Bhutan
Leading cause: Heart Disease · 73% plant-based · 72.1 yr life expectancy · UHC 69/100
What People Eat
Cardiovascular and dietary profile drawn from WHO Global Health Estimates. Plant-based score reflects the share of whole plant foods (grains, legumes, vegetables, fruit, nuts) in the typical national diet.
Disease Burden
Leading cause of death: Heart Disease · 188 / 100k
Bars show each rate against the global range; the tick marks the world median.
Heart disease (188/100k) leads, with a diet of red rice, chili, vegetables, and some dairy and meat. Bhutan's free public health system delivers reasonable coverage for its income, though high salt and chili-and-cheese dishes lift blood pressure.
Healthcare System
Sources: WHO UHC Service Coverage Index (SDG 3.8.1) & WHO Global Health Expenditure Database. Latest available year.
What Could Improve
- Reduce dietary salt, the main driver of the elevated stroke and heart-disease risk.
- Maintain the vegetable-rich base while moderating animal fat and processed foods.
Explore the evidence: Heart Disease
WHO Global Health Estimates · 2022 · age-standardized country data
→ 188 CVD deaths per 100k · 73% plant-based diet