Statistical information Bhutan 1999

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 pageLocation: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map reference:
AsiaAreaTotal: 47,000 km²
Land: 47,000 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: about half the size of Indiana
Land boundariesTotal: 1,075 km
Border countries: (2) China 470 km;
, India 605 kmCoastline: 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
ElevationExtremes lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
Extremes highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land useArable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Permanent pastures: 6%
Forests and woodland: 66%
Other: 26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 340 km² (1993 est.)
Major riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural 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
GeographyNote: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
top of pagePopulation: 1,951,965 (July 1999 est.)
Note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
Growth rate: 2.25% (1999 est.)
Below poverty line: NA%
NationalityNoun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Demographic profileAge structure0-14 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.)
Dependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rate: 2.25% (1999 est.)
Birth rate: 36.76 births/1000 population (1999 est.)
Death rate: 14.26 deaths/1000 population (1999 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1999 est.)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Air pollutantsSex ratioAt 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.)
Mothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 109.33 deaths/1000 live births (1999 est.)
Life expectancy at birthTotal population: 52.75 years
Male: 53.19 years
Female: 52.29 years (1999 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)
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 expendituresLiteracyDefinition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 42.2%
Male: 56.2%
Female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry nameConventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
Conventional short form: 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, 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
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections
Executive branchChief 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
Legislative branch: 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 leadersInternational 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 representationIn the us none; note Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10,017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US
In the us consulates general: New York
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
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy 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.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rate: 6.5% (1998 est.)
Real gdp per capita: purchasing power parity: $1,000 (1998 est.)
Gross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture: 38%
Industry: 38%
Services: 24% (1997)
Agriculture products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate: 9.3% (1996 est.)
Labor force: NA
Note: massive lack of skilled labor
By occupation agriculture: 93%
By occupation services: 5%
By occupation industry and commerce: 2%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty line: NA%
Gini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudgetRevenues: $146 million
Expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of $N/A (FY95/96 est.)
Note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures
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: $99 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)
Commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices
Partners: India 94%, Bangladesh
Imports: $131 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.)
Commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
Partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $87 million (1996)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: 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
top of pageElectricityProduction: 1.717 billion kWh (1996)
Production note: exports electricity to India
Production by source fossil fuel: 0.41%
Production by source hydro: 99.59%
Production by source nuclear: 0%
Production by source other: 0% (1996)
Consumption: 246 million kWh (1996)
Exports: 1.475 billion kWh (1996)
Imports: 4 million kWh (1996)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephones: 4,620 (1991 est.)
Telephone systemDomestic: 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)
Broadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresDollar figure: $NA
Percent of gdp: NA%
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupstop of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 2 (1998 est.)
With paved runways total: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1 (1998 est.)
With unpaved runways total: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 1 (1998 est.)
HeliportsPipelinesRailways: 0 km
RoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalsBhutan - Transnational issues 1999
top of pageDisputes international: with Nepal over 91,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal
Refugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs