Bhutan

monarchyIndependence 8 August 1949 (from India)

Bhutan as the 1991 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 67 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalThimphu

Area47,000 km2

Populationas each edition published it

1.6 million July 1991 · 1.57m in 1990

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.33% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 50.17 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

4.9 children per woman 1991 · 5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

135 deaths per 1,000 live births 1991 · 137 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 3.1% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Total area

47,000km2

land area: 47,000 km2Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries

1,075km total

China 470 km, India 605 km

Climate

varies;
tropical in southern plains;
cool winters and hot summers in central valleys;
severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide, tourism potential

Land use

arable land 2%;
permanent crops NEGL%;
meadows and pastures 5%;
forest and woodland 70%;
other 23%

Environment

violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the source of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon

Note

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

People

14 fields

Population

1,598,216

(July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)

Per 1,000 population(1991)

Birth

37Death

17Net migration

Ethnic divisions

Bhote 60%ethnic Nepalese 25%indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Nationality

noun--Bhutanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Bhutanese

Religion

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

Language

Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects--most widely spoken dialect is Dzongkha (official); Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Labor force

NA;
agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%;
massive lack of skilled labor

Government

Monarchy

19 fields

Type

monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

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

Constitution

no written constitution or bill of rights

Legal system

based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday

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

Executive branch

monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council, Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog)

Judicial branch

High Court Chief of State and Head of Government--King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)

Suffrage

each family has one vote in village-level elections

Other political or pressure groups

Buddhist clergy, Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign

Member of

AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation

no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India);
the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US

Flag

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner;
the upper triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red;
centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

Economy

16 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$273million

per capita $199 (1988) real growth rate 4% (1989 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

(1990 est.)

External debt

$70.1million

(FY89 est.)

Budget

Revenues

$99 millionExpenditures

$128 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $65 million (FY89 est.)

The economy, one of the world's least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 50% of GDP. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive.

The economy is closely aligned with that of India through strong trade and monetary links. Low wages in industry lead most Bhutanese to stay in agriculture. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are its most important natural resources.

Unemployment

Exports

$70.9 million (f.o.b., FY89);
commodities--cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit;
partners--India 93%

Imports

$138.3 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.);
commodities--fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics;
partners--India 67%

Industrial production

growth rate - 12.4% (1988 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP

Electricity

353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,280 kWh per capita (1990)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 50% of GDP;
based on subsistence farming and animal husbandry;
self-sufficient in food except for foodgrains;
other production--rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy, and eggs

Economic aid

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $86.0 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million

Currency

ngultrum (plural--ngultrum);
1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum;
note--Indian currency is also legal tender

Exchange rates

ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--18.329 (January 1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611 (1986), 12.369 (1985);
note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee