| 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. A
refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains
unresolved; 90% of these displaced persons are housed in
seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for
Refugees (UNHCR) camps. Maoist Assamese separatists from
India, who have established themselves in the southeast
portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border
incursions. |
| Location: |
Southern Asia,
between China and India |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
27 30 N, 90 30 E |
| Area: |
total:
47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
| Area
- comparative: |
about half the
size of Indiana |
| Land
boundaries: |
total:
1,075 km
border countries: 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 |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m |
| Natural
resources: |
timber,
hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide |
| Land
use: |
arable land:
2%
permanent crops: 0%
permanent pastures: 6%
forests and woodland: 66%
other: 26% (1993 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
340 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
violent storms
coming down from the Himalayas are the source of the
country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder
Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season |
| Environment
- current issues: |
soil erosion;
limited access to potable water |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
| Geography
- note: |
landlocked;
strategic location between China and India; controls several
key Himalayan mountain passes |
| Population: |
2,049,412 (July
2001 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years:
39.99% (male 424,832; female 394,725)
15-64 years: 56.05% (male 591,152; female
557,498)
65 years and over: 3.96% (male 41,125; female
40,080) (2001 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.17% (2001 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
35.73
births/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
14.03
deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2001 est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2001
est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
108.89
deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total
population: 52.79 years
male: 53.16 years
female: 52.41 years (2001 est.) |
| Total
fertility rate: |
5.07 children
born/woman (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.01%
(1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 100
(1999 est.) |
| Nationality: |
noun:
Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Bhote 50%, ethnic
Nepalese 35%, 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: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.) |
| Country
name: |
conventional
long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan |
| Government
type: |
monarchy; special
treaty relationship with India |
| Administrative
divisions: |
18 districts (dzongkhag,
singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga,
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
holiday: |
National Day (Ugyen
WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) |
| Constitution: |
no written
constitution or bill of rights; note - Bhutan uses 1953
Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly;
on 7 July 1998, a Royal edict was ratified giving the
National Assembly additional powers |
| 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 |
| Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July
1972)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of
Ministers Sangay NGEDUP (since NA 1999)
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 give the National Assembly
authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote |
| Legislative
branch: |
unicameral
National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 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: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: NA |
| Judicial
branch: |
Supreme Court of
Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the
monarch) |
| Political
parties and leaders: |
no legal parties |
| Political
pressure groups and leaders: |
Buddhist clergy;
ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant
antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United
Front for Democracy (exiled) |
| International
organization participation: |
AsDB, CP, ESCAP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO (observer) |
| Diplomatic
representation in the US: |
none; note -
Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United
Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1]
(212) 826-1919; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular
jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic
representation from the US: |
the US and Bhutan
have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal
contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy
in New Delhi (India) |
| 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 |
| Economy
- overview: |
The economy, one
of the world's smallest and least 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. 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. The Bhutanese
Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's
productive base and improving social welfare. Model
education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan 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. Detailed controls and uncertain
policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor,
and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power
parity - $2.3 billion (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
6% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power
parity - $1,100 (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture:
38%
industry: 37%
services: 25% (2000 est.) |
| Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
| Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
| Inflation
rate (consumer prices): |
7% (2000 est.) |
| Labor
force: |
NA
note: massive lack of skilled labor |
| Labor
force - by occupation: |
agriculture 93%,
services 5%, industry and commerce 2% |
| Budget: |
revenues:
$146 million
expenditures: $152 million, including capital
expenditures of $NA (FY95/96 est.)
note: the government of India finances nearly
three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures |
| Industries: |
cement, wood
products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium
carbide |
| Industrial
production growth rate: |
9.3% (1996 est.) |
| Electricity
- production: |
1.856 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel:
0.05%
hydro: 99.95%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1999) |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
191.1 million kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
1.55 billion kWh
(1999) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
15 million kWh
(1999) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
rice, corn, root
crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs |
| Exports: |
$154 million
(f.o.b., 2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
cardamom, gypsum,
timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India),
precious stones, spices |
| Exports
- partners: |
India 94%,
Bangladesh |
| Imports: |
$269 million
(c.i.f., 2000 est.) |
| Imports
- commodities: |
fuel and
lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics,
rice |
| Imports
- partners: |
India 77%, Japan,
UK, Germany, US |
| Debt
- external: |
$120 million
(1998) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
$73.8 million
(1995) |
| Currency: |
ngultrum (BTN);
Indian rupee (INR) |
| Exchange
rates: |
ngultrum per US
dollar - 46.540 (January 2001), 44.942 (2000), 43.055
(1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996); note -
the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee which
is also legal tender |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| Telephones
- main lines in use: |
6,000 (1997) |
| Telephones
- mobile cellular: |
NA |
| Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: NA
domestic: domestic telephone service is very
poor with few telephones in use
international: international telephone and
telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite
earth station was planned (1990) |
| Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 0, FM 1,
shortwave 1 (1998) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
0 (1997) |
| Televisions: |
11,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.bt |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
NA |
| Internet
users: |
500 (2000) |
| Highways: |
total:
3,285 km
paved: 1,994 km
unpaved: 1,291 km (1996) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total:
1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2000 est.) |
| Military
branches: |
Royal Bhutan
Army, National Militia, Royal Bhutan Police, Royal Body
Guards, Forest Guards (paramilitary) |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age
15-49: 504,342 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age
15-49: 269,251 (2001 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males:
21,167 (2001 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$NA |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
NA% |
| Disputes
- international: |
refugee issue
over the presence in Nepal of approximately 98,700 Bhutanese
refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of
the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps |
|
