1999 Edition
CIA World Factbook 1999 (Internet Archive)
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: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 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 405,745; female 376,738) 15-64 years: 56% (male 561,754; female 530,420) 65 years and over: 4% (male 39,251; female 38,057) (1999 est.)
Birth rate
36.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate
14.26 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)
Ethnic groups
Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Infant mortality rate
109.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)
Languages
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Life expectancy at birth
total population: 52.75 years male: 53.19 years female: 52.29 years (1999 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 (1999 est.)
People--note
refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps
Population
1,951,965 (July 1999 est.) note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
Population growth rate
2.25% (1999 est.)
Religions
Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indianand 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: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate
5.16 children born/woman (1999 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
Capital
Thimphu
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
Executive branch
chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
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, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note--Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York 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)
Judicial branch
the Supreme Court of Appeal is the monarch; High Court, judges appointed by the monarch Political parties and leaders: no legal parties Political pressure groups and leaders: United Front for Democracy (exiled); Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign
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, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch 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 holiday
National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king)
Suffrage
each family has one vote in village-level elections
Economy
Agriculture--products
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Budget
revenues: $146 million expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 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
$87 million (1996)
Economic aid--recipient
$73.8 million (1995)
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 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. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare. Model education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
Electricity--consumption
246 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--exports
1.475 billion kWh (1996)
Electricity--imports
4 million kWh (1996)
Electricity--production
1.717 billion kWh (1996) note: exports electricity to India
Electricity--production by source
fossil fuel: 0.41% hydro: 99.59% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1996)
Exchange rates
ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--42.508 (January 1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994); note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
Exports
$99 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Exports--commodities
cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices
Exports--partners
India 94%, Bangladesh
Fiscal year
1 July--30 June
GDP
purchasing power parity--$1.9 billion (1998 est.)
GDP--composition by sector
agriculture: 38% industry: 38% services: 24% (1997)
GDP--per capita
purchasing power parity?$1,000 (1998 est.)
GDP--real growth rate
6.5% (1998 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports
$131 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Imports--commodities
fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
Imports--partners
India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
Industrial production growth rate
9.3% (1996 est.)
Industries
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
7.4% (1997 est.)
Labor force
NA note: massive lack of skilled labor
Labor force--by occupation
agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
Population below poverty line
NA%
Unemployment rate
NA%
Communications
Radio broadcast stations
AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
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 (1997)
Televisions
200 (1985 est.)
Transportation
Airports
2 (1998 est.) Airports--with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.) Airports--with unpaved runways: total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
Highways
total: 3,285 km paved: 1,994 km unpaved: 1,291 km (1996 est.) Ports and harbors: none
Railways
0 km
Military and Security
Military branches
Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia, Royal Police Force
Military expenditures--dollar figure
$NA
Military expenditures--percent of GDP
NA%
Military manpower--availability
males age 15-49: 477,944 (1999 est.) Military manpower--fit for military service: males age 15-49: 254,992 (1999 est.)
Military manpower--military age
18 years of age
Military manpower--reaching military age annually
males: 19,424 (1999 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes--international
with Nepal over 91,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal