1997 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1997 (Project Gutenberg)
Geography
Area
total: 47,000 sq km land: 47,000 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative
about half the size of Indiana
Climate
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m
Environment - current issues
soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified : Law of the Sea
Geographic coordinates
27 30 N, 90 30 E
Geography - note
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Irrigated land
340 sq km (1993 est.)
Land boundaries
total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Land use
arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 6% forests and woodland: 66% other: 26% (1993 est.)
Location
Southern Asia, between China and India
Map references
Asia
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
Natural resources
timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Terrain
mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
People and Society
Age structure
0-14 years: 40% (male 387,721; female 359,857) 15-64 years: 56% (male 536,797; female 507,551) 65 years and over: 4% (male 37,249; female 36,016) (July 1997 est.)
Birth rate
37.91 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Death rate
14.94 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)
Ethnic groups
Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Infant mortality rate
114 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)
Languages
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Life expectancy at birth
total population : 51.88 years male: 52.37 years female: 51.37 years (1997 est.)
Literacy
definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
Nationality
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)
People - note
refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps
Population
1,865,191 (July 1997 est.) note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
Population growth rate
2.3% (1997 est.)
Religions
Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over : 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1997 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.27 children born/woman (1997 est.)
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
Constitution
no written constitution or bill of rights note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly
Country name
conventional long form : Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan
Data code
BT
Diplomatic representation from the US
the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
Diplomatic representation in the US
none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Ugyen TSERING; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York honorary consulate(s): San Francisco; Washington, DC
Executive branch
chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the king note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the king elections : none; the king is a hereditary monarch
Flag description
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
Government type
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Independence
8 August 1949 (from India)
International organization participation
AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Judicial branch
the Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High Court, judges appointed by the king
Legal system
based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 12 represent religious bodies, and 33 are designated by the king to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: NA
National capital
Thimphu
National holiday
National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king)
Political parties and leaders
no legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders
Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign
Suffrage
each family has one vote in village-level elections
Economy
Agriculture - products
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Budget
revenues: $52 million expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $95 million (FY93/94 est.) note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures
Currency
1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is also legal tender
Debt - external
$141 million (October 1994)
Economic aid
recipient: $NA
Economy - overview
The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 40% of GDP. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links. The industrial sector is small and technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to 4,000 per year to minimize foreign influence. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare, but growth continues to be constrained by the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Growth picked up in 1995 and the country's balance of payments remained strong with comfortable reserves. The cautious fiscal stance planned for FY95/96 suggests continued economic stability in 1996. However, excessive controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
Electricity - capacity
351,000 kW (1989)
Electricity - consumption per capita
79 kWh (1995 est.)
Electricity - production
1.67 billion kWh (1994) note: exports electricity to India
Exchange rates
ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 35.872 (January 1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
Exports
total value: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.) commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices partners: India 94%, Bangladesh
Fiscal year
1 July - 30 June
GDP
purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture: 42% industry: 31% services : 27%
GDP - per capita
purchasing power parity - $730 (1995 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
6.9% (1995 est.)
Imports
total value: $113.6 million (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.) commodities : fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
Industrial production growth rate
7.6% (1992 est.)
Industries
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
Inflation rate - consumer price index
8.6% (FY94/95 est.)
Labor force
NA by occupation : agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2% note: massive lack of skilled labor
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1990)
Radios
23,000 (1989 est.)
Telephone system
domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with very few telephones in use international : international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)
Telephones
4,620 (1991 est.)
Television broadcast stations
0 (1990 est.)
Televisions
200 (1985 est.)
Transportation
Airports
2 (1996 est.)
Airports - with paved runways
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)
Highways
total: 2,210 km paved: 0 km unpaved : 2,210 km (1995 est.)
Ports and harbors
none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia
Military expenditures - dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
NA%
Military manpower - availability
males age 15-49: 455,556 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service
males : 243,156 (1997 est.)
Military manpower - military age
18 years of age
Military manpower - reaching military age annually
males: 18,290 (1997 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
none ______________________________________________________________________ BOLIVIA