Bhutan

Kingdom of Bhutan

monarchyIndependence 8 August 1949 (from India)

Bhutan as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 84 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

Position27 30 N, 90 30 E

Area47,000 sq km

LocationSouthern Asia, between China and India

Populationas each edition published it

1.82 million July 1996 est. · 1.57m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.32% 1996 est. · 2.33% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

51.46 years 1996 est. · 50.17 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.33 children per woman 1996 est. · 5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

116.3 deaths per 1,000 live births 1996 est. · 137 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$730 1995 est. · $200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6% 1995 est. · 3.1% in 1993

Geography

Southern Asia, between China and India

15 fields

Land useshare of 47,000 sq km

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

Area

47,000sq km

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

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Land boundaries

1,075km

border countries: 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

lowest point:: Dangme Chu 97 m
highest point:: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide

Environment

current issues:: soil erosion; limited access to potable water
natural hazards:: violent storms coming down 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
international agreements:: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

Geographic note

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

People

15 fields

Population

1,822,625

(July 1996 est.)note: other estimates range as low as 600,000growth rate: 2.32% (1996 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1996 est.)

Birth

38.48Death

15.28Net migration

Male · female(1996 est.)

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years51.46

51.96 · 50.93

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy42.2%

56.2% · 28.1%

MaleFemaleLiteracy age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

Ethnic divisions

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 40% (male 378,407; female 351,146)
15-64 years:: 56% (male 524,972; female 496,715)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 36,304; female 35,081) (July 1996 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth:: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years:: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years:: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over:: 1.04 male(s)/female
all ages:: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant mortality rate

116.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 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

Government

Monarchy

21 fields

Name of country

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

Type of government

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

National holiday

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

Constitution

no written constitution or bill of rights note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly

Legal system

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

Suffrage

each family has one vote in village-level elections

Chief of State and Head of Government (Druk Gyalpo)

King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) is a hereditary monarch

Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde)

was nominated by the king; cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) was appointed by the king

members serve for three years; seats - (150 total, 105 elected from village constituencies, 12 represent religious bodies, and 33 designated by the king to represent government and other secular interests)

Judicial branch

the Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High Court, judges appointed by the king

Political parties and leaders

no legal parties

Other political or pressure groups

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

International organization participation

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

Diplomatic representation in US

none;
note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Ugyen TSERING;
address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017;
telephone [1] (212) 826-1919;
the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US

consulate(s) general:: New York
honorary consulate(s):: San Francisco; Washington, DC

US diplomatic representation

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

Flag

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

Economy

20 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$730

(1995 est.)

Real growth rate

(1995 est.)industrial production growth: 7.6% (1992 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

8.6%

(FY94/95 est.)

External debt

$141million

(October 1994)

Budget

Revenues

$52 millionExpenditures

$150 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $95 million (FY93/94 est.) note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures

Installed generating capacity, 360,000 kW

Electricity production

1.7 billionElectricity consumption per capita

143 (1993)

Economic overview

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

The economy is closely aligned with India's 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 key resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to 4,000 per year to minimize foreign influence. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare but growth continues to be constrained by the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions.

Growth picked up in 1995 and the country's balance of payments remained strong with comfortable reserves. The cautious fiscal stance planned for FY95/96 suggests continued economic stability in 1996. However, excessive controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

GDP

purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)

GDP composition by sector

agriculture:: NA%
industry:: NA%
services:: NA%

capacity:: 360,000 kW
production:: 1.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita:: 143 kWh (1993)

note: Bhutan exports electricity to India

Agriculture

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

Exports

$70.9 million (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)

commodities:: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices
partners:: India 94%, Bangladesh

Imports

$113.6 million (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)

commodities:: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
partners:: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US

ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 35.766 (January 1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991);
note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

Transportation

4 fields

Airports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 2 in all

1 524 to 2 437 m

914 to 1 523 m

PavedUnpaved

Networkskm

Highways

1,296Railways

Highways: paved: 416 km · unpaved: 880 km (1988 est.)

Highways

total:: 1,296 km
paved:: 416 km
unpaved:: 880 km (1988 est.)

Ports

none

Communications

Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia

9 fields

Fixed lines

4,620

(1991 est.)

Telephone system

domestic:: domestic telephone service is very poor with very few telephones in use
international:: international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)

males age 15-49:: 444,875
males fit for military service:: 237,529
males reach military age (18) annually:: 17,634 (1996 est.)

Defense expenditures

$NA, NA% of GDP

Central Intelligence Agency. “Bhutan.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bhutan/1996.

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