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Bhutan vs South Africa statistics compared

Updated on by Georank team

Bhutan has a population of 792K (ranked 163/197), compared with 64M in South Africa (ranked 24/197). Bhutan's land area is 14,726 sq mi versus 468,377 sq mi for South Africa (ranked 132nd vs. 24th).

By GDP, Bhutan ranks 170/197 ($3.01B) and South Africa ranks 40/197 ($401B). By GDP per capita, Bhutan ranks 132/197 ($3,831), while South Africa ranks 111/197 ($6,267).

Main facts and rankings

Bhutan South Africa
Population
803385
65683993
Population rank 163/197 24/197
GDP
$3.01B
2023
$401B
2024
GDP rank 170/197 40/197
GDP per capita
$3,831
2023
$6,267
2024
GDP per capita rank 132/197 111/197
GDP per capita, PPP
$16,215
2023
$15,456
2024
Government debt
$3.53B
2023
$305B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
110.4%
2024
76%
2024
Government debt per person
$4,485
2023
$4,761
2024
Government debt per person rank 87/185 83/185
Average annual personal income after taxes
$5,506
2026
$15,431
2026
Land area 14,726 sq mi 468,377 sq mi
Population density
54.5 ppl/mi²
2026
139.8 ppl/mi²
2026
Fertility rate
1.46
2023
2.22
2023
Median age
30.9 years
2024
29.5 years
2024
Life expectancy
73.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026

Bhutan and South Africa: Comparison Charts

Bhutan and South Africa economies compared

GDP
Bhutan

South Africa
1x
Year GDP
Bhutan South Africa
2024 - $401,144,998,374
2023 $3,012,896,789 $381,440,724,491
2022 $2,898,227,744 $407,596,043,068
2021 $2,768,802,960 $419,986,284,375
2020 $2,457,604,334 $337,974,655,408
2019 $2,735,683,570 $389,330,032,224
2018 $2,583,335,722 $405,260,723,893
2017 $2,591,358,009 $381,448,814,653
2016 $2,357,504,761 $323,585,509,674
2015 $2,187,815,803 $346,709,790,459
2014 $2,089,079,571 $381,198,869,776
2013 $1,943,696,952 $400,886,013,596
2012 $1,973,387,228 $434,400,545,086
2011 $1,977,728,659 $458,199,494,831
2010 $1,708,880,730 $417,363,822,802
2009 $1,331,343,798 $329,754,060,647
2008 $1,317,517,835 $316,131,258,616
2007 $1,255,767,964 $333,077,117,254
2006 $942,879,879 $303,858,675,364
2005 $860,391,000 $288,867,217,197
2004 $735,348,490 $255,806,908,595
2003 $651,935,430 $197,018,965,309
2002 $559,345,264 $129,087,556,612
2001 $496,110,226 $135,429,905,923
2000 $460,733,418 $151,752,757,215
1999 $399,311,200 $151,516,957,079
1998 $363,458,381 $152,982,984,557
1997 $352,229,077 $168,978,057,328
1996 $303,408,346 $163,234,925,381
1995 $290,490,984 $171,735,933,897
1994 $258,954,708 $153,512,712,382
1993 $225,973,693 $147,194,747,566
1992 $240,233,531 $146,956,150,987
1991 $240,294,286 $135,203,698,238
1990 $287,765,007 $126,048,140,142
1989 $264,798,626 $108,055,624,082
1988 $272,298,067 $103,976,831,871
1987 $242,742,766 $96,535,763,418
1986 $191,218,115 $73,354,771,399
1985 $163,288,815 $64,459,376,087
1984 $160,423,494 $84,870,163,366
1983 $156,704,290 $96,204,110,942
1982 $141,439,317 $85,904,057,409
1981 $139,174,178 $93,141,472,164
1980 $128,669,201 $89,411,864,402
1979 $105,377,995 $63,038,658,089
1978 $94,086,228 $51,607,412,902
1977 $97,884,434 $45,328,411,332
1976 $88,461,263 $41,150,460,288
1975 $86,820,762 $42,906,905,672
1974 $92,901,784 $41,389,186,095
1973 $78,900,289 $33,262,772,008
1972 $70,139,867 $24,515,919,217
1971 $66,289,450 $23,411,076,638
1970 $61,812,113 $21,218,391,513
1969 - $19,256,992,297
1968 - $17,124,793,150
1967 - $15,821,393,671
1966 - $14,211,394,315
1965 - $13,068,994,772
1964 - $11,955,995,218
1963 - $10,854,195,658
1962 - $9,813,996,074
1961 - $9,225,996,310
1960 - $8,748,596,501

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY

Bhutan and South Africa economies compared

GDP per capita
Bhutan

South Africa
1x
Year GDP per capita
Bhutan South Africa
2024 - $6,267
2023 $3,831 $6,034
2022 $3,711 $6,534
2021 $3,571 $6,829
2020 $3,192 $5,581
2019 $3,577 $6,534
2018 $3,400 $6,914
2017 $3,435 $6,618
2016 $3,152 $5,651
2015 $2,954 $6,112
2014 $2,849 $6,857
2013 $2,680 $7,332
2012 $2,751 $8,077
2011 $2,788 $8,646
2010 $2,436 $7,973
2009 $1,918 $6,375
2008 $1,920 $6,185
2007 $1,850 $6,592
2006 $1,406 $6,077
2005 $1,300 $5,837
2004 $1,130 $5,221
2003 $1,022 $4,062
2002 $896 $2,688
2001 $812 $2,847
2000 $772 $3,218
1999 $685 $3,242
1998 $638 $3,310
1997 $630 $3,700
1996 $553 $3,618
1995 $530 $3,856
1994 $467 $3,489
1993 $407 $3,400
1992 $416 $3,462
1991 $401 $3,243
1990 $488 $3,093
1989 $462 $2,727
1988 $489 $2,702
1987 $449 $2,586
1986 $365 $2,027
1985 $321 $1,839
1984 $326 $2,504
1983 $328 $2,938
1982 $306 $2,717
1981 $311 $3,050
1980 $296.9 $3,029
1979 $251.4 $2,202
1978 $232.2 $1,852
1977 $249.9 $1,671
1976 $233.7 $1,559
1975 $237.4 $1,670
1974 $262.8 $1,656
1973 $230.9 $1,369
1972 $212.4 $1,038
1971 $207.7 $1,020
1970 $200.3 $952
1969 - $891
1968 - $817
1967 - $779
1966 - $722
1965 - $685
1964 - $646
1963 - $605
1962 - $563
1961 - $546
1960 - $532

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY

Bhutan vs. South Africa life expectancy calculator

Life expectancy
Bhutan

South Africa
1x
Year Life expectancy, years
Bhutan South Africa
2026 73.8 66.7
2025 73.5 66.5
2024 73.3 66.3
2023 73 66.1
2022 72.8 65.5
2021 72.4 62
2020 72.3 65.2
2019 72 66.1
2018 71.7 65.7
2017 71.4 65.4
2016 71.1 64.7
2015 70.8 64.1
2014 70.5 63.2
2013 70.2 62.4
2012 69.8 61.7
2011 69.3 60.6
2010 68.8 58.9
2009 68.2 57.4
2008 67.7 56
2007 67.2 54.9
2006 66.5 54.2
2005 65.9 53.9
2004 65.3 54
2003 64.7 54.2
2002 64 55.6
2001 63.3 57.2
2000 61.8 58.4
1999 62 59.2
1998 61.3 59.9
1997 60.6 60.5
1996 60 61.1
1995 59.3 61.6
1994 58.4 62.1
1993 57.9 62.6
1992 57.2 62.8
1991 56.5 63
1990 55.8 62.9
1989 55.1 63
1988 54.4 62.9
1987 53.6 62.7
1986 52.8 62.4
1985 52 62.2
1984 51.3 61.8
1983 50.6 61.4
1982 49.8 60.9
1981 49 60.4
1980 48.2 60
1979 47.4 59.5
1978 46.7 59
1977 46 58.5
1976 45.2 58
1975 44.5 57.6
1974 43.8 57.1
1973 43.1 56.7
1972 42.5 56.4
1971 41.8 56
1970 41.2 55.7
1969 40.6 55.4
1968 40 55.2
1967 39.4 55
1966 38.8 54.7
1965 38.3 54.4
1964 37.8 54.2
1963 37.4 53.9
1962 37 53.6
1961 36.7 53.1
1960 36.4 52.6
1959 36.1 51.9
1958 35.9 51.1
1957 35.7 50.2
1956 35.6 49.2
1955 35.5 48.2
1954 35.4 47.1
1953 35.4 46.1
1952 35.4 45
1951 35.3 44.1
1950 35.3 43.1

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10).

GeoRank.org/facts/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY

Bhutan and South Africa population clocks and comparison

Population
Bhutan

South Africa
1x
Year Population
Bhutan South Africa
2024 791,524 64,007,187
2023 786,385 63,212,384
2022 780,914 62,378,410
2021 775,442 61,502,603
2020 770,006 60,562,381
2019 764,824 59,587,885
2018 759,759 58,613,001
2017 754,335 57,635,162
2016 747,866 57,259,551
2015 740,618 56,723,537
2014 733,139 55,594,838
2013 725,273 54,678,791
2012 717,279 53,782,567
2011 709,377 52,995,205
2010 701,632 52,344,051
2009 693,988 51,728,516
2008 686,351 51,114,599
2007 678,641 50,528,584
2006 670,799 49,998,277
2005 661,865 49,490,033
2004 650,544 48,991,421
2003 637,663 48,500,348
2002 624,409 48,019,415
2001 610,794 47,566,800
2000 596,863 47,159,719
1999 582,579 46,730,335
1998 569,435 46,223,880
1997 558,697 45,666,838
1996 548,784 45,123,018
1995 547,989 44,541,554
1994 554,497 44,004,139
1993 554,673 43,297,156
1992 577,774 42,443,509
1991 599,784 41,687,898
1990 589,287 40,746,268
1989 573,586 39,628,575
1988 556,986 38,480,649
1987 540,557 37,326,190
1986 524,324 36,180,515
1985 508,392 35,042,093
1984 492,784 33,892,788
1983 477,460 32,739,304
1982 462,485 31,615,339
1981 447,836 30,541,044
1980 433,404 29,518,857
1979 419,200 28,634,162
1978 405,243 27,869,507
1977 391,639 27,118,952
1976 378,490 26,395,450
1975 365,791 25,690,940
1974 353,538 24,989,108
1973 341,705 24,294,263
1972 330,264 23,609,456
1971 319,211 22,942,143
1970 308,528 22,279,984
1969 298,214 21,614,676
1968 288,311 20,957,287
1967 278,852 20,314,066
1966 269,820 19,690,087
1965 261,200 19,089,380
1964 252,987 18,511,361
1963 245,156 17,954,564
1962 237,636 17,418,522
1961 230,602 16,908,035
1960 224,084 16,440,172

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY

Fertility rates in Bhutan and South Africa

Fertility rate
Bhutan

South Africa
1x
Year Fertility rate
Bhutan South Africa
2023 1.46 2.22
2022 1.48 2.23
2021 1.49 2.25
2020 1.5 2.26
2019 1.45 2.26
2018 1.52 2.27
2017 1.62 2.28
2016 1.74 2.26
2015 1.84 2.36
2014 1.92 2.42
2013 2 2.43
2012 2.07 2.45
2011 2.15 2.44
2010 2.25 2.44
2009 2.36 2.5
2008 2.48 2.68
2007 2.59 2.55
2006 2.66 2.55
2005 2.73 2.51
2004 2.78 2.44
2003 2.87 2.36
2002 3.01 2.32
2001 3.19 2.37
2000 3.38 2.41
1999 3.61 2.56
1998 3.85 2.63
1997 4.09 2.73
1996 4.37 2.99
1995 4.62 3.17
1994 4.87 3.26
1993 5.07 3.37
1992 5.27 3.48
1991 5.45 3.62
1990 5.6 3.72
1989 5.76 3.98
1988 5.88 4.18
1987 6 4.35
1986 6.1 4.41
1985 6.18 4.5
1984 6.26 4.57
1983 6.34 4.63
1982 6.4 4.7
1981 6.46 4.71
1980 6.51 4.78
1979 6.55 4.82
1978 6.58 4.85
1977 6.61 4.94
1976 6.62 5.07
1975 6.62 5.19
1974 6.62 5.3
1973 6.63 5.41
1972 6.64 5.49
1971 6.64 5.57
1970 6.65 5.63
1969 6.66 5.72
1968 6.66 5.78
1967 6.67 5.85
1966 6.67 5.91
1965 6.68 5.89
1964 6.68 5.96
1963 6.69 6.01
1962 6.69 6.05
1961 6.7 6.08
1960 6.7 6.11

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2023, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY

Bhutan and South Africa demographics compared

Median age
Bhutan

South Africa
1x
Year Median age, years
Bhutan South Africa
2024 30.9 29.5
2023 30.4 29.2
2022 29.8 28.9
2021 29.2 28.6
2020 28.6 28.3
2019 28 27.9
2018 27.5 27.5
2017 26.9 27
2016 26.4 26.7
2015 26 26.4
2014 25.6 26
2013 25.1 25.7
2012 24.7 25.3
2011 24.4 25
2010 24 24.6
2009 23.7 24.3
2008 23.3 24
2007 22.9 23.8
2006 22.6 23.5
2005 22.2 23.3
2004 21.8 23.1
2003 21.3 22.8
2002 20.8 22.4
2001 20.4 22.2
2000 20 21.9
1999 19.8 21.6
1998 19.5 21.4
1997 19.3 21.2
1996 19.1 21.2
1995 18.9 21.5
1994 18.8 22
1993 18.7 21.9
1992 18.6 21.5
1991 18.6 21.5
1990 18.6 21.3
1989 18.5 21.1
1988 18.5 20.9
1987 18.5 20.7
1986 18.5 20.5
1985 18.6 20.4
1984 18.6 20.2
1983 18.7 20
1982 18.7 19.8
1981 18.8 19.6
1980 18.9 19.4
1979 18.9 19.3
1978 19 19.2
1977 19 19.1
1976 19.1 19
1975 19.1 18.9
1974 19.2 18.9
1973 19.2 18.8
1972 19.3 18.8
1971 19.3 18.8
1970 19.3 18.8
1969 19.3 18.8
1968 19.3 18.8
1967 19.3 18.8
1966 19.2 18.8
1965 19.1 18.8
1964 19.1 18.9
1963 19 18.9
1962 18.9 18.9
1961 18.9 19
1960 18.8 19

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/facts/bhutan/south-africa | CC BY

Interactive Maps

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National statistics comparison

Finance

Bhutan South Africa
GNI, Atlas method
$2.93B
2023
$391B
2024
Government expenditure, % of GDP
27.1%
2024
33%
2024
Education expenditure, % of GDP
5.85%
2023
6.02%
2024
Military expenditure, % of GDP n/a
0.7%
2024
Armed forces personnel
6,000
2000
89,000
2020
Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
-0.17%
2024
-5.79%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.28%
2024
32.3%
2024
Services, % of GDP
52.8%
2023
63%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
29.4%
2023
24.3%
2024
Economic freedom index
57.5
2026
58.6
2026
Income share by richest 10%
22.7%
2022
50.5%
2014
Income share by poorest 10%
3.6%
2022
0.9%
2014
Number of millionaires n/a
90,595
2025
Percentage of millionaires n/a
0.22%
2025
Number of billionaires n/a
7
2025
Percentage of billionaires n/a
0.00002%
2025
Listed domestic companies n/a
220
2024
Market capitalization of domestic companies n/a
$986B
2024
Total reserves including gold
$941M
2024
$65.4B
2024
Personal remittances received
$110M
2024
$855M
2024
International tourist arrivals
29,799
2020
3,886,600
2020
International tourism as share of exports
10.7%
2020
2.89%
2020
Banked people share
33.7%
2014
81.1%
2024

Energy

Bhutan South Africa
Energy use, kg of oil equivalent per capita
360 kg
2007
1,939 kg
2023
GDP PPP per kg equivalent of energy use
$15.9
2007
$7.84
2023
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions
1.59 megatons
2024
440 megatons
2024
CO2 emissions per capita
2.01 tons
2024
6.88 tons
2024
Fossil fuel energy use share
0%
2007
93.3%
2022
Renewable energy use share
82.5%
2022
9.7%
2021
Alternative and nuclear energy use share n/a
3.58%
2023
Net energy imports use share n/a
-12.5%
2023
Electric power consumption per capita n/a
3,247 kWh
2023
Renewable electricity output share
100%
2021
6.45%
2021
Hydroelectric share
100%
2021
2.91%
2023
Nuclear share
0%
2021
3.73%
2023
Electricity access
100%
2023
87.7%
2023

Society

Bhutan South Africa
% of world population
0.01%
2024
0.79%
2024
Annual migration change
+455
2025
+146,370
2025
Urban population
42.6%
2024
63.7%
2024
Male:Female ratio
53.4:46.6
2024
48.7:51.3
2024
Average male height
5.48 ft
2025
5.56 ft
2025
Average female height
5.09 ft
2025
5.2 ft
2025
Quality of life index
55.3
2026
42.1
2026
Corruption Perceptions Index
71
2025
41
2025
Higher education index n/a
81
2026
Homicides per 100K people
2.46
2020
45.5
2022
Road traffic mortality per 100K people
16.2
2019
22.2
2019
Visa free countries
63
2025
109
2025
Adult literacy rate
64.9%
2022
91.2%
2024
English speaking
75%
2025
31%
2023
People using the Internet
88.4%
2023
75.7%
2023

Health

Bhutan South Africa
Government health expenditure per capita
$162.2
2023
$537
2023
Out-of-pocket health expenditure per capita
$41.3
2023
$35.9
2023
Life expectancy
73.8 years
2026
66.7 years
2026
Foreign aid share of health expenditure
6.44%
2023
2.06%
2023
Physicians per 1,000 people
0.55
2022
0.79
2022
Maternal mortality per 100K births
47
2023
118
2023
Mortality rate before reaching 5 years of age
23.1
2023
34.7
2023
Obesity rate
12.7%
2022
31.4%
2022
Diabetes prevalence
12%
2024
7.2%
2024
Air quality index
6
2026
39
2026
Tobacco use prevalence
18.7%
2022
20.7%
2022
Pure alcohol consumption per capita
0.18 liters
2020
7.13 liters
2020

Territory

Bhutan South Africa
% of world land
0.03%
2026
0.81%
2026
Land area per capita
18,605 sq mi
2024
7,318 sq mi
2024
Agricultural land area
2,035 sq mi
2026
371,975 sq mi
2026
Forest area
10,545 sq mi
2026
65,409 sq mi
2026
Roads length
7,584 mi
2017
466,028 mi
2016

In-depth comparisons

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1950–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (2023–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  6. LivingCost (2026, retrieved 2025-10-14)
  7. World Obesity Federation (2022, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  8. Passport Index (2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  9. Transparency International (2025, retrieved 2026-02-10)
  10. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
  11. EduRank (2026, retrieved 2025-10-13)

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