2020 Edition

Background

After Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK -- who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century -- was named king 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. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders. In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution -- which introduced major democratic reforms -- and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 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. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. In 2024, of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali -- predominantly Lhotshampa -- refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.

Area

land

38,394 sq km

total

38,394 sq km

water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Maryland; 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

highest point

Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m

lowest point

Drangeme Chhu 97 m

mean elevation

2,220 m

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

320 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

border countries

China 477 km; India 659 km

total

1,136 km

Land use

agricultural land

13.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.8% (2023 est.)

forest

70.6% (2023 est.)

other

15.6% (2023 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 Bhutanese 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

Age structure

0-14 years

23.1% (male 104,771/female 99,981)

15-64 years

70.2% (male 322,497/female 298,324)

65 years and over

6.7% (2024 est.) (male 30,397/female 28,576)

Alcohol consumption per capita

beer

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

total

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

wine

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Birth rate

15.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.7% (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62% (2022 est.)

Death rate

5.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9.7 (2025 est.)

potential support ratio

10.3 (2025 est.)

total dependency ratio

42.1 (2025 est.)

youth dependency ratio

32.4 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: rural

rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure (% national budget)

22.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Ethnic groups

Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Gross reproduction rate

0.85 (2025 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

3.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Hospital bed density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

male

24.6 deaths/1,000 live births

total

23 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Languages

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

Life expectancy at birth

female

75 years

male

72.5 years

total population

73.7 years (2024 est.)

Literacy

female

57% (2022 est.)

male

73.4% (2022 est.)

total population

64.9% (2022 est.)

Major urban areas - population

203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)

Maternal mortality ratio

47 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Median age

female

30.3 years

male

31.1 years

total

31.2 years (2025 est.)

Nationality

adjective

Bhutanese

noun

Bhutanese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.4% (2016)

Physician density

0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Population

female

431,198

male

461,679

total

892,877 (2025 est.)

Population growth rate

0.93% (2025 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: rural

rural: 85.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)

improved: urban

urban: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

14 years (2022 est.)

male

12 years (2022 est.)

total

13 years (2022 est.)

Sex ratio

0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years

1.08 male(s)/female

65 years and over

1.06 male(s)/female

at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Tobacco use

female

9.8% (2025 est.)

male

26.1% (2025 est.)

total

18.5% (2025 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

urban population

44.4% of total population (2023)

Administrative divisions

20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang

Capital

etymology

the origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means "dissolve" and phu means "rock," in reference to a local deity who dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands

geographic coordinates

27 28 N, 89 38 E

name

Thimphu

time difference

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

the father must be a citizen of Bhutan

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Constitution

amendment process

proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king

history

previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008

Country name

conventional long form

Kingdom of Bhutan

conventional short form

Bhutan

etymology

name may derive from the Sanskrit words bhoṭa, the name for Tibet, and anta, meaning "end" -- a reference to Bhutan's location at the southernmost end of Tibet; the local Dzongkha name Druk Yul means "Land of the Dragon"

local long form

Druk Gyalkhap

local short form

Druk Yul

Diplomatic representation from the US

note:  Although Bhutan and the United States have never established formal diplomatic relations, the two countries maintain informal relations via the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, and Bhutan’s Mission to the United Nations in New York

Diplomatic representation in the US

consulate(s) general

343 East, 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 682-2371 FAX: [1] (212) 661-0551 email address and website: consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bt https://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/

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 terms

chief of state

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006)

election/appointment process

the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds 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 28 January 2024)

Flag

description: divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner; the upper triangle is yellow, and the lower triangle is dark orange; centered along the dividing line is a large, stylized black-and-white dragon facing to the right; the dragon is called the Druk (Thunder Dragon) and is the national emblem meaning: white stands for purity, and the jewels in the dragon's claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent the spiritual and secular powers in Bhutan, with orange standing for Buddhism and yellow for the ruling dynasty

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)

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, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Judicial branch

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices)

judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on 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

legislative structure

bicameral

legislature name

Parliament (Chi Tshog)

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

National Assembly (Tshogdu)

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

January 2029

most recent election date

1/9/2024

number of seats

47 (all directly elected)

parties elected and seats per party

People's Democratic Party (PDP) (30); Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) (17)

percentage of women in chamber

4.3%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

National Council (Gyelyong Tshogde)

electoral system

plurality/majority

expected date of next election

April 2028

most recent election date

4/20/2023

number of seats

25 (20 directly elected; 5 appointed)

parties elected and seats per party

N/A; note - the National Council is not party-based

percentage of women in chamber

12%

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

0 years

National anthem(s)

history

adopted 1953

lyrics/music

Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI

title

"Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)

National color(s)

orange, yellow

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

mythical thunder dragon (druk)

Political parties

Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT Bhutan Tendrel Party or BTP Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTT People's Democratic Party or PDP United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agricultural products

rice, milk, potatoes, root vegetables, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, carrots/turnips (2023)

Budget

expenditures

$802.177 million (2020 est.)

revenues

$740.328 million (2020 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2022

-$805.723 million (2022 est.)

Current account balance 2023

-$963.122 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance 2024

-$669.766 million (2024 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023

$2.827 billion (2023 est.)

Economic overview

hydropower investments spurring economic development; Gross National Happiness economy; sharp poverty declines; low inflation; strong monetary and fiscal policies; stable currency; fairly resilient response to COVID-19; key economic and strategic relations with India; climate vulnerabilities

Exchange rates

Currency

ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2020

74.1 (2020 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

73.918 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

78.604 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

82.599 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2024

83.669 (2024 est.)

Exports

Exports 2022

$791.342 million (2022 est.)

Exports 2023

$867.871 million (2023 est.)

Exports 2024

$944.391 million (2024 est.)

Exports - commodities

iron alloys, aircraft, dolomite, semi-finished iron, cement (2023)

Exports - partners

India 92%, Italy 4%, Indonesia 1%, China 1%, Singapore 0% (2023)

GDP - composition, by end use

exports of goods and services

28.3% (2023 est.)

government consumption

20.3% (2023 est.)

household consumption

59.4% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-53.2% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

44.5% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

15% (2023 est.)

industry

29.6% (2023 est.)

services

52.7% (2023 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.019 billion (2023 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

28.5 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

22.7% (2022 est.)

lowest 10%

3.6% (2022 est.)

Imports

Imports 2022

$1.581 billion (2022 est.)

Imports 2023

$1.77 billion (2023 est.)

Imports 2024

$1.513 billion (2024 est.)

Imports - commodities

refined petroleum, gold, plastics, broadcasting equipment, iron reductions (2023)

Imports - partners

India 82%, Singapore 8%, China 5%, Thailand 2%, Indonesia 1% (2023)

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2023 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.6% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.2% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.8% (2024 est.)

Labor force

406,500 (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.4% (2022 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2020

111% of GDP (2020 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$10.437 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$10.981 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$11.517 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.4% (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.9% (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita

Real GDP per capita 2021

$13,500 (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2022

$14,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita 2023

$14,600 (2023 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2021

2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Remittances 2022

3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances 2023

3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$825.755 million (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$654.481 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$941.018 million (2024 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

12.3% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2022

6% (2022 est.)

Unemployment rate 2023

3.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

female

16.5% (2024 est.)

male

11.2% (2024 est.)

total

13.8% (2024 est.)

Coal

consumption

105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

exports

54 metric tons (2023 est.)

imports

122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

production

4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Electricity

consumption

11.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)

exports

6 billion kWh (2020 est.)

imports

834.7 million kWh (2023 est.)

installed generating capacity

2.344 million kW (2023 est.)

transmission/distribution losses

86.681 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity access

electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity generation sources

hydroelectricity

100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023

64.082 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2023 est.)

total

10,000 (2023 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

88% (2023 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0 (2024 est.) no service

total subscriptions

0 (2024 est.) no service

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

100 (2024 est.)

total subscriptions

790,000 (2024 est.)

Airports

4 (2025)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A5

Heliports

8 (2025)

Military - note

the Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan's closest security partner is India; under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, both countries agreed to cooperate closely on issues relating to their national interests (2025)

Military and security forces

Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National Militia Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

estimated 7-8,000 active Royal Bhutan Army (2025)

Military deployments

180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the Royal Bhutan Army is lightly armed; it has a small amount of heavy equipment, such as armored cars and helicopters, originating from the former Soviet Union, India, and Thailand (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; militia training is compulsory for men aged 20-25 over a 3-year period (2025)

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

138 (2024 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions

from coal and metallurgical coke

241,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

from petroleum and other liquids

492,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

total emissions

733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Environmental issues

soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal

International environmental agreements

party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Particulate matter emissions

26.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Total renewable water resources

78 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal

agricultural

318 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

industrial

3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

municipal

17 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Waste and recycling

municipal solid waste generated annually

111,300 tons (2024 est.)

percent of municipal solid waste recycled

1.7% (2022 est.)