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| Geography |
| Landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes. |
| Location: | Southern Asia, between China and India |
| Geographic coordinates: | 27 30 N, 90 30 E |
| Area: | total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq kmSize comparison: about half the size of Indiana |
| Land Boundaries: | total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km |
| Coastline: | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims: | none (landlocked) |
| 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 |
| Elevation extremes: | lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m |
| Natural resources: | timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate |
| Land use: | arable land: 2.3%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 97.27% (2005) |
| Irrigated land: | 400 sq km (2003) |
| Natural hazards: | violent storms 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 |
| Current Environment Issues: | soil erosion; limited access to potable water |
| International Environment Agreements: | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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| People |
| Population: | 2,327,849
note: the Factbook population estimate is inconsistent with the 2005 Bhutan census results; both data are being reviewed and when completed, the results will be posted on The World Factbook Web site (https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook) later this year (July 2007 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 38.6% (male 465,340/female 433,184)
15-64 years: 57.4% (male 688,428/female 647,134)
65 years and over: 4% (male 47,123/female 46,640) (2007 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 20.5 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 20.7 years (2007 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.082% (2007 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 33.28 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death rate: | 12.46 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.074 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.064 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.066 male(s)/female (2007 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 96.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 94.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 98.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 55.17 years
male: 55.38 years
female: 54.96 years (2007 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.67 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | less than 100 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese |
| Ethnic groups: | Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% |
| Religions: | Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% |
| Languages: | Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47%
male: 60%
female: 34% (2003 est.) |
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| Government |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
local long form: Druk Gyalkhap
local short form: Druk Yul |
| Government type: | absolute monarchy; special treaty relationship with India; note - transition to a constitutional monarchy is expected in 2008 |
| Capital: | name: Thimphu
geographic coordinates: 27 29 N, 89 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| Administrative divisions: | 20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang |
| Independence: | 8 August 1949 (from India) |
| National holiday: | National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) |
| Constitution: | none; note - a draft constitution was unveiled in March 2005 and is expected to be adopted following the election of a new National Assembly in 2008 |
| 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 Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 and his son immediately succeeded him
head of government: Prime Minister Kinzang DORJI (since August 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote; election of a new National Assembly is expected in 2008 |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 members elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; to serve three-year terms)
elections: first election to be held in 2008; note - local elections last held August 2005 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: NA |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch) |
| Political parties and leaders: | no legal parties |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled) |
| International organization participation: | AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none; note - the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998
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) |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 and his son immediately succeeded him
head of government: Prime Minister Kinzang DORJI (since August 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote; election of a new National Assembly is expected in 2008 |
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| Economy |
| The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. 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 and dependence on India's financial assistance. 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. Model education, social, and environment programs 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. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. |
| GDP (purchasing power parity): | $3.503 billion (2006 est.) |
| GDP (official exchange rate): | $840.5 million (2005 est.) |
| GDP - real growth rate: | 8.8% (2005 est.) |
| GDP - per capita (PPP): | $1,400 (2003 est.) |
| GDP - composition by sector: | agriculture: 24.7%
industry: 37.2%
services: 38.1% (2005) |
| Labor force: | NA
note: major shortage of skilled labor |
| Labor force - by occupation: | agriculture: 63%
industry: 6%
services: 31% (2004 est.) |
| Unemployment rate: | 2.5% (2004) |
| Population below poverty line: | 31.7% (2003) |
| Household income or consumption by percentage share: | lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation rate (consumer prices): | 5.5% (2005 est.) |
| Budget: | revenues: $272 million
expenditures: $350 million
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (2005) |
| Public debt: | 81.4% of GDP (2004) |
| Agriculture - products: | rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs |
| Industries: | cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism |
| Industrial production growth rate: | 9.3% (1996 est.) |
| Electricity - production: | 2 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - consumption: | 380 million kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - exports: | 1.5 billion kWh (2005) |
| Electricity - imports: | 20 million kWh (2005) |
| Oil - production: | 0 bbl/day (2004) |
| Oil - consumption: | 1,160 bbl/day (2004 est.) |
| Oil - exports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - imports: | NA bbl/day |
| Oil - proved reserves: | 0 bbl (1 January 2006) |
| Natural gas - production: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - consumption: | 0 cu m (2005 est.) |
| Natural gas - proved reserves: | 0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Exports: | $186 million f.o.b. (2005) |
| Exports - commodities: | electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices |
| Exports - partners: | India 54.5%, Hong Kong 34.6%, Bangladesh 6.9% (2006) |
| Imports: | $410 million c.i.f. (2005) |
| Imports - commodities: | fuel and lubricants, grain, aircraft, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice |
| Imports - partners: | India 76%, Japan 5.5%, Germany 3.2% (2006) |
| Debt - external: | $593 million (2004) |
| Market value of publicly traded shares: | $NA |
| Currency (code): | ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR) |
| Exchange rates: | ngultrum per US dollar - 45.279 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002)
note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee |
| Fiscal year: | 1 July - 30 June |
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| Communications |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 31,500 (2006) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 82,100 (2006) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: telecommunications facilities are poor
domestic: very low teledensity; domestic service is very poor especially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003
international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 (2005) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2006) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 1 (2006) |
| Internet country code: | .bt |
| Internet hosts: | 9,180 (2007) |
| Internet users: | 30,000 (2006) |
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| Transportation |
| Airports: | 2 (2007) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
| Roadways: | total: 8,050 km
paved: 4,991 km
unpaved: 3,059 km (2003) |
| Ports and terminals: | |
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| Military |
|
| Military branches: | Royal Bhutan Army: Royal Bodyguard, Royal Bhutan Police (2005) |
| Military service age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001) |
| Manpower available for military service: | males age 18-49: 483,860
females age 18-49: 453,683 (2005 est.) |
| Manpower fit for military service: | males age 18-49: 314,975
females age 18-49: 296,833 (2005 est.) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1% (2005 est.) |
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