Bhutan

After Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK -- who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century -- was named king in 1907. Three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders. In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution -- which introduced major democratic reforms -- and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. In 2024, of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali -- predominantly Lhotshampa -- refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.

land

38,394 sq km

total

38,394 sq km

water

0 sq km

slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

0 km (landlocked)

highest point

Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m

lowest point

Drangeme Chhu 97 m

mean elevation

2,220 m

27 30 N, 90 30 E

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

320 sq km (2012)

border countries

China 477 km; India 659 km

total

1,136 km

agricultural land

13.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)

forest

85.5% (2018 est.)

other

0.9% (2018 est.)

Southern Asia, between China and India

Asia

none (landlocked)

violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

0-14 years

23.1% (male 104,771/female 99,981)

15-64 years

70.2% (male 322,497/female 298,324)

65 years and over

6.7% (2024 est.) (male 30,397/female 28,576)

beer

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

15.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

NA

4.4% of GDP (2020)

62.8% (2023 est.)

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

8.6

potential support ratio

11.1 (2021 est.)

total dependency ratio

40.7

youth dependency ratio

32.1

improved: rural

rural: 100% of population

improved: total

total: 99.8% of population

improved: urban

urban: 99.5% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 0% of population

unimproved: total

total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.5% of population

7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

0.86 (2024 est.)

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

female

23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

24.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

24.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)

Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)

female

75 years

male

72.5 years

total population

73.7 years (2024 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

62.8% (2021)

male

77.9%

total population

70.9%

203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)

60 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

female

30.3 years

male

31.1 years

total

30.7 years (2024 est.)

adjective

Bhutanese

noun

Bhutanese (singular and plural)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

6.4% (2016)

0.5 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

female

426,881 (2024 est.)

male

457,665

total

884,546

0.95% (2024 est.)

Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 83.1% of population

improved: total

total: 86.4% of population

improved: urban

urban: 90.8% of population

unimproved: rural

rural: 16.9% of population

unimproved: total

total: 13.6% of population (2020 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 9.2% of population

female

13 years (2018)

male

13 years

total

13 years

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.08 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.06 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

1.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

44.4% of total population (2023)

20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang

etymology

the origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means "dissolve" and phu denotes "high ground" to express the meaning of "dissolving high ground," in reference to a local deity that dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands

geographic coordinates

27 28 N, 89 38 E

name

Thimphu

time difference

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Bhutan

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

amendments

proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king

history

previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008

conventional long form

Kingdom of Bhutan

conventional short form

Bhutan

etymology

named after the Bhotia, the ethnic Tibetans who migrated from Tibet to Bhutan; "Bod" is the Tibetan name for their land; the Bhutanese name "Druk Yul" means "Land of the Thunder Dragon"

local long form

Druk Gyalkhap

local short form

Druk Yul

embassy

none; frequent informal contact is maintained via the US embassy in New Delhi (India) and Bhutan's Permanent Mission to the UN

chief of mission

Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Phuntsho NORBU (since October 2022); note - also serving as the Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN

consulate(s) general

343 East, 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017

email address and website

consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bthttps://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/

FAX

[1] (212) 661-0551

note

note - although Bhutan and the United States do not have diplomatic relations, the two countries established consular relations on 23 July 1986; the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Bhutan was established in New York with an officer from the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations holding dual accreditation as the Consul General with consular jurisdiction in the US

telephone

[1] (212) 682-2371

cabinet

Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms

chief of state

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006)

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024)

divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty

constitutional monarchy

17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier

subordinate courts

High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts

civil law based on Buddhist religious law

description

bicameral Parliament or Chi Tshog consists of:non-partisan National Council or Gyelyong Tshogde (25 seats; 20 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 members appointed by the king; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Tshogdu (47 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies in a two-round system; in the primary round, contesting political parties are directly selected by simple majority vote; in the main round, the two top parties in the primary round field candidates who are directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)

election results

National Council - seats by party - independent 20 (all candidates ran as independents) and 5 appointed by the king; composition - men 22, women 3, percentage women 12%National Assembly - percent of vote by party in first round - PDP 42.5%, BTP 19.6%, DPT 14.9%, DNT 13.1% DTT 9.8%; percent of vote in second round - PDP 55%, BTP 45%; seats by party PDP 30, BTP 17; composition - men 45, women 2, percentage women 4.3%; total percentage women in Parliament 6.9%

elections

National Council - last held on 20 April 2023 (next to be held in 2028)National Assembly - first round held on 30 November 2023 with a runoff on 9 January 2024 (next to be held in 2028)

lyrics/music

Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI

name

"Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)

note

note: adopted 1953

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

thunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow

Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPTBhutan Tendrel Party or BTPDruk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTTPeople's Democratic Party or PDPUnited Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT

18 years of age; universal

milk, rice, root vegetables, potatoes, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chilies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, bison milk (2022)

note

note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

expenditures

$591.697 million (2020 est.)

note

note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

revenues

$740.333 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance 2021

-$319.279 million (2021 est.)

Current account balance 2022

-$805.723 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$999.999 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Debt - external 2022

$2.514 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

hydropower investments spurring economic development; Gross National Happiness economy; sharp poverty declines; low inflation; strong monetary and fiscal policies; stable currency; fairly resilient response to COVID-19; key economic and strategic relations with India; climate vulnerabilities

Currency

ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2019

70.42 (2019 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

74.1 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

73.918 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

78.604 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

82.601 (2023 est.)

Exports 2021

$739.514 million (2021 est.)

Exports 2022

$791.342 million (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$815.05 million (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

iron alloys, dolomite, gypsum, cement, electricity (2022)

note

note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

India 88%, Italy 5%, Nepal 2%, Colombia 2%, Singapore 1% (2022)

note

note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

exports of goods and services

25.8% (2022 est.)

government consumption

21% (2022 est.)

household consumption

57.6% (2022 est.)

imports of goods and services

-60.1% (2022 est.)

investment in fixed capital

55.2% (2022 est.)

investment in inventories

0.1% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture

14.7% (2022 est.)

industry

31.8% (2022 est.)

note

note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

services

51.2% (2022 est.)

$2.898 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

28.5 (2022 est.)

note

note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

highest 10%

22.7% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

3.6% (2022 est.)

note

note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

Imports 2021

$1.027 billion (2021 est.)

Imports 2022

$1.581 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$1.754 billion (2023 est.)

note

note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

computers, refined petroleum, electrical machinery, coke, wood charcoal (2022)

note

note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

India 75%, China 12%, Indonesia 5%, Thailand 2%, Singapore 1% (2022)

note

note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

5.6% (2022 est.)

note

note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

7.35% (2021 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.64% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.23% (2023 est.)

note

note: annual % change based on consumer prices

430,000 (2023 est.)

note

note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

12.4% (2022 est.)

note

note: % of population with income below national poverty line

note

note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Public debt 2020

111.01% of GDP (2020 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020

$9.995 billion (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$10.437 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$10.981 billion (2022 est.)

note

note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real GDP growth rate 2020

-10.22% (2020 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.42% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.21% (2022 est.)

note

note: data in 2021 dollars

Real GDP per capita 2020

$12,900 (2020 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2021

$13,400 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$14,000 (2022 est.)

note

note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

Remittances 2020

3.39% of GDP (2020 est.)

Remittances 2021

2.65% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

3.31% of GDP (2022 est.)

note

note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019

$1.238 billion (2019 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020

$1.427 billion (2020 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$976.26 million (2021 est.)

12.28% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note

note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

note: % of labor force seeking employment

Unemployment rate 2021

4.8% (2021 est.)

Unemployment rate 2022

5.95% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

5.65% (2023 est.)

female

33.1% (2023 est.)

male

25.1% (2023 est.)

note

note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

total

29.2% (2023 est.)

from coal and metallurgical coke

728,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

478,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

total emissions

1.206 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

consumption

325,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

exports

100 metric tons (2022 est.)

imports

148,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

production

177,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

consumption

9.752 billion kWh (2022 est.)

exports

6 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports

834.7 million kWh (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.342 million kW (2022 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

83.626 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity

100% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Total energy consumption per capita 2022

60.788 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption

3,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0.4 (2020 est.)

total

3,189 (2020 est.)

state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012)

.bt

percent of population

86% (2021 est.)

total

670,800 (2021 est.)

domestic

approximately 3 to 100 fixed-line and 100 mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people (2021)

general assessment

the small land-locked Kingdom of Bhutan has only recently emerged from decades of isolation from the modern world; that, and its mountainous terrain, left the country far back in the field in terms of teledensity as well as access to the Internet; over the last decade, the country has undergone a significant transformation due to the opening of its borders, liberalization of its telecom sector, and the active support from the government towards increased competition in the mobile, broadband, and ISP segments; the relatively widespread availability of the mobile platform has caused an explosion in mobile broadband subscriber numbers, growing from zero to over 100% penetration in just ten years (between 2010 and 2019).; the onset of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 caused the subscription rates to drop back a little; growth is projected to return in 2022 (along with the broader mobile market) as the overall economy recovers; the government opens up more to foreign investment, trade, and tourism; and network expansion continues – the recent (December 2021) launch of 5G services by both of the country’s mobile operators being particularly noteworthy (2022)

international

country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

20,000 (2022 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

95 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions

742,000 (2022 est.)

4 (2024)

A5

8 (2024)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

690,000 (2018) mt-km

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

275,849 (2018)

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

6

number of registered air carriers

2 (2020)

total

12,205 km (2017)

urban

437 km

the Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan relies on India for military training, arms supplies, and the country’s air defense (2024)

Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National MilitiaMinistry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2024)

estimated 7-8,000 active personnel (2024)

190 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)

the Royal Bhutan Army is lightly armed; it has a small amount of heavy equipment, such as armored cars and helicopters, originating from India and Thailand (2024)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period  (2023)

note

note: in 2021, the Royal Bhutan Army graduated from a year-long training course the first batch of 150 women to be allowed to serve in combat roles; previously, women were allowed to serve in medical and other non-combat roles

announced in 2018 that it intends to establish a space agency, but has not yet done so; has a Division of Telecom and Space (DoTS) under the GovTech Agency (2024)

has a small, recently established program focused on acquiring satellites and developing the capabilities to manufacture satellites; cooperates with India and the US (2024)

note

note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

carbon dioxide emissions

1.26 megatons (2016 est.)

methane emissions

1.11 megatons (2020 est.)

particulate matter emissions

26.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

agricultural land

13.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)

forest

85.5% (2018 est.)

other

0.9% (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

1.89% of GDP (2018 est.)

78 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

agricultural

320 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

industrial

3 million cubic meters (2019 est.)

municipal

20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

44.4% of total population (2023)

municipal solid waste generated annually

111,314 tons (2007 est.)

municipal solid waste recycled annually

957 tons (2016 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

0.9% (2016 est.)