Map of Bhutan | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background: After Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK -- who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century -- was named king in 1907. Three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders. In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution -- which introduced major democratic reforms -- and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be 'guided by' India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. In 2024, of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali -- predominantly Lhotshampa -- refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.


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Location

Geographic coordinates

Map reference

Area
Total: 38,394 km²
Land: 38,394 km²
Water: 0 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries
Total: 1,136 km
Border countries (2): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 13.8% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Forest: 70.6% (2023 est.)
Other: 15.6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 320 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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 (2024 est.)
Male: 457,665
Female: 426,881
Growth rate: 0.95% (2024 est.)

Nationality

Ethnic groups

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: 42.5 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 33 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 9.5 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 10.5 (2024 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

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

Air pollutants

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: 47 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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

Drinking water source
Urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 8.7% (2023 est.)

Education expenditures

Literacy

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.9% (2024 est.); 3.2% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment


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Country name

Government type

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 means 'rock,' in reference to a local deity who 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

National holiday

Constitution

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

Suffrage

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
Election/appointment process: 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
Legislature name: Parliament (Chi Tshog)
Legislative structure: bicameral

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation

Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner; the upper triangle is yellow, and the lower triangle is dark orange; centered along the dividing line is a large, stylized black-and-white dragon facing to the right; the dragon is called the Druk (Thunder Dragon) and is the national emblem

National symbols

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

National heritage


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Economy overview

Real gdp purchasing power parity

Real gdp growth rate: 4.9% (2023 est.); 5.2% (2022 est.); 4.4% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 4.9% (2023 est.); 5.2% (2022 est.); 4.4% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 59.4% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 20.3% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 44.5% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0.7% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 28.3% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -53.2% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 15% (2023 est.)
Industry: 29.6% (2023 est.)
Services: 52.7% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products

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

Industrial production growth rate: 0% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 406,500 (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 2.9% (2024 est.); 3.2% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 2.9% (2024 est.); 3.2% (2023 est.); 6% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $740.328 million (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $802.177 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: 12.3% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt

Revenue

Fiscal year

Inflation rate 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

Exports: $944.391 million (2024 est.); $867.871 million (2023 est.); $791.342 million (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: iron alloys, aircraft, dolomite, semi-finished iron, cement (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $1.513 billion (2024 est.); $1.77 billion (2023 est.); $1.581 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, gold, plastics, broadcasting equipment, iron reductions (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt external

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates


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Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 2.344 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 11.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 6 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Imports: 834.7 million kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 86.681 million kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 54 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 733,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 241,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 492,000 metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 64.082 million Btu/person (2023 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 18,000 (2023 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 752,000 (2023 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95 (2022 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet
Users percent of population: 88% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 10,000 (2023 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)


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Military expenditures

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation

Space program

Terrorist groups


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National air transport system

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports: 4 (2025)

Heliports: 8 (2025)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs