Statistical information Bhutan 1992

Bhutan in the World
top of pageBackground: Under British influence a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later a treaty was signed whereby the country became a British protectorate. Independence was attained in 1949 with India subsequently guiding foreign relations and supplying aid.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaTotal: 47,000 km²
Land: 47,000 km²
Comparative: slightly more than half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries: 1,075 km; China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline: none - landlocked
Maritime claims: none - landlocked
Disputes: none
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
ElevationNatural 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%
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographytop of pagePopulation: 1,660,167 (July 1992), growth rate 2.3% (1992)
Nationality:
noun - Bhutanese (singular and plural); adjective -
Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: Bhote 60%, ethnic Nepalese 25%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Languages: Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects - most widely spoken dialect is Dzongkha (official; Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Religions:
Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 40 births/1000 population (1992)
Death rate: 17 deaths/1000 population (1992)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1992)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the source of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon
Current issues note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 126 deaths/1000 live births (1992)
Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 49 years female (1992)
Total fertility rate: 5.5 children born/woman (1992)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital: Thimphu
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
Dependent areasIndependence: 8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday: National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: 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)
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu)
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation:
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
Diplomatic representationFlag description
: 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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: 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.
GDP: exchange rate conversion - $320 million, per capita $200; real growth rate 3.1% (1991 est.)
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: 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
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate: growth rate NA; accounts for 18% of GDP
Labor force: NA; agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%; massive lack of skilled labor
Organized labor: not permitted
Unemployment rate: NA
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $112 million; expenditures $121 million, including capital expenditures of $58 million (FY91 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $74 million (f.o.b., FY91)
Commodoties: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit
Partners: India 93%
Imports: $106.4 million (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
Commodoties: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics
Partners: India 67%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt externalStock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 25.927 (January 1992), 22.742 (1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987; note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
top of pageElectricityProduction: 353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,280 kWh per capita (1990)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports:
2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2
with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalsBhutan - Transnational issues 1992
top of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs