Bhutan

Kingdom of Bhutan

monarchyIndependence 8 August 1949 (from India)

Bhutan as the 1999 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 104 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

1.95 million July 1999 est. · 1.57m in 1990

Population growth% a year

2.25% 1999 est. · 2.33% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 20.1 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

52.75 years 1999 est. · 50.17 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.16 children per woman 1999 est. · 5 in 1990

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

109.33 deaths per 1,000 live births 1999 est. · 137 in 1990

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

$1,000 1998 est. · $200 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

6.5% 1998 est. · 3.1% in 1993

Geography

Southern Asia, between China and India

18 fields

Land useshare of 47,000 sq km

arable land 2%permanent crops 0%permanent pastures 6%forests and woodland 66%other 26% (1993 est.)irrigated 340 sq km (1993 est.)

Area

47,000sq km

land: 47,000 sq kmwater: 0 sq kmabout half the size of Indiana

Coastline

0km

(landlocked)Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Highest point

7,553m

Kula Kangrilowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m

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

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide

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

Environment--current issues

soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Environment--international agreements

party to:: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified:: Law of the Sea

Geography--note

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

People

16 fields

Population

1,951,965

(July 1999 est.)note: other estimates range as low as 600,000growth rate: 2.25% (1999 est.)

Per 1,000 population(1999 est.)

Birth

36.76Death

14.26Net migration

Male · female

TotalMale · femaleLife expectancy years (1999 est.)52.75

53.19 · 52.29

TotalMale · femaleLiteracy (1995 est.)42.2%

56.2% · 28.1%

MaleFemaleLiteracy definition: age 15 and over can read and write

Ethnic groups

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

Age structure

0-14 years:: 40% (male 405,745; female 376,738)
15-64 years:: 56% (male 561,754; female 530,420)
65 years and over:: 4% (male 39,251; female 38,057) (1999 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:: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population:: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

Infant mortality rate

109.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 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

People--note

refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

Government

Monarchy; King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)

19 fields

Country name

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

Government 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

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

Executive branch

chief of state:: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government:: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note--the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly

note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch

elections:: none; the monarch is hereditary

unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms)

elections:: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results:: NA

Judicial branch

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

Political parties and leaders

no legal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

United Front for Democracy (exiled);
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, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in the US

none;
note--Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN;
address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US

consulate(s) general:: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

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 description

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

31 fields

GDP per capita, PPP

$1,000

purchasing power parity? · (1998 est.)

Real growth rate

6.5%

(1998 est.)industrial production growth: 9.3% (1996 est.)

Inflation, consumer prices

7.4%

(1997 est.)

Debt--external

$87million

(1996)

GDP--composition by sector(1997)

agriculture 38%industry 38%services 24% (1997)

Budget

Revenues

$146 millionExpenditures

$152 million

expenditures including capital expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.) note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures

Electricity

fossil fuel 0.41%hydro 99.59%nuclear 0% · other 0%

Electricity production

1.717 billion (1996)Electricity consumption

246 million (1996)Electricity exports

1.475 billion (1996)Electricity imports

4 million (1996)

Economy--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 40% 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 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.

The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare. Model education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions.

Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--42.508 (January 1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994);
note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Fiscal year

1 July--30 June

Communications

6 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)

Transportation

6 fields

Networkskm

Highways

3,285Railways

Highways: paved: 1,994 km · unpaved: 1,291 km (1996 est.)

Highways

total:: 3,285 km
paved:: 1,994 km
unpaved:: 1,291 km (1996 est.)

Military

Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia, | Royal Police Force

7 fields

Transnational Issues

1 field

Disputes--international

with Nepal over 91,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

Central Intelligence Agency. “Bhutan.” The World Factbook 1999. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/bhutan/1999.

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