2011 Edition
CIA World Factbook 2011 Archive (HTML)
Introduction
Background
In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing ten-year civil war between insurgents and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. Following a nation-wide election in April 2008, the newly formed Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and abolished the monarchy at its first meeting the following month. The Constituent Assembly elected the country's first president in July. The Maoists, who received a plurality of votes in the Constituent Assembly election, formed a coalition government in August 2008, but resigned in May 2009 after the president overruled a decision to fire the chief of the army staff. The Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist and the Nepali Congress party then formed a new coalition government with several smaller parties. In November 2011, Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARI and the leaders of the main political parties signed a formal agreement to begin the process of reintegrating the former Maoist combatants. Over the next year, the Constituent Assembly is scheduled to draft a new constitution and complete the government formation process.
Geography
Area
- 147,181 sq km 143,351 sq km 3,830 sq km
- total
- 147,181 sq km
- water
- 3,830 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Arkansas
Climate
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes
- Kanchan Kalan 70 m Mount Everest 8,850 m
- highest point
- Mount Everest 8,850 m
- lowest point
- Kanchan Kalan 70 m
Environment - current issues
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Environment - international agreements
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands Marine Life Conservation
- party to
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified
- Marine Life Conservation
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
- 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%) 375 cu m/yr (2000)
- per capita
- 375 cu m/yr (2000)
- total
- 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
Geographic coordinates
28 00 N, 84 00 E
Geography - note
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the borders with China and India respectively
Irrigated land
11,680 sq km (2008)
Land boundaries
- 2,926 km China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
- border countries
- China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
- total
- 2,926 km
Land use
- 16.07% 0.85% 83.08% (2005)
- arable land
- 16.07%
- other
- 83.08% (2005)
- permanent crops
- 0.85%
Location
Southern Asia, between China and India
Map references
Asia
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Natural hazards
severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Natural resources
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Terrain
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Total renewable water resources
210.2 cu km (1999)
People and Society
Age structure
- 34.6% (male 5,177,264/female 4,983,864) 61.1% (male 8,607,338/female 9,344,537) 4.4% (male 597,628/female 681,252) (2011 est.)
- 0-14 years
- 34.6% (male 5,177,264/female 4,983,864)
- 15-64 years
- 61.1% (male 8,607,338/female 9,344,537)
- 65 years and over
- 4.4% (male 597,628/female 681,252) (2011 est.)
Birth rate
22.17 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
Children under the age of 5 years underweight
38.8% (2006)
Death rate
6.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
Drinking water source
- urban: 93% of population rural: 87% of population total: 88% of population urban: 7% of population rural: 13% of population total: 12% of population (2008)
- rural
- 13% of population
- total
- 12% of population (2008)
- urban
- 7% of population
Education expenditures
4.6% of GDP (2009)
Ethnic groups
Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)
Health expenditures
5.8% of GDP (2009)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.4% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
4,700 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
64,000 (2009 est.)
Hospital bed density
5 beds/1,000 population (2006)
Infant mortality rate
- 44.54 deaths/1,000 live births 44.54 deaths/1,000 live births 44.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
- female
- 44.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
- total
- 44.54 deaths/1,000 live births
Languages
Nepali (official) 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census) many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
- 66.16 years 64.94 years 67.44 years (2011 est.)
- female
- 67.44 years (2011 est.)
- total population
- 66.16 years
Literacy
- age 15 and over can read and write 48.6% 62.7% 34.9% (2001 census)
- definition
- age 15 and over can read and write
- female
- 34.9% (2001 census)
- male
- 62.7%
- total population
- 48.6%
Major cities - population
KATHMANDU (capital) 990,000 (2009)
Major infectious diseases
- high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever (2009)
- degree of risk
- high
- food or waterborne diseases
- bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
- vectorborne disease
- Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever (2009)
Maternal mortality rate
380 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
Median age
- 21.6 years 20.7 years 22.5 years (2011 est.)
- female
- 22.5 years (2011 est.)
- male
- 20.7 years
- total
- 21.6 years
Nationality
- Nepali (singular and plural) Nepali
- adjective
- Nepali
- noun
- Nepali (singular and plural)
Net migration rate
0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
Physicians density
0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
Population
29,391,883 (July 2011 est.)
Population growth rate
1.596% (2011 est.)
Religions
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
Sanitation facility access
- urban: 51% of population rural: 27% of population total: 31% of population urban: 49% of population rural: 73% of population total: 69% of population (2008)
- rural
- 73% of population
- total
- 69% of population (2008)
- urban
- 49% of population
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)
- 9 years 10 years 8 years (2003)
- female
- 8 years (2003)
- male
- 10 years
- total
- 9 years
Sex ratio
- 1.04 male(s)/female 1.04 male(s)/female 0.92 male(s)/female 0.88 male(s)/female 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
- 15-64 years
- 0.92 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over
- 0.88 male(s)/female
- at birth
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- total population
- 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
- under 15 years
- 1.04 male(s)/female
Total fertility rate
2.47 children born/woman (2011 est.)
Urbanization
- 19% of total population (2010) 4.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- rate of urbanization
- 4.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
- urban population
- 19% of total population (2010)
Government
Administrative divisions
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Capital
- Kathmandu 27 43 N, 85 19 E UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
- geographic coordinates
- 27 43 N, 85 19 E
- name
- Kathmandu
- time difference
- UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution
15 January 2007 (interim Constitution); note - in April 2008, a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft and promulgate a new constitution by May 2010; the fourth and final deadline extended to May 2012
Country name
- Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal Nepal Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal Nepal
- conventional long form
- Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
- conventional short form
- Nepal
- local long form
- Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal
- local short form
- Nepal
Diplomatic representation from the US
- Ambassador Scott H. DELISI Maharajgunj, Kathmandu use embassy street address [977] (1) 400-7200 [977] (1) 400-7272
- chief of mission
- Ambassador Scott H. DELISI
- embassy
- Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
- FAX
- [977] (1) 400-7272
- mailing address
- use embassy street address
- telephone
- [977] (1) 400-7200
Diplomatic representation in the US
- Ambassador Shankar Prasad SHARMA 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 [1] (202) 667-4550 [1] (202) 667-5534 New York
- chancery
- 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
- chief of mission
- Ambassador Shankar Prasad SHARMA
- consulate(s) general
- New York
- FAX
- [1] (202) 667-5534
- telephone
- [1] (202) 667-4550
Executive branch
- President Ram Baran YADAV (since 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008) Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI (since 29 August 2011); Deputy Prime Ministers Bijay Kumar GACHCHADAR (since 29 August 2011) and Narayan Kaji SHRESTHA cabinet was formed in May 2009 by a majority coalition made up of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, Nepali Congress, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Nepal-Democratic, and several smaller parties president elected by Parliament; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; election last held on 21 July 2008; date of next election NA Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008; Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282
- cabinet
- cabinet was formed in May 2009 by a majority coalition made up of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, Nepali Congress, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Nepal-Democratic, and several smaller parties
- chief of state
- President Ram Baran YADAV (since 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008)
- election results
- Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008; Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282
- elections
- president elected by Parliament; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; election last held on 21 July 2008; date of next election NA
- head of government
- Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI (since 29 August 2011); Deputy Prime Ministers Bijay Kumar GACHCHADAR (since 29 August 2011) and Narayan Kaji SHRESTHA
Flag description
red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular or square
Government type
federal democratic republic
Independence
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
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, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Judicial branch
Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (the president appoints the chief justice on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the chief justice appoints other judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)
Legal system
English common law and Hindu legal concepts
Legislative branch
- unicameral Constituent Assembly (601 seats; 240 members elected by direct popular vote, 335 by proportional representation, and 26 appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers)) last held on 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA) percent of vote by party - CPN-M 38%, NC 19%, CPN-UML 18%,Madhesi People's Right Forum 9%, other 11%; seats by party - CPN-M 229, NC 115, CPN-UML 108, Madhesi People's Rights Forum 54, Terai Madhes Democratic Party 21, other smaller parties 74; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet are included in the totals above
- election results
- percent of vote by party - CPN-M 38%, NC 19%, CPN-UML 18%,Madhesi People's Right Forum 9%, other 11%; seats by party - CPN-M 229, NC 115, CPN-UML 108, Madhesi People's Rights Forum 54, Terai Madhes Democratic Party 21, other smaller parties 74; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet are included in the totals above
- elections
- last held on 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA)
National anthem
- "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers) Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG adopted 2007; after the abolition of the monarchy in 2006, a new anthem was required because of the previous anthem's praise for the king
- lyrics/music
- Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG
- name
- "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)
National holiday
Republic Day, 29 May; Democracy Day, 24 April
National symbol(s)
rhododendron blossom
Political parties and leaders
Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Keshav Prasad MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (inactive); Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist Leninist or CPN-ML [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified [Raj Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal-United [Chandra Dev JOSHI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist or CPN-UML [Jhalanath KHANAL]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN]; Federal Democratic National Forum; Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHHADAR]; Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]; Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [Upendra GACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar Dal [Eknath DHAKAL]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party-Anandi Devi [Sarita GIRI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress or NC [Sushil KOIRALA]; Nepali Janata Dal [Harish Chandra SHA]; Newa Rastriya Party [Keshav Man SHAKYA]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]; Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party [Pashupati Shumsher RANA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA]; Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]; Terai Madhes Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]; Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA]
Political pressure groups and leaders
- several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for individual ethnic groups
- other
- several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for individual ethnic groups
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Economy
Agriculture - products
pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Budget
- $3 billion $4.6 billion (FY10)
- expenditures
- $4.6 billion (FY10)
- revenues
- $3 billion
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)
-10.1% of GDP (FY10)
Central bank discount rate
6% (31 December 2010 est.) 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)
Commercial bank prime lending rate
8% (31 December 2010 est.) 8% (31 December 2009 est.)
Current account balance
-$449 million (2010) -$227.4 million (2009)
Debt - external
$4.5 billion (2009) $3.285 billion (2008)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
47.2 (2008) 36.7 (1996)
Economy - overview
Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with almost one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for about one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.
Electricity - consumption
2.525 billion kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - exports
0 kWh (2010 est.)
Electricity - imports
70 million kWh (2008 est.)
Electricity - production
2.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)
Exchange rates
Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 72.56 (2010) 77.44 (2009) 65.21 (2008) 70.35 (2007) 72.446 (2006)
Exports
$901.9 million (2009) $837.4 million (2008)
Exports - commodities
clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, pashima, jute goods
Exports - partners
India 61.7%, US 7.5%, Germany 4.6%, Bangladesh 4.1% (2010)
GDP - composition by sector
- 32.8% 14.4% 52.8% (2010 est.)
- agriculture
- 32.8%
- industry
- 14.4%
- services
- 52.8% (2010 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,200 (2010 est.) $1,200 (2009 est.) $1,200 (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars
GDP - real growth rate
4.6% (2010 est.) 4.9% (2009 est.) 6.1% (2008 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$15.84 billion (2010 est.)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$35.81 billion (2010 est.) $34.25 billion (2009 est.) $32.66 billion (2008 est.) data are in 2010 US dollars
Household income or consumption by percentage share
- NA 40.6% (2008)
- highest 10%
- 40.6% (2008)
- lowest 10%
- NA
Imports
$5.016 billion (2009) $4.266 billion (2009 est.)
Imports - commodities
petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine
Imports - partners
India 56.2%, China 22.5% (2010)
Industrial production growth rate
1.8% (FY08)
Industries
tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
10% (2010 est.) 11.6% (2009 est.)
Investment (gross fixed)
3.5% of GDP (2020 est.)
Labor force
18 million severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
- 75% 7% 18% (2010 est.)
- agriculture
- 75%
- industry
- 7%
- services
- 18% (2010 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares
$4.843 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $5.485 billion (31 December 2009) $4.894 billion (31 December 2008)
Natural gas - consumption
0 cu m (2009 est.)
Natural gas - exports
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - imports
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - production
0 cu m (2010 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves
0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
Oil - consumption
20,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - exports
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - imports
13,740 bbl/day (2009 est.)
Oil - production
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
Oil - proved reserves
0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
Population below poverty line
24.7% (2008)
Stock of broad money
$10.34 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $8.508 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home
$NA
Stock of domestic credit
$8.069 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $6.695 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Stock of narrow money
$3.175 billion (31 December 2010 est.) $2.587 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Taxes and other revenues
18.9% of GDP (FY10)
Unemployment rate
46% (2008 est.) 42% (2004 est.)
Communications
Broadcast media
state operates 2 television stations as well as national and regional radio stations; more than 60 independent radio stations and a small number of independent television stations (2007)
Internet country code
.np
Internet hosts
43,928 (2010)
Internet users
577,800 (2009)
Telephone system
- poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone service subscribership base only about 30 per 100 persons country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)
- domestic
- combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone service subscribership base only about 30 per 100 persons
- general assessment
- poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network
- international
- country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)
Telephones - main lines in use
841,700 (2010)
Telephones - mobile cellular
9.196 million (2010)
Transportation
Airports
47 (2010)
Airports - with paved runways
- 1 (2010)
- 914 to 1,523 m
- 9
- over 3,047 m
- 1
- total
- 11
- under 914 m
- 1 (2010)
Airports - with unpaved runways
- 31 (2010)
- 1,524 to 2,437 m
- 1
- 914 to 1,523 m
- 4
- total
- 36
- under 914 m
- 31 (2010)
Railways
- 59 km 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2010)
- total
- 59 km
Roadways
- 17,282 km 10,142 km 7,140 km (2007)
- total
- 17,282 km
- unpaved
- 7,140 km (2007)
Military and Security
Manpower available for military service
- 6,941,152 7,618,397 (2010 est.)
- females age 16-49
- 7,618,397 (2010 est.)
- males age 16-49
- 6,941,152
Manpower fit for military service
- 5,260,878 5,947,512 (2010 est.)
- females age 16-49
- 5,947,512 (2010 est.)
- males age 16-49
- 5,260,878
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually
- 380,172 367,103 (2010 est.)
- female
- 367,103 (2010 est.)
- male
- 380,172
Military branches
Nepal Army (2010)
Military expenditures
1.6% of GDP (2006)
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for military training; no conscription (2011)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international
joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal since 1990
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West
Refugees and internally displaced persons
- 107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153 (Tibet/China) 50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country) (2007)
- IDPs
- 50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country) (2007)
- refugees (country of origin)
- 107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153 (Tibet/China)