Background: 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.

Map reference: Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area
Total: 47,000 km²
Land: 47,000 km²

Land boundaries: total 1,075 km, China 470 km, India 605 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

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide, tourism potential

Land use
Arable land: 2%
Permanent crops: 0%
Meadows and pastures: 5%
Forest and woodland: 70%
Other: 23%

Irrigated land: 340 km² (1989 est.)

Population: 700,000 (July 1993 est.)
Growth rate: 2.33% (1993 est.)

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

Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Languages:
Total population: NA%
Male: NA%
Female: NA%

Religions:

Population growth rate: 2.33% (1993 est.)

Birth rate: 39.59 births/1000 population (1993 est.)

Death rate: 16.26 deaths/1000 population (1993 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1000 population (1993 est.)

Environment
Current 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

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 50.17 years
Male: 50.74 years
Female: 49.58 years (1993 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.45 children born/woman (1993 est.)

Country name
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
Conventional short form: Bhutan

Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital: Thimphu

Administrative divisions:

Independence: 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 compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 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

International organization participation:

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

Economy 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. The industrial sector is small and 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 its most important natural resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to 3,000/year to minimize foreign influence.

Real gdp growth rate: 3.1% (1991 est.)

Agriculture products: accounts for 45% 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 products, eggs

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

Industrial production growth rate: growth rate NA%; accounts for 18% of GDP; primarily cottage industry and home based handicrafts

Labor force: NA
By occupation agriculture: 93%
By occupation services: 5%
By occupation industry and commerce:

Unemployment rate: NA%

Budget: revenues $112 million; expenditures $121 million, including capital expenditures of $58 million (FY91 est.)

Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Exports: $74 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
Commodoties: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India)
Partners: India 90%

Imports: $106.4 million (c.i.f., FY91 est.)
Commodoties: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics
Partners: India 83%

Exchange rates:

Electricity
Production: 336,000 kW capacity; 1,542.2 million kWh produced, 2,203 kWh per capita (25.8% is exported to India, leaving only 1,633 kWh per capita) (1990-91)

Military expenditures
Percent of gdp: exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP

Airports: 2
Usable: 2
With runways over 3659 m: 0
With runways 2440-3659 m: 0
With runways 1220-2439 m: 2

Disputes international: none