Map of Bhutan | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024 | More stats

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Background:


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Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 38,394 km²
Land: 38,394 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana
Country comparison total: 1,136 km
Country comparison border countries: (2) China 477 km; India 659 km

Land boundaries
Total: 1,136 km
Border countries: (2) China 477 km; India 659 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
Highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m
Lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m
Mean elevation: 2,220 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Land use
Agricultural land: 13.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 85.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 0.9% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 320 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
Agricultural: 320 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 78 billion m³ (2020 est.)

Natural hazards: violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

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


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Population
Total: 884,546
Male: 457,665
Female: 426,881 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.95% (2024 est.)
Below poverty line: 12.4% (2022 est.)
Below poverty line note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Nationality
Noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Bhutanese

Ethnic groups: Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Languages: Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)

Religions: Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 23.1% (male 104,771/female 99,981)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 322,497/female 298,324)
65 years and over: 6.7% (2024 est.) (male 30,397/female 28,576)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 40.7
Youth dependency ratio: 32.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.6
Potential support ratio: 11.1 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 30.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 31.1 years
Female: 30.3 years

Population growth rate: 0.95% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 15.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 44.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)

Environment
Current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 26.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.26 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 1.11 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth

Maternal mortality ratio: 60 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73.7 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.5 years
Female: 75 years

Total fertility rate: 1.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: NA

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 99.5% of population
Unimproved rural: 0% of population
Unimproved total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 0.5% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 90.8% of population
Improved rural: 83.1% of population
Improved total: 86.4% of population
Unimproved urban: 9.2% of population
Unimproved rural: 16.9% of population
Unimproved total: 13.6% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 6.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: NA

Education expenditures: 7% of GDP (2021 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 70.9%
Male: 77.9%
Female: 62.8% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 13 years (2018)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 29.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 25.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
Conventional short form: Bhutan
Local long form: Druk Gyalkhap
Local short form: Druk Yul
Etymology: named after the Bhotia, the ethnic Tibetans who migrated from Tibet to Bhutan; 'Bod' is the Tibetan name for their land; the Bhutanese name 'Druk Yul' means 'Land of the Thunder Dragon'

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Capital
Name: Thimphu
Geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 38 E
Time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means 'dissolve' and phu denotes 'high ground' to express the meaning of 'dissolving high ground', in reference to a local deity that dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands

Administrative divisions: 20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang

Dependent areas

Independence: 17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)

National holiday: National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

Constitution
History: previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008
Amendments: proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king

Legal system: civil law based on Buddhist religious law

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bhutan
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006)
Head of government: Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Parliament or Chi Tshog consists of: non-partisan National Council or Gyelyong Tshogde (25 seats; 20 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 members appointed by the king; members serve 5-year terms), National Assembly or Tshogdu (47 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies in a two-round system; in the primary round, contesting political parties are directly selected by simple majority vote; in the main round, the two top parties in the primary round field candidates who are directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: National Council - last held on 20 April 2023 (next to be held in 2,028), National Assembly - first round held on 30 November 2023 with a runoff on 9 January 2024 (next to be held in 2,028)
Elections results: National Council - seats by party - independent 20 (all candidates ran as independents) and 5 appointed by the king; composition - men 22, women 3, percentage women 12%, National Assembly - percent of vote by party in first round - PDP 42.5%, BTP 19.6%, DPT 14.9%, DNT 13.1% DTT 9.8%; percent of vote in second round - PDP 55%, BTP 45%; seats by party PDP 30, BTP 17; composition - men 45, women 2, percentage women 4.3%; total percentage women in Parliament 6.9%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices)
Note: the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier
Subordinate courts: High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts

Political parties and leaders: Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT, Bhutan Tendrel Party or BTP, Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTT, People's Democratic Party or PDP, United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT

International organization participation: ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Phuntsho NORBU (since October 2022)
In the us note: although Bhutan and the United States do not have diplomatic relations, the two countries established consular relations on 23 July 1986; the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Bhutan was established in New York with an officer from the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations holding dual accreditation as the Consul General with consular jurisdiction in the US
In the us telephone: [1] (212) 682-2,371
In the us fax: [1] (212) 661-0551
In the us email address and website: consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bt; [link]
In the us consulates general: 343 East, 43rd Street, New York, NY 10,017
From the us embassy: none; frequent informal contact is maintained via the US embassy in New Delhi (India) and Bhutan's Permanent Mission to the UN

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; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty

National symbols: thunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow

National anthem
Name: 'Druk tsendhen' (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)
Lyrics/music: Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI
Note: adopted 1953

National heritage


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Economy overview: hydropower investments spurring economic development; Gross National Happiness economy; sharp poverty declines; low inflation; strong monetary and fiscal policies; stable currency; fairly resilient response to COVID-19; key economic and strategic relations with India; climate vulnerabilities

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $10.981 billion (2022 est.); $10.437 billion (2021 est.); $9.995 billion (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 5.21% (2022 est.); 4.42% (2021 est.); -10.22% (2020 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $14,000 (2022 est.); $13,400 (2021 est.); $12,900 (2020 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 57.6% (2022 est.)
Government consumption: 21% (2022 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 55.2% (2022 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.1% (2022 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 25.8% (2022 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -60.1% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 14.7% (2022 est.)
Industry: 31.8% (2022 est.)
Services: 51.2% (2022 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: milk, rice, root vegetables, potatoes, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chilies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, bison milk (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism

Industrial production growth rate: 5.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 430,000 (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 5.65% (2023 est.); 5.95% (2022 est.); 4.8% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 29.2% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 25.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 33.1% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line: 12.4% (2022 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $740.333 million (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $591.697 million (2020 est.)
Note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 12.28% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 111.01% of GDP (2020 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Revenue
From forest resources: 1.89% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 4.23% (2023 est.); 5.64% (2022 est.); 7.35% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: -$999.999 million (2023 est.); -$805.723 million (2022 est.); -$319.279 million (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $815.05 million (2023 est.); $791.342 million (2022 est.); $739.514 million (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: India 88%, Italy 5%, Nepal 2%, Colombia 2%, Singapore 1% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: iron alloys, dolomite, gypsum, cement, electricity (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $1.754 billion (2023 est.); $1.581 billion (2022 est.); $1.027 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: India 75%, China 12%, Indonesia 5%, Thailand 2%, Singapore 1% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: computers, refined petroleum, electrical machinery, coke, wood charcoal (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $976.26 million (2021 est.); $1.427 billion (2020 est.); $1.238 billion (2019 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $2.514 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Installed generating capacity: 2.342 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 9.752 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 6 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 834.7 million kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 83.626 million kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 100% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Production: 177,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 325,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Exports: 100 metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 148,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.206 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 728,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 478,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 60.788 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 20,000 (2022 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 742,000 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces: Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National Militia; Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2024)

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period (2023)
Note: in 2021, the Royal Bhutan Army graduated from a year-long training course the first batch of 150 women to be allowed to serve in combat roles; previously, women were allowed to serve in medical and other non-combat roles

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 275,849 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 690,000 (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: A5

Airports: 4 (2024)

Heliports: 8 (2024)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 12,205 km (2017)
Urban: 437 km

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs