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.
Geographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 1,075 km total; China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline: none--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
ElevationNatural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 5% meadows and pastures; 70% forest and woodland; 23% other
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
top of pagePopulation: 1,565,969 (July 1990), growth rate 2.0% (1990)
Nationality: noun--Bhutanese (sing., pl.; adjective--Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: 60% Bhote, 25% ethnic Nepalese, 15% indigenous or migrant tribes
Languages: Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects--most widely spoken dialect is Dzongkha (official; Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Religions: 75% Lamaistic Buddhism, 25% Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 37 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 17 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)
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
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 137 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 48 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHivaidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 5%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital: Thimphu
Administrative divisions: 3 regions and 1 division*; Central Bhutan, Eastern Bhutan, Southern Bhutan*, Western Bhutan; note--there may now be 18 districts (dzong, singular and plural) named Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdiphodrang
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: Chief of State and Head of Government--King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
Legislative branch: Royal Bhutan Army
Judicial branch: High Court
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ADB, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IMF, NAM, SAARC, UNESCO, UPU, UN, WHO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: 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
Flag 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 is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 50% of GDP. One of the world's least developed countries, rugged mountains dominate and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are its most important natural resources.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp 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, chemical products, mining, distilling, food processing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate: - 12.4% (1988 est.)
Labor force:
NA; 95% agriculture, 1%
industry and commerce; massive lack of skilled labor (1983)
Unemployment rate: NA
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $99 million; expenditures $128 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (FY89 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: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY89)
Commodities: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit
Partners: India 93%
Imports: $138.3 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.)
Commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics
Partners: India 67%
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $70.1 million (FY89 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--16.965 (January 1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611 (1986), 12.369 (1985; note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,300 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitatop of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: NA
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 1990
top of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs 
