2004 Edition

Background

In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps.

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

Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto

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

400 sq km (1998 est.)

Land boundaries

border countries

China 470 km, India 605 km

total

1,075 km

Land use

arable land

3.09%

other

96.48% (2001)

permanent crops

0.43%

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

violent storms 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: 39.3% (male 445,548; female 414,338) 15-64 years: 56.6% (male 637,637; female 600,253) 65 years and over: 4% (male 44,298; female 43,495) (2004 est.)

Birth rate

34.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Death rate

13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Ethnic groups

Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

less than 100 (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

104.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

male

100.35 deaths/1,000 live births

total

102.56 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

53.68 years (2004 est.)

male

54.27 years

total population

53.99 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

28.1% (1995 est.)

male

56.2%

total population

42.2%

Median age

female

20.3 years (2004 est.)

male

20 years

total

20.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Bhutanese

noun

Bhutanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)

Population

2,185,569

note

other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2004 est.)

Population growth rate

2.12% (2004 est.)

Religions

Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Sex ratio

15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2004 est.)

under 15 years

1.08 male(s)/female

Total fertility rate

4.87 children born/woman (2004 est.)

Administrative divisions

18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, 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

Capital

Thimphu

Constitution

no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in November 2004 presented a draft to the Council of Ministers

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Bhutan

conventional short form

Bhutan

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; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US

consulate(s) general

New York

Executive branch

in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote

Yeshey ZIMBA (since 20 August 2004)

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

cabinet

Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the

chief of state

King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)

elections

none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms

head of government

Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo

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, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court of Appeal (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)

NA 2005)

election results

NA

elections

local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held

National holiday

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

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; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.)

expenditures

$152 million, including capital expenditures of NA

note

the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of

revenues

$146 million

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 and dependence on India's financial assistance. 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. Model education, social, and environment programs 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. For example, the government in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector encourages the visits of upscale, environmentally conscientious visitors. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

Electricity - consumption

379.5 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - exports

1.4 billion kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports

16 million kWh (2001)

Electricity - production

1.896 billion kWh (2001)

Exports

$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities

electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices

Exports - partners

Bangladesh 60.5%, US 11.7%, Malaysia 5.7% (2003)

GDP

purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

45%

industry

10%

services

45% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita

purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate

7.7% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

NA

lowest 10%

NA

Imports

$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuel and lubrica

Industrial production growth rate

9.3% (1996 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

3% (2002 est.)

Labor force

NA

note

massive lack of skilled labor (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

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

Oil - consumption

1,020 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports

NA (2001)

Oil - imports

NA (2001)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line

NA

Unemployment rate

NA