from
CIA World Factbook 2006
Bhutan
Introduction
Background: In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of
Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual
subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land to
British India. Under British influence, a monarchy was
set up 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. This role was assumed by
independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal
Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan
annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies
the country received, and defined India's
responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A
refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal
remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in
seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner
for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. In March 2005, King Jigme
Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft
constitution - which would introduce major democratic
reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for
its approval. A referendum date has yet to be named.
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic 27 30 N, 90 30 E
coordinates:
Map Asia
references:
Area: total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - about half the size of Indiana
comparative:
Land total: 1,075 km
boundaries: border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Maritime none (landlocked)
claims:
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 lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
extremes: highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
resources:
Land use: arable land: 2.3%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 97.27% (2005)
Irrigated 400 sq km (2003)
land:
Natural violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the
hazards: country's name, which translates as Land of the Thunder
Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
Environment - soil erosion; limited access to potable water
current
issues:
Environment - party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
international Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous
agreements: Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
note: controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
People
Population: 2,279,723
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July
2006 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 38.9% (male 458,801/female 426,947)
15-64 years: 57.1% (male 671,057/female 631,078)
65 years and over: 4% (male 46,217/female 45,623) (2006
est.)
Median age: total: 20.4 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 20.6 years (2006 est.)
Population 2.1% (2006 est.)
growth rate:
Birth rate: 33.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate: 12.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
rate:
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant total: 98.41 deaths/1,000 live births
mortality male: 96.14 deaths/1,000 live births
rate: female: 100.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life total population: 54.78 years
expectancy at male: 55.02 years
birth: female: 54.53 years (2006 est.)
Total 4.74 children born/woman (2006 est.)
fertility
rate:
HIV/AIDS - less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
adult
prevalence
rate:
HIV/AIDS - less than 100 (1999 est.)
people living
with HIV/AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - NA
deaths:
Nationality: noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas -
one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or
migrant tribes 15%
Religions: Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%
Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan
dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47%
male: 60%
female: 34% (2003 est.)
Government
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
local long form: Druk Gyalkhap
local short form: Druk Yul
Government monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
type:
Capital: name: Thimphu
geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 39 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington,
DC during Standard Time)
Administrative 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural);
divisions: Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha,
Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi,
Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa,
Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and
Yangtse
Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)
National National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary
holiday: king), 17 December (1907)
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in
2001, the king commissioned the drafting of a
constitution, and in March 2005 publicly unveiled it;
is awaiting national referendum
Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections;
note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new
election law
Executive chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24
branch: July 1972)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of
Ministers Sangay NGEDUP (since 5 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog)
nominated by the monarch, approved by the National
Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note -
there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde),
members nominated by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but
democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National
Assembly authority to remove the monarch with
two-thirds vote
Legislative unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105
branch: 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: local elections last held August 2005 (next
to be held in 2008)
election results: NA
Judicial Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court
branch: (judges appointed by the monarch)
Political no legal parties
parties and
leaders:
Political Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading
pressure militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant
groups and community; United Front for Democracy (exiled)
leaders:
International AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
organization IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
participation: (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTO (observer)
Diplomatic none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN;
representation address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York,
in the US: NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212)
826-2998; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular
jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations,
representation although informal contact is maintained between the
from the US: Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
Flag divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner;
description: 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
Economy
Economy - The economy, one of the world's smallest and least
overview: developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which
provide the main livelihood for more than 90% of the
population. 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 and dependence on India's financial
assistance. 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. Model education, social, and
environment programs 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. For example, the government, in its
cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages
visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious
tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in
areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and
finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
GDP $2.9 billion (2003 est.)
(purchasing
power parity):
GDP (official $840.5 million
exchange
rate):
GDP - real 5.9% (2005 est.)
growth rate:
GDP - per $1,400 (2003 est.)
capita (PPP):
GDP - agriculture: 25.8%
composition by industry: 37.9%
sector: services: 36.3% (2002 est.)
Labor force: NA
note: major shortage of skilled labor
Labor force - agriculture: 93%
by occupation: industry: 2%
services: 5%
Unemployment NA%
rate:
Population NA%
below poverty
line:
Household lowest 10%: NA%
income or highest 10%: NA%
consumption by
percentage
share:
Inflation rate 7% (2005 est.)
(consumer
prices):
Budget: revenues: $346.6 million
expenditures: including capital expenditures of $NA
note: the government of India finances nearly
three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96
est.)
Public debt: 81.4% of GDP
Agriculture - rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy
products: products, eggs
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic
beverages, calcium carbide
Industrial 9.3% (1996 est.)
production
growth rate:
Electricity - 1.882 billion kWh (2003)
production:
Electricity - fossil fuel: 0.1%
production by hydro: 99.9%
source: nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - 250.3 million kWh (2003)
consumption:
Electricity - 1.51 billion kWh (2003)
exports:
Electricity - 10 million kWh (2003)
imports:
Oil - 0 bbl/day (2003)
production:
Oil - 1,100 bbl/day (2003 est.)
consumption:
Oil - exports: NA bbl/day
Oil - imports: NA bbl/day
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
production:
Natural gas - 0 cu m (2003 est.)
consumption:
Exports: $154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber,
commodities: handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - Japan 33.2%, Germany 13.6%, France 13.5%, South Korea
partners: 7.8%, US 7.7%, Thailand 5.8%, Italy 5.1% (2005)
Imports: $196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts,
commodities: vehicles, fabrics, rice
Imports - Hong Kong 68.4%, Mexico 20.8%, France 3.9% (2005)
partners:
Debt - $593 million (2004)
external:
Economic aid - $78 million substantial aid from India and other
recipient: nations
Currency ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
(code):
Currency code: BTN; INR
Exchange ngultrum per US dollar - 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004),
rates: 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002), 47.186 (2001)
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications
Telephones - 32,700 (2005)
main lines in
use:
Telephones - 37,800 (2005)
mobile
cellular:
Telephone general assessment: telecommunications facilities are
system: poor
domestic: very low teledensity; domestic service is
very poor especially in rural areas; wireless service
available since 2003
international: country code - 975; international
telephone and telegraph service via landline and
microwave relay through India; satellite earth station
- 1 (2005)
Radio AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2006)
broadcast
stations:
Radios: 37,000 (1997)
Television 1 (2006)
broadcast
stations:
Televisions: 11,000 (1997)
Internet .bt
country code:
Internet 7,567 (2006)
hosts:
Internet NA
Service
Providers
(ISPs):
Internet 25,000 (2005)
users:
Transportation
Airports: 2 (2006)
Airports - total: 1
with paved 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
runways:
Airports - total: 1
with unpaved 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
runways:
Roadways: total: 8,050 km
paved: 4,991 km
unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)
Military
Military Royal Bhutan Army: Royal Bodyguard, Royal Bhutan Police
branches: (2005)
Military 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
service age conscription (2001)
and
obligation:
Manpower males age 18-49: 483,860
available for females age 18-49: 453,683 (2005 est.)
military
service:
Manpower fit males age 18-49: 314,975
for military females age 18-49: 296,833 (2005 est.)
service:
Manpower males age 18-49: 23,939
reaching females age 18-49: 21,979 (2005 est.)
military
service age
annually:
Military $8.29 million (2005 est.)
expenditures -
dollar figure:
Military 1% (2005 est.)
expenditures -
percent of
GDP:
Transnational
Issues
Disputes - approximately 105,000 Bhutanese have lived decades as
international: refugees in Nepal, 90% of whom reside in seven UN
Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees camps;
Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian
separatists