2000 Edition

Background

Under British influence a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later a treaty was signed whereby the country became a British protectorate. Independence was attained in 1949, with India subsequently guiding foreign relations and supplying aid.

Area

land

47,000 sq km

total

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

highest point

Kula Kangri 7,553 m

lowest point

Drangme Chhu 97 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

border countries

China 470 km, India 605 km

total

1,075 km

Land use

arable land

2%

forests and woodland

66%

other

26% (1993 est.)

permanent crops

0%

permanent pastures

6%

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 40% (male 417,627; female 387,927) 15-64 years: 56% (male 576,533; female 544,076) 65 years and over: 4% (male 40,081; female 38,978) (2000 est.)

Birth rate

36.22 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

14.32 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Ethnic groups

Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Infant mortality rate

110.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Languages

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Life expectancy at birth

female

51.99 years (2000 est.)

male

52.79 years

total population

52.4 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

28.1% (1995 est.)

male

56.2%

total population

42.2%

Nationality

adjective

Bhutanese

noun

Bhutanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

People - note

refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 96,500 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

Population

2,005,222

note

other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2000 est.)

Population growth rate

2.19% (2000 est.)

Religions

Lamaistic Buddhist 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

1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

5.13 children born/woman (2000 est.)

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; on 7 July 1998, a Royal edict was ratified giving the National Assembly additional powers

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; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US

consulate(s) general

New York

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms

chief of state

King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 give the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote

head of government

Foreign Minister Jigme Yoeser THINLEY (since NA June 1998)

note

there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the 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, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Judicial branch

the Supreme Court of Appeal is the monarch; High Court, judges appointed by the monarch

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)

election results

NA

elections

last held NA (next to be held NA)

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; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled)

Suffrage

each family has one vote in village-level elections

Agriculture - products

rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs

Budget

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

revenues

$146 million

Currency

1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is also legal tender

Debt - external

$120 million (1998)

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

345 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - exports

1.339 billion kWh

note

exports electricity to India (1998)

Electricity - imports

21 million kWh (1998)

Electricity - production

1.788 billion kWh (1998)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel

0.39%

hydro

99.61%

nuclear

0%

other

0% (1998)

Exchange rates

ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 43.552 (January 2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Exports

$111 million (f.o.b., 1998)

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 - $2.1 billion (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

38%

industry

37%

services

25% (1998)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,060 (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports

$136 million (c.i.f., 1998)

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)

9% (1998)

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%

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

37,000 (1997)

Telephone system

domestic

domestic telephone service is very poor with few telephones in use

international

international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)

Telephones - main lines in use

5,000 (1995)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

0 (1997)

Televisions

11,000 (1997)

Airports

2 (1999 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total

1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1999 est.)

Highways

paved

1,994 km

total

3,285 km

unpaved

1,291 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors

none

Railways

0 km

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: 491,427 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 262,316 (2000 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males

20,374 (2000 est.)

Disputes - international

over approximately 96,500 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

BOLIVIA