental rank Rank 22 in Asia

View main country ranking

Decision areas

The following entry points link directly to detailed articles that are especially relevant for relocation, longer stays, daily life and travel planning.

Key questions about Bhutan

Why is Bhutan especially relevant in this comparison?

The profile is shaped mainly by everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as safety, stability and risk exposure; its strongest main categories are Costs and Safety & Risk.

Which topics stand out positively for Bhutan?

Electricity & Energy, Dining & Going Out and Food & Basic Goods show the strongest topic-level results.

What should be checked before making a decision?

residence, visas and settling abroad as well as infrastructure, mobility and digital usability deserve closer attention; the largest deductions come from Basic Infrastructure & Logistics, Visa, Entry & Travel Freedom and Arts & Entertainment.

How important is lower-cost living and longer stays for Bhutan?

The detailed articles below help check whether the rating fits residence, work, costs, healthcare, safety or travel.

Strengths and weaknesses

This section only shows categories, topic areas and indicators where Bhutan ranks in the top three or bottom three globally or continentally and shares the same score with no more than two other countries. Global ranks take priority over continental ranks.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Comparisons and related countries

Bhutan is especially useful to compare with United States, Portugal and Spain, because those countries sit closer to its overall rating profile. Denmark and Germany work as contrast comparisons when everyday costs, housing and recurring expenses as well as safety, stability and risk exposure need to be weighed against different priorities; residence, visas and settling abroad as well as infrastructure, mobility and digital usability still deserve closer attention.

All ratings and indicators for Bhutan

58 topic areas and 342 indicators are linked directly in the static HTML. Categories and topic areas are collapsed to keep the country profile easy to scan.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Safety & Risk ShowHide

Safety & Crime

6 indicators

81
/ 100
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Homicide Rate
Rank 101 globally 90
Petty Crime Index
Rank 24 globally 79
Women's Safety
Rank 37 globally 75
Organized Crime
Rank 61 globally 62
Kidnapping Risk
Rank 49 globally 88
BAC Limit (โ€ฐ)
Rank 1 globally 100
93
/ 100
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Active Conflicts & War Risk
Rank 7 globally 96
Political Violence
Rank 38 globally 87
Geopolitical Risk
Rank 65 globally 91
Terrorism Risk
Rank 1 globally 100

Natural Hazards

8 indicators

64
/ 100
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Flood Risk
Rank 116 globally 47
Storm Risk
Rank 118 globally 73
Earthquake Risk
Rank 162 globally 49
Drought Risk
Rank 3 globally 92
Wildfire Risk
Rank 86 globally 55
Landslide Risk
Rank 226 globally 18
Tsunami Risk
Rank 1 globally 100
Volcano Risk
Rank 1 globally 100

Privacy & Surveillance

6 indicators

65
/ 100
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State Surveillance
Rank 101 globally 67
Internet Censorship
Rank 107 globally 72
Internet Freedom
Rank 112 globally 64
Data Protection Laws
Rank 123 globally 49
VPN Access
Rank 105 globally 74
Cybercrime Risk
Rank 63 globally 68
60
/ 100
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Rule of Law
Rank 99 globally 55
Property Rights Security
Rank 113 globally 54
Corruption Perception
Rank 39 globally 71
Police Effectiveness
Rank 67 globally 70
Expropriation Risk
Rank 99 globally 60
Extradition Risk
Rank 7 globally 59

Long-Term Stability

4 indicators

66
/ 100
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Political Stability
Rank 40 globally 76
Economic Resilience
Rank 93 globally 62
Government Efficiency
Rank 106 globally 58
Climate Vulnerability
Rank 78 globally 63
โค๏ธ Health ShowHide

Healthcare & Access

12 indicators

59
/ 100
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Healthcare Quality
Rank 133 globally 57
Universal Healthcare Coverage
Rank 123 globally 66
Emergency Care
Rank 128 globally 56
Medicine Access
Rank 125 globally 63
Hospital Infections & Patient Safety
Rank 118 globally 59
Health Insurance for Foreigners
Rank 146 globally 60
Out-of-Pocket Health Expenditure
Rank 113 globally 68
Doctor Density
Rank 166 globally 20
Hospital Beds
Rank 127 globally 37
Healthcare Coverage (%)
Rank 150 globally 83
Specialist Visit Cost
Rank 18 globally 83
English-Speaking Doctors
Rank 162 globally 41

Environmental Health

6 indicators

59
/ 100
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Fine Particulate Matter Exposure (PM2.5)
Rank 146 globally 58
Noise Pollution
Rank 19 globally 77
UV Radiation
Rank 66 globally 40
Tap Water Safety
Rank 142 globally 71
Sanitation
Rank 138 globally 56
Waste Management
Rank 102 globally 43
68
/ 100
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Life Expectancy
Rank 131 globally 66
Infectious Diseases
Rank 139 globally 69
Obesity Rate
Rank 47 globally 84
Infant Mortality (per 1,000)
Rank 134 globally 41
Mental Health
Rank 119 globally 62
Suicide Rate
Rank 62 globally 71
Maternal Mortality
Rank 127 globally 58
Vaccination Rate
Rank 19 globally 97
Alcohol & Tobacco Consumption
Rank 48 globally 80
Drug and Substance-Use Burden
Rank 79 globally 81
๐Ÿ’ธ Finance & Taxes ShowHide

Taxes & Finance

10 indicators

80
/ 100
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Effective Income Tax Rate (%)
Rank 70 globally 89
Top Income Tax Rate
Rank 75 globally 66
Social Security Burden
Rank 50 globally 85
VAT / GST Rate
Rank 41 globally 78
Capital Gains Tax
Rank 1 globally 100
Dividend Tax Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Inheritance / Estate Tax
Rank 1 globally 100
Territorial Tax System
Rank 97 globally 25
Tax Filing Effort (hours/year)
Rank 25 globally 87
Double Taxation Agreements
Rank 189 globally 1
55
/ 100
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Capital Flow Freedom
Rank 121 globally 63
Capital Market Depth
Rank 149 globally 57
Business Credit Access
Rank 133 globally 57
Investor Protection
Rank 112 globally 53
Foreign Investment Openness
Rank 179 globally 38
Currency Convertibility & Transferability
Rank 91 globally 72
Venture Capital & Startup Financing
Rank 141 globally 47
Alternative Financing Access
Rank 161 globally 43

Banking & Fintech

8 indicators

61
/ 100
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Expat Banking Ease
Rank 159 globally 28
Banking Stability
Rank 91 globally 77
SWIFT / Wire Access
Rank 143 globally 77
Fintech Development
Rank 181 globally 29
ATM Availability
Rank 104 globally 77
Banking Secrecy Index
Rank 27 globally 55
Automatic Tax Information Exchange
Rank 15 globally 93
Cash Transaction Limit
Rank 1 globally 100

Bitcoin & Crypto

6 indicators

28
/ 100
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Crypto Adoption
Rank 194 globally 15
Crypto Regulation
Rank 167 globally 28
Legal Status
Rank 181 globally 27
Bitcoin Merchant Acceptance
Rank 194 globally 6
Crypto Tax Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Bitcoin Cash Access
Rank 189 globally 5

Real Estate & Property

4 indicators

40
/ 100
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Foreigner Ownership Rights
Rank 213 globally 5
Transaction Costs
Rank 164 globally 55
Affordability
Rank 124 globally 60
Gross Rental Yield
Rank 168 globally 48
53
/ 100
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Corporate Tax Rate
Rank 107 globally 38
Cost to Start a Business
Rank 112 globally 63
Labor Market Flexibility
Rank 75 globally 60
Days to Register a Company
Rank 97 globally 56

Macroeconomics

9 indicators

63
/ 100
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GDP per Capita (PPP, USD)
Rank 131 globally 56
Inflation Rate (CPI, %)
Rank 72 globally 92
Public Debt (% of GDP)
Rank 210 globally 22
GDP Growth Rate (%)
Rank 53 globally 87
Economic Freedom Index
Rank 117 globally 58
Tax Burden (% of GDP)
Rank 156 globally 73
Central Bank Independence
Rank 92 globally 69
Foreign Exchange Reserves (months of imports)
Rank 46 globally 74
Current Account Balance (% of GDP)
Rank 218 globally 16
41
/ 100
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Avg. Monthly Net Salary ($/month)
Rank 162 globally 21
Purchasing Power Index
Rank 128 globally 31
Unemployment Rate (%)
Rank 50 globally 89
Wage Growth Rate (%)
Rank 214 globally 40
Salary-to-Rent Ratio
Rank 128 globally 60
Minimum Wage (USD/month)
Rank 162 globally 25
๐Ÿ  Costs ShowHide

Housing & Utilities

5 indicators

81
/ 100
ShowHide
City Rent per Square Meter
Rank 39 globally 64
Rural Rent per Square Meter
Rank 38 globally 76
Electricity Cost
Rank 3 globally 99
Heating & Gas Cost
Rank 144 globally 92
Water & Sewage Cost
Rank 8 globally 99

Food & Basic Goods

7 indicators

94
/ 100
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Milk Price per Liter
Rank 10 globally 93
Bread Price per 500 Grams
Rank 16 globally 94
Egg Price for 12 Eggs
Rank 13 globally 96
Chicken Fillet Price per Kilogram
Rank 22 globally 91
Beef Round Price per Kilogram
Rank 31 globally 84
Vegetable Basket Price per Kilogram
Rank 13 globally 98
Water Price per Liter in Supermarket
Rank 26 globally 92

Dining & Going Out

9 indicators

95
/ 100
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Price of an Inexpensive Restaurant Meal
Rank 13 globally 92
Burger Menu Price
Rank 1 globally 100
Cappuccino (Cafรฉ)
Rank 26 globally 95
Local Beer (Restaurant)
Rank 31 globally 96
Local Beer Price in a Market
Rank 29 globally 97
Imported Beer Price in a Market
Rank 43 globally 92
Cocktail (Bar)
Rank 1 globally 100
Mid-Range Wine Bottle Price
Rank 43 globally 85
Soft Drink Price in a Market
Rank 29 globally 97

Mobility Costs

7 indicators

79
/ 100
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Transit Cost
Rank 107 globally 90
Fuel Price ($/L)
Rank 68 globally 70
Car Rental ($/day)
Rank 18 globally 94
Car Insurance ($/yr)
Rank 21 globally 98
Car Purchase Index
Rank 153 globally 1
Driving License Cost ($)
Rank 40 globally 97
City Parking ($/hr)
Rank 36 globally 96
85
/ 100
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Internet Cost
Rank 39 globally 81
Mobile Plan Cost
Rank 49 globally 84
Prepaid SIM & Data Package Cost
Rank 40 globally 93
eSIM & Travel Data Cost
Rank 48 globally 95
Coworking Day Pass Cost
Rank 36 globally 76

Personal Services

4 indicators

89
/ 100
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Haircut Cost
Rank 33 globally 91
Fitness Club Monthly Fee
Rank 23 globally 98
Laundry & Dry Cleaning Cost
Rank 120 globally 76
Local Services Cost
Rank 36 globally 92
๐Ÿ—๏ธ Infrastructure ShowHide
11
/ 100
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Logistics Performance
Rank 166 globally 14
Rail Network Density
Rank 134 globally 1
Airport Connectivity
Rank 162 globally 22
Port Connectivity
Rank 182 globally 1
52
/ 100
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Road Quality
Rank 153 globally 38
Traffic Congestion
Rank 24 globally 78
Road Density
Rank 114 globally 57
Traffic Deaths
Rank 113 globally 72
EV Charging Infrastructure
Rank 161 globally 4

Electricity & Energy

6 indicators

97
/ 100
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Power Outages
Rank 48 globally 96
Electrification Rate
Rank 1 globally 100
Energy Self-Sufficiency
Rank 14 globally 90
Renewable Energy Share
Rank 1 globally 100
CO2 Intensity
Rank 1 globally 100
Nuclear Exposure
Rank 1 globally 100
31
/ 100
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Broadband Speed
Rank 118 globally 48
Fixed Broadband Subscriptions
Rank 172 globally 7
Mobile Speed
Rank 135 globally 47
5G Coverage
Rank 140 globally 5

Public Transport

4 indicators

31
/ 100
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Transit Coverage
Rank 179 globally 25
Transit Punctuality
Rank 120 globally 52
Cycling Infrastructure
Rank 154 globally 8
Walkability Score
Rank 181 globally 40
๐ŸŒฟ Lifestyle ShowHide

Work-Life Balance

5 indicators

59
/ 100
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Annual Working Hours
Rank 133 globally 48
Paid Vacation Days
Rank 154 globally 47
Happiness Index (UN)
Rank 160 globally 51
Burnout Risk
Rank 97 globally 55
Public Holidays
Rank 5 globally 96

Climate & Weather

6 indicators

59
/ 100
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Temperature Comfort
Rank 185 globally 40
Sunshine Hours
Rank 204 globally 56
Humidity Comfort
Rank 94 globally 71
Rainy Days
Rank 200 globally 50
Extreme Heat Days
Rank 33 globally 98
Seasonal Variation
Rank 195 globally 54

Outdoor & Lifestyle

5 indicators

71
/ 100
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Beach Quality
Rank 189 globally 0
Mountain Access
Rank 6 globally 91
Protected Land Area (%)
Rank 1 globally 100
Biodiversity Index
Rank 33 globally 82
Forest Cover
Rank 16 globally 95

Leisure & Recreation

4 indicators

52
/ 100
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Sports & Fitness Facilities
Rank 163 globally 24
Urban Green Space Access
Rank 18 globally 84
Leisure Infrastructure
Rank 164 globally 26
Recovery Time
Rank 98 globally 70

Arts & Entertainment

6 indicators

27
/ 100
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Museums per 100,000 People
Rank 143 globally 25
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Rank 136 globally 10
Music & Nightlife
Rank 184 globally 25
Cinema Density
Rank 138 globally 12
Cultural Freedom
Rank 126 globally 52
Football and Stadium Culture
Rank 217 globally 47
33
/ 100
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Cuisine Diversity
Rank 165 globally 27
Restaurant Density
Rank 177 globally 26
Street Food Scene
Rank 169 globally 27
Local Market Quality
Rank 127 globally 44
Cafรฉ Culture
Rank 169 globally 23
Local Freshness
Rank 110 globally 53
Local Authenticity
Rank 154 globally 29

Family-Friendly

7 indicators

47
/ 100
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Childcare Cost ($/month)
Rank 57 globally 96
Paid Parental Leave (weeks)
Rank 118 globally 27
Child Benefit ($/month)
Rank 157 globally 19
Child Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 81 globally 79
Child Safety Score
Rank 122 globally 58
Childcare Coverage (%)
Rank 147 globally 10
Playground Density
Rank 140 globally 38

Pet-Friendly

7 indicators

46
/ 100
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Pet Entry Rules
Rank 211 globally 20
Veterinary Quality
Rank 162 globally 30
Vet Cost Affordability
Rank 19 globally 75
Pet Food Prices
Rank 13 globally 72
Animal Welfare Laws
Rank 109 globally 40
Pet-Friendly Housing
Rank 166 globally 40
Outdoor Pet Access
Rank 134 globally 45
โœˆ๏ธ Relocation & Residency ShowHide
47
/ 100
ShowHide
Residence Permit Ease
Rank 177 globally 47
E-Government
Rank 175 globally 47
Visa Processing Time
Rank 139 globally 48
Local Registration Requirements
Rank 128 globally 58
Foreign Document & Qualification Recognition
Rank 156 globally 50
Household Goods & Customs
Rank 175 globally 28
International Licence Compatibility
Rank 161 globally 48
26
/ 100
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Visa-Free Tourist Stay Days
Rank 186 globally 0
Visa Application Ease
Rank 190 globally 33
Border Openness
Rank 192 globally 11
Travel & Entry Comfort
Rank 196 globally 24
Visa Income & Asset Requirements
Rank 146 globally 86
42
/ 100
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Digital Nomad Visa
Rank 183 globally 26
Remote Work Legality
Rank 143 globally 49
Freelance Legal Framework
Rank 87 globally 70
Remote Job Market
Rank 143 globally 52
Coworking Density
Rank 150 globally 32
Nomad Community
Rank 189 globally 19
Avg. Remote Salary (USD)
Rank 149 globally 42
49
/ 100
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Work Rights for Foreigners
Rank 168 globally 47
Work Permit Access for Foreigners
Rank 172 globally 50
Local Self-Employment and Freelancing Rights
Rank 127 globally 57
Employment Restrictions for Foreigners
Rank 175 globally 45
Professional Qualification Recognition
Rank 155 globally 48
Business Ownership by Foreigners
Rank 185 globally 46
35
/ 100
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Time to Permanent Residency or Citizenship
Rank 173 globally 18
Family Reunification
Rank 171 globally 46
Naturalization Requirements
Rank 179 globally 40
Residence Status Stability
Rank 131 globally 58
Residence Status for Spouses and Children
Rank 158 globally 48
Passport Power (Henley Index)
Rank 202 globally 14
Dual Citizenship Allowed
Rank 191 globally 40
Citizenship by Investment
Rank 13 globally 0

Language & Integration

7 indicators

43
/ 100
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English Proficiency (EF EPI)
Rank 141 globally 41
Local Language Barrier
Rank 172 globally 40
Integration Ease
Rank 162 globally 56
Cultural Etiquette Gap
Rank 149 globally 54
Expat Community Size
Rank 190 globally 24
Cultural Distance to West
Rank 156 globally 52
International Schools
Rank 204 globally 27
53
/ 100
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Expat Welcome Culture
Rank 124 globally 54
Foreigner Discrimination
Rank 110 globally 49
Xenophobia Levels
Rank 105 globally 58
Racial Safety for Foreigners
Rank 104 globally 53
48
/ 100
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Rental Access for Foreigners
Rank 140 globally 49
Tax Residency Clarity for Expats
Rank 120 globally 47
Local Contracts and Utilities Access
Rank 152 globally 48
Local Identity and Address Proof
Rank 158 globally 45
Everyday Accounts and Payments for Foreigners
Rank 148 globally 53
๐Ÿ–๏ธ Travel & Vacation ShowHide
42
/ 100
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Hotel Quality
Rank 158 globally 43
Vacation Rental Quality
Rank 152 globally 47
Accommodation Availability
Rank 196 globally 29
Booking & Transparency
Rank 154 globally 49

Tourism Infrastructure

4 indicators

45
/ 100
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Airport-to-Destination Transfer
Rank 196 globally 26
Digital Travel Services
Rank 156 globally 47
Traveler Payment Infrastructure
Rank 149 globally 58
Tourist Information Quality
Rank 179 globally 47
47
/ 100
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Major Attractions Density
Rank 180 globally 31
Guided Tours & Bookable Experiences
Rank 179 globally 42
Tourist Outdoor Activities
Rank 58 globally 75
Nightlife & Entertainment for Visitors
Rank 166 globally 39
50
/ 100
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Tourist Beach Quality
Rank 209 globally 24
Swimming & Water Sports
Rank 202 globally 35
National Parks & Nature Access
Rank 5 globally 92

Vacation Costs

5 indicators

78
/ 100
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Hotel Cost
Rank 57 globally 92
Vacation Rental Cost
Rank 57 globally 93
Attraction Entry Cost
Rank 98 globally 87
Tour & Activity Cost
Rank 31 globally 93
Tourist Taxes & Fees
Rank 226 globally 0
69
/ 100
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High-Season Overcrowding
Rank 192 globally 79
Off-Season Usability
Rank 176 globally 59
Seasonal Capacity Shortage
Rank 169 globally 55
Seasonal Price Surcharges
Rank 131 globally 82
๐ŸŒ Society & Participation ShowHide

Society & Freedom

4 indicators

50
/ 100
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Press Freedom
Rank 121 globally 55
Democracy Index
Rank 159 globally 41
Personal Freedom
Rank 157 globally 55
Freedom of Political Expression
Rank 142 globally 50

Education & Knowledge

5 indicators

55
/ 100
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Adult Literacy Rate
Rank 196 globally 72
PISA Score
Rank 156 globally 24
Tertiary Enrollment Rate
Rank 191 globally 14
Education Expenditure
Rank 1 globally 100
School Life Expectancy
Rank 145 globally 65
37
/ 100
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Pension Replacement Rate (%)
Rank 113 globally 17
Unemployment Benefit Duration (months)
Rank 151 globally 0
Social Spending (% of GDP)
Rank 127 globally 27
Gini Index
Rank 79 globally 63
Poverty Rate (%)
Rank 99 globally 45
Housing Support Score
Rank 141 globally 33
Social Mobility Score
Rank 132 globally 42
Social Cohesion
Rank 93 globally 59
53
/ 100
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Gender Equality
Rank 120 globally 57
Womenโ€™s Rights & Equality
Rank 109 globally 58
Anti-Discrimination Protection
Rank 124 globally 48
Minority Rights Protection
Rank 120 globally 47
Everyday Discrimination Risk
Rank 116 globally 51

LGBTQ+ Friendliness

5 indicators

39
/ 100
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Same-Sex Legal Status
Rank 101 globally 39
LGBTQ+ Anti-Discrimination
Rank 116 globally 38
LGBTQ+ Social Acceptance
Rank 110 globally 45
LGBTQ+ Rights
Rank 114 globally 37
Pride Culture
Rank 110 globally 33
45
/ 100
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Disability Support Score
Rank 131 globally 44
Public Accessibility
Rank 132 globally 44
Digital Accessibility
Rank 150 globally 42
Inclusion in Education and Work
Rank 139 globally 49

Religion & Worldviews

4 indicators

47
/ 100
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Religious Freedom Index
Rank 161 globally 60
Secularization Score
Rank 177 globally 30
Religious Diversity Index
Rank 192 globally 20
Religious Influence in Public Life
Rank 165 globally 55

Demography

10 indicators

54
/ 100
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Median Age
Rank 95 globally 65
Fertility Rate
Rank 50 globally 92
Population Growth
Rank 111 globally 40
Net Migration Rate
Rank 194 globally 33
Urbanization Rate
Rank 178 globally 32
Foreign Population Share
Rank 128 globally 35
Population Density
Rank 37 globally 75
Gender Ratio (F/100 M)
Rank 191 globally 40
Youth Gender Ratio (15-29)
Rank 201 globally 85
Single-Person Households
Rank 105 globally 30