2015 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 to British India. 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 to Bhutan the areas annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations.

In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which introduced major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In early 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. Elections for seating the country's first parliament were completed in March 2008; the king ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following parliamentary elections in 2013, which routed the incumbent party. The disposition of some 23,000 Nepali Bhutanese refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s - housed in two UN refugee camps in Nepal - remains unresolved.

Area

land

38,394 sq km

total

38,394 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

about one-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

Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m

lowest point

Drangeme Chhu 97 m

Environment - current issues

soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

458 cu m/yr (2008)

total

0.34 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%)

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

319.1 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

China 477 km, India 659 km

total

1,136 km

Land use

arable land 2.6%; permanent crops 0.3%; permanent pasture 10.7%

agricultural land

13.6%

forest

85.5%

other

0.9% (2011 est.)

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 carbonate

Terrain

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Total renewable water resources

78 cu km (2011)

Age structure

0-14 years

26.76% (male 101,418/female 97,132)

15-24 years

19.68% (male 74,373/female 71,600)

25-54 years

41.6% (male 164,520/female 144,089)

55-64 years

5.85% (male 23,271/female 20,144)

65 years and over

6.12% (male 23,754/female 21,618) (2015 est.)

Birth rate

17.78 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

18% (2010 est.)

total number

25,801

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

12.8% (2010)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

65.6% (2010)

Death rate

6.69 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

7.4%

potential support ratio

13.4% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

46.9%

youth dependency ratio

39.5%

Drinking water source

urban: 100% of population

rural: 100% of population

total: 100% of population

urban: 0% of population

rural: 0% of population

total: 0% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

5.5% of GDP (2013)

Ethnic groups

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

Health expenditures

3.6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.13% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

600 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Infant mortality rate

female

35.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

male

36.27 deaths/1,000 live births

total

35.91 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

Sharchhopka 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

70.51 years (2015 est.)

male

68.56 years

total population

69.51 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

55% (2015 est.)

male

73.1%

total population

64.9%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever and malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population

THIMPHU (capital) 152,000 (2014)

Median age

female

26.1 years (2015 est.)

male

27.2 years

total

26.7 years

Nationality

adjective

Bhutanese

noun

Bhutanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.9% (2014)

Physicians density

0.26 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

741,919

note

the Factbook population estimate is consistent with the first modern census of Bhutan, conducted in 2005; previous Factbook population estimates for Bhutan, which were on the order of three times the total population reported here, were based on Bhutanese Government publications that did not include the census (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.11% (2015 est.)

Religions

Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 77.9% of population

rural: 33.1% of population

total: 50.4% of population

urban: 22.1% of population

rural: 66.9% of population

total: 49.6% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

13 years (2012)

male

13 years

total

13 years

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.04 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.14 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.16 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.1 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.09 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.97 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

female

7.2% (2012 est.)

male

7.3%

total

7.2%

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

3.69% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

38.6% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

Capital

geographic coordinates

27 28 N, 89 38 E

name

Thimphu

time difference

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous (various royal decrees); first constitution drafted November 2001 - March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008 (2011)

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Bhutan

conventional short form

Bhutan

local long form

Druk Gyalkhap

local short form

Druk Yul

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although frequent informal contact is maintained via the US embasssy in New Delhi (India) and Bhutan's Permanent Mission to the UN

Diplomatic representation in the US

none; note - the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; the permanent representative to the UN is Kunzang C. NAMGYEL (since February 2014); address: 343 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551

consulate(s) general

New York

Executive branch

cabinet

Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year tern

chief of state

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 and his son immediately succeeded him; the nearly 2-year delay between the former King's abdication and his son's coronation on 6 November 2008 was to ensure an astrologically auspicious coronation date and to give the new king, who had limited experience, deeper administrative expertise under the guidance of his father

elections/appointments

the monarchy is hereditary, but can be removed by a two-third vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch

head of government

Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since July 2013)

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; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices including the chief justice); note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier

subordinate courts

High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts

Legal system

civil law based on Buddhist religious law

Legislative branch

description

bicameral Parliament or Chi Tshog consists of the non-partisan National Council or Gyelyong Tshogde (25 seats; 20 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 members appointed by the king; members serve 4-year terms) and the National Assembly or Tshogdu (47 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

election results

National Council - independents 20; note - all candidates required to run as independents; National Assembly - first round poll held on 31 May 2013 - percent of vote by party - DPT 44.52%; PDP 32.53%; DNT 17.04%; DCT 5.9%; second round poll held on 13 July 2013 - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.88%, DPT 45.12%; seats by party - PDP 32, DPT 15

elections

National Council election last held on 23 April 2013 (next to be held in 2017); National Assembly election (first round) held on 31 May 2013; second round on 13 July 2013

National anthem

lyrics/music

Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI

name

"Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)

note

adopted 1953

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

thunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow

Political parties and leaders

Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party or BNK [Sonam TOBGAY]

Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT [Jigme THINLEY]

Druck Chirwang Tshogpa or DCT

Druk Nymrub Tshogpa or DNT

People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tshering TOBGAY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

Druk National Congress (exiled)

United Front for Democracy (exiled)

other

Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepali-Bhutanese organizations (exiled); Indian merchant community

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$614 million

note

the government of India finances nearly one-quarter of Bhutan's budget expenditures (2014 est.)

revenues

$407.1 million

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-9.9% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14% (31 December 2014 est.)

14% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

-$459 million (2014 est.)

-$553.3 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$1.707 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$1.578 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38.7 (2012)

38.1 (2007)

Economy - overview

Bhutan's economy, small and less developed, is based largely on hydropower, agriculture, and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than half of the population. Because rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive, industrial production is primarily of the cottage industry type. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and is dependent on India for financial assistance and migrant laborers for development projects, especially for road construction. Multilateral development organizations administer most educational, social, and environment programs, and take 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 visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Complicated controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Bhutan’s largest export - hydropower to India - could spur sustainable growth in the coming years if Bhutan resolves chronic delays in construction. Bhutan currently taps only 5% of its 30,000-megawatt hydropower potential and is behind schedule in building 12 new hydropower dams with a combined capacity of 10,000 megawatts by 2020 in accordance with a deal signed in 2008 with India. The high volume of imported materials to build hydropower plants has expanded Bhutan's trade and current account deficits. However, Bhutan and India in April 2014 agreed to begin four additional hydropower projects, which would generate 2,120 megawatts in total. A declining GDP growth rate in each of the past three years in the absence of new hydropower facilities has constrained Bhutan’s ability to institute economic reforms. Bhutan inked a pact in December 2014 to expand duty-free trade with Bangladesh, the only trade partner with which Bhutan enjoys a surplus.

Exchange rates

ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -

60.42 (2014 est.)

58.6 (2013 est.)

53.44 (2012 est.)

46.67 (2011 est.)

45.73 (2010 est.)

Exports

$650.3 million (2014 est.)

$352 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

electricity (to India), ferrosilicon, cement, calcium carbide, copper wire, manganese, vegetable oil

Exports - partners

India 83.8%, Hong Kong 10.8% (2013 est.)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

36.4%

government consumption

20.6%

household consumption

39%

imports of goods and services

-67.5%

investment in fixed capital

71.4%

investment in inventories

0%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

14.4%

industry

41.6%

services

44% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,600 (2014 est.)

$7,200 (2013 est.)

$6,800 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

6.4% (2014 est.)

5% (2013 est.)

6.5% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.092 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.855 billion (2014 est.)

$5.505 billion (2013 est.)

$5.245 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

22.1% of GDP (2014 est.)

28.5% of GDP (2013 est.)

26.7% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

37.6% (2003)

lowest 10%

2.3%

Imports

$980.6 million (2014 est.)

$905.3 million (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuel and lubricants, passenger cars, machinery and parts, fabrics, rice

Imports - partners

India 72.3%, South Korea 6% (2013 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

8% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

7.7% (2014 est.)

8.8% (2013 est.)

Labor force

345,800

note

major shortage of skilled labor (2013 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

56%

industry

22%

services

22% (2013 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$320 million (31 December 2013)

$283.4 million (31 December 2012)

Population below poverty line

12% (2012 est.)

Public debt

91.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

97% of GDP (2013 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.099 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$1.062 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$173.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$131.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$796.1 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$726.2 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$636 million (31 December 2014 est.)

$550.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

19.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

3.2% (2014 est.)

2.1% (2012 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

320,800 Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

1.841 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

5.625 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

0.7% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

99.3% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2013 est.)

Electricity - imports

37 million kWh (2013 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.499 million kW (2013 est.)

Electricity - production

7.55 billion kWh (2013 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,870 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,870 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Broadcast media

state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012)

Internet country code

.bt

Internet users

percent of population

27.7% (2014 est.)

total

203,100

Radio broadcast stations

AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2007)

Telephone system

domestic

low teledensity; domestic service is poor especially in rural areas; mobile-cellular service, started in 2003, is now widely available

general assessment

urban towns and district headquarters have telecommunications services

international

country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2012)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

23,800

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

86 (2014 est.)

total

628,300

Television broadcast stations

1 (2007)

Airports

2 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2013)

total

2

Airports - with unpaved runways

914 to 1,523 m

1 (2012)

total

1

Roadways

paved

2,975 km (includes 2,180 km of natonal highways)

total

10,578 km

unpaved

7,603 km (2013)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

180,349 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

202,407

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

144,861 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

157,664

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

7,095 (2010 est.)

male

7,363

Military branches

Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police) (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period (2012)

Disputes - international

lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the largest of which lie in Bhutan's northwest and along the Chumbi salient