1991 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1991 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Climate
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Coastline
none--landlocked
Comparative area
slightly more than half the size of Indiana
Environment
violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the source of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon
Land boundaries
1,075 km total; China 470 km, India 605 km
Land use
arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and woodland 70%; other 23%
Maritime claims
none--landlocked
Natural resources
timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide, tourism potential
Note
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Terrain
mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Total area
47,000 km2; land area: 47,000 km2
People and Society
Birth rate
37 births/1,000 population (1991)
Death rate
17 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
Ethnic divisions
Bhote 60%, ethnic Nepalese 25%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Infant mortality rate
135 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
Labor force
NA; agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%; massive lack of skilled labor
Language
Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects--most widely spoken dialect is Dzongkha (official); Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Life expectancy at birth
50 years male, 48 years female (1991)
Literacy
NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
Nationality
noun--Bhutanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Bhutanese
Net migration rate
0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)
Organized labor
not permitted
Population
1,598,216 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)
Religion
Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Total fertility rate
4.9 children born/woman (1991)
Government
Administrative divisions
18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
Capital
Thimphu
Communists
no overt Communist presence
Constitution
no written constitution or bill of rights
Diplomatic representation
no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India); the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US
Elections
no national elections
Executive branch
monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council, Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog)
Flag
divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side
Independence
8 August 1949 (from India)
Judicial branch
High Court
Leaders
Chief of State and Head of Government--King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
Legal system
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu)
Long-form name
Kingdom of Bhutan
Member of
AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO
National holiday
National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Other political or pressure groups
Buddhist clergy, Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign
Political parties
no legal parties
Suffrage
each family has one vote in village-level elections
Type
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Economy
Agriculture
accounts for 50% of GDP; based on subsistence farming and animal husbandry; self-sufficient in food except for foodgrains; other production--rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy, and eggs
Budget
revenues $99 million; expenditures $128 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (FY89 est.)
Currency
ngultrum (plural--ngultrum); 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note--Indian currency is also legal tender
Economic aid
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $86.0 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million
Electricity
353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,280 kWh per capita (1990)
Exchange rates
ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--18.329 (January 1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611 (1986), 12.369 (1985); note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
Exports
$70.9 million (f.o.b., FY89); commodities--cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit; partners--India 93%
External debt
$70.1 million (FY89 est.)
Fiscal year
1 July-30 June
GDP
$273 million, per capita $199 (1988) real growth rate 4% (1989 est.)
Imports
$138.3 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.); commodities--fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics; partners--India 67%
Industrial production
growth rate - 12.4% (1988 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
Industries
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
9% (1990 est.)
Overview
The economy, one of the world's least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 50% of GDP. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with that of India through strong trade and monetary links. Low wages in industry lead most Bhutanese to stay in agriculture. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are its most important natural resources.
Unemployment
NA
Communications
Airports
2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Civil air
1 jet, 2 prop
Highways
1,304 km total; 418 km surfaced, 515 km improved, 371 km unimproved earth
Telecommunications
inadequate; 1,990 telephones (1988); 22,000 radios (1990 est.); 85 TVs (1985); stations--1 AM, 1 FM, no TV (1990)
Military and Security
Branches
Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia
Defense expenditures
$NA, NA% of GDP _%_
Manpower availability
males 15-49, 398,263; 213,083 fit for military service; 17,321 reach military age (18) annually