Bhutan

Kingdom of Bhutan

monarchyIndependence 8 August 1949 (from India)

Bhutan as the 1993 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 73 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

LocationSouth Asia, in the Himalayas, between China and India

Populationas each edition published it

700,000 people July 1993 est. · 1.57m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.33% 1993 est. · 0.93% in 2025

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

50.17 years 1993 est. · 73.7 yrs in 2025

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.45 children per woman 1993 est. · 5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

123.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1993 est. · 137 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$200 1991 est. · $14,600 in 2025

GDP real growth% a year

3.1% 1991 est. · 4.9% in 2025

Geography

South Asia, in the Himalayas, between China and India

14 fields

Land useshare of 47,000 km2

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%meadows and pastures 5%forest and woodland 70%other 23%irrigated 340 km2 (1989 est.)

Area

47,000km2

land area: 47,000 km2comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none; landlocked

Land boundaries

1,075km

total · China 470 km, India 605 km

Location

South Asia, in the Himalayas, between China and India

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

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

700,000

(July 1993 est.)growth rate: 2.33% (1993 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1993 est.)

Birth

39.59Death

16.26Net migration

Ethnic divisions

Bhote 50%ethnic Nepalese 35%indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Infant mortality rate

123.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population:: 50.17 years
male:: 50.74 years
female:: 49.58 years (1993 est.)

Nationality

noun:: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective:: Bhutanese

Religions

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

Languages

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

Literacy

total population:: NA%
male:: NA%
female:: NA%

Labor force

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

Government

Monarchy

21 fields

Names

conventional long form:: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form:: Bhutan

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

Other political or pressure groups

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

Suffrage

each family has one vote in village-level elections

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)

Leaders

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

Member of

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

Diplomatic representation in US

no formal diplomatic relations; the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US

US diplomatic representation

no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India)

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

18 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$200

(1991 est.)

Real growth rate

3.1%

(1991 est.)industrial production growth: growth rate NA%; accounts for 18% of GDP; primarily cottage industry and home based handicrafts

Inflation, consumer prices

10%

(FY91 est.)

External debt

$120million

(June 91)

Budget

Revenues

$112 millionExpenditures

$121 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $58 million (FY91 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. The industrial sector is small and 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 its most important natural resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to 3,000/year to minimize foreign influence.

National product

GDP - exchange rate conversion - $320 million (1991 est.)

Unemployment rate

NA%

Exports

$74 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)

commodities:: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India)
partners:: India 90%

Imports

$106.4 million (c.i.f., FY91 est.)

commodities:: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics
partners:: India 83%

Electricity

336,000 kW capacity; 1,542.2 million kWh produced, 2,203 kWh per capita (25.8% is exported to India, leaving only 1,633 kWh per capita) (1990-91)

Industries

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

Agriculture

accounts for 45% 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 products, eggs

ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 26.156 (January 1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988);
note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee