Edition 2001 — Bhutan — World Factbook

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 note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse

Age structure

0-14 years: 39.99% (male 424,832; female 394,725) 15-64 years: 56.05% (male 591,152; female 557,498) 65 years and over: 3.96% (male 41,125; female 40,080) (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products

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

Airports

2 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) Bhutan Military

Area

total: 47,000 sq km land: 47,000 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about half the size of Indiana

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. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of these displaced persons are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. Maoist Assamese separatists from India, who have established themselves in the southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border incursions. Bhutan Geography

Birth rate

35.73 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

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

Capital

Thimphu

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)

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

Currency

ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)

Currency code

BTN; INR

Death rate

14.03 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Debt - external

$120 million (1998)

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 [1] (212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York

Disputes - international

refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 98,700 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

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 more than 90% of the population. 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

191.1 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports

1.55 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports

15 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - production

1.856 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source

fossil fuel: 0.05% hydro: 99.95% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

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

Ethnic groups

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

Exchange rates

ngultrum per US dollar - 46.540 (January 2001), 44.942 (2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee which is also legal tender

Executive branch

chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Sangay NGEDUP (since NA 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch 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

Exports

$154 million (f.o.b., 2000 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 Bhutan Communications

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 Bhutan Economy

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.3 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture: 38% industry: 37% services: 25% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

6% (2000 est.)

Geographic coordinates

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Geography - note

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

Government type

monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Highways

total: 3,285 km paved: 1,994 km unpaved: 1,291 km (1996)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

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

Imports

$269 million (c.i.f., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice

Imports - partners

India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US

Independence

8 August 1949 (from India)

Industrial production growth rate

9.3% (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Infant mortality rate

108.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7% (2000 est.)

International organization participation

AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO (observer)

Internet country code

.bt

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

NA

Internet users

500 (2000) Bhutan Transportation

Irrigated land

340 sq km (1993 est.)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch)

Labor force

NA note: massive lack of skilled labor

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%

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.)

Languages

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

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

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 52.79 years male: 53.16 years female: 52.41 years (2001 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.) Bhutan Government

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Military branches

Royal Bhutan Army, National Militia, Royal Bhutan Police, Royal Body Guards, Forest Guards (paramilitary)

Military expenditures - dollar figure

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

NA% Bhutan Transnational Issues

Military manpower - availability

males age 15-49: 504,342 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service

males age 15-49: 269,251 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually

males: 21,167 (2001 est.)

National holiday

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

Nationality

noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese

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

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

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)

Population

2,049,412 (July 2001 est.) note: other estimates range as low as 800,000

Population below poverty line

NA%

Population growth rate

2.17% (2001 est.)

Ports and harbors

none

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios

37,000 (1997)

Railways

0 km

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 (2001 est.)

Suffrage

each family has one vote in village-level elections

Telephone system

general assessment: NA 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

6,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular

NA

Television broadcast stations

0 (1997)

Televisions

11,000 (1997)

Terrain

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Total fertility rate

5.07 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Waterways