Bhutan

Southern Asia

Asia

A low-cost Asian country with low university tuition, but a weak passport, a very long 20-year citizenship wait and no dual citizenship.

Overall score

Moderate · 93% data coverage

Language

Dzongkha

Currency

BTN

Citizenship

15-20 years depending on route

Personal tax

Progressive, up to 25%

Cost of living

$750 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

52Residence12%

20Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

61Salary and work12%

80Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

60Taxes7%

52Business8%

49Investment5%

Daily life

25%

65Quality of life18%

53Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

61Freedom6%

70Rule of law7%

Pros

Low university tuition

Cons

A weak passport
A very long 20-year citizenship wait
No dual citizenship

Best for

Students

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

100

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Moderate

Migrant stock7.0% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality-0.09 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Low

Years required	15-20 years depending on route
Dual allowed	No
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 15-20 years depending on route; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Limited

71 / 198

Mobility

#71

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free30
On arrival39
eTA2
Visa required127

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Moderate

Output per worker$29,546 PPP (2023)

Unemployment3.2% (2025)

Participation64.8% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees

Overall$287 · $1,187 PPP (2024)

Tech (IT & comms)$299 · $1,444 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Excellent

GNI / person$18,520 PPP (2025)

Consumption / person$8,865 PPP (2023)

Price level24 (US = 100) (2025)

Income inequality28.5 Gini (2022)

Inflation3.6% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Excellent

100

Price level24 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$750 / mo (single)
Cities	Thimphu, Phuntsholing

Economy

Economic strength

Good

Output & income

GDP$3.6B (2025)

GDP / person$4,493 (2025)

GNI / person$18,520 PPP (2025)

GDP growth4.6% / yr (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation3.6% / yr (2025)

Unemployment3.2% (2025)

Output per worker$29,546 PPP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture13.7% of GDP (2025)

Industry33.2% of GDP (2025)

Services53.2% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

HydropowerTourismAgricultureForestry

Top exports

Electricity (to India)Ferro-alloysCement

Type	Lower-middle-income, hydropower- and tourism-led
Key sectors	Hydropower exports, High-value tourism, Agriculture
Summary	A small Himalayan economy built on hydropower exports to India and a deliberately high-value, low-volume tourism model.
Currency	Bhutanese ngultrum (pegged to the Indian rupee)

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Progressive, up to 25%
Corporate	Generally 25%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Progressive, up to 25%
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Low

Corporate	Generally 25%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Moderate

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality-0.09 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness0.58 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Moderate

Private credit72% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Moderate

Salary & work

Moderate

Business

Moderate

Investment

Moderate

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Excellent

100

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Excellent

Personal safety

Homicide rate2.5 per 100,000 (2020)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption1.47 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability1.35 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Moderate

Outcomes

Life expectancy73.3 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality17.2 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians0.55 per 1,000 (2022)

Hospital beds2.16 per 1,000 (2023)

Health spending$677 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Good

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure30.1 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress1.4% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Moderate

Digital infrastructure

Internet use91.3% (2024)

Internet resilience60 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed40 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed37 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access100.0% (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality2.20 / 5 (2022)

Air connectivity4,710 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Moderate

Attainment

Expected schooling13.2 years (2023)

Mean schooling5.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment13% gross (2024)

Education spending5.8% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	$2,000-7,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Dzongkha
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Good

HDI0.698 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy73.0 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling13.2 years (2023)

Mean schooling5.8 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025