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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 over 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. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne to his son,
Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK, in order to give him experience as head of
state before the democratic transition. In early 2007, India and Bhutan
renegotiated their treaty to allow Bhutan greater autonomy in conducting
its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate policy
decisions in this area with New Delhi. In July 2007, seven ministers of
Bhutan's ten-member cabinet resigned to join the political process,
leaving the remaining cabinet to act as a caretaker regime until a new
government assumes power following parliamentary elections. Bhutan will
complete its transition to full democracy in 2008, when its first fully
democratic elections to a new parliament - expected to be completed by
March 2008 - and a concomitant referendum on the draft constitution will
take place. |
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Location: |
Southern Asia, between China
and India |
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Geographic coordinates: |
27 30 N, 90 30 E |
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Map references: |
Asia |
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Area: |
total: 47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative: |
about one-half the size of
Indiana |
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Land boundaries: |
total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km |
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Coastline: |
0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims: |
none (landlocked) |
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Climate: |
varies; tropical in southern
plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters
and cool summers in Himalayas |
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Terrain: |
mostly mountainous with some
fertile valleys and savanna |
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Elevation extremes: |
lowest point: Drangme
Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m |
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Natural resources: |
timber, hydropower, gypsum,
calcium carbonate |
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Land use: |
arable land: 2.3%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 97.27% (2005) |
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Irrigated land: |
400 sq km (2003) |
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Total renewable water resources: |
95 cu km (1987) |
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Freshwater withdrawal
(domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 0.43 cu km/yr
(5%/1%/94%)
per capita: 199 cu m/yr (2000) |
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Natural hazards: |
violent storms 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 |
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Environment - current issues: |
soil erosion; limited access to
potable water |
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Environment - international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the
Sea |
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Geography - note: |
landlocked; strategic location
between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
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Population: |
682,321
note: the
Factbook population estimate is consistent with the first modern census of
Bhutan, conducted in 2005; previous Factbook population estimates for this
country, which were on the order of three times the total population
reported here, were based on Bhutanese government publications that did
not include the census (July 2008 est.) |
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Age structure: |
0-14 years: 30.8% (male
107,360/female 103,093)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 231,323/female
203,649)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 19,561/female 17,335)
(2008 est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 23.5 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 22.8 years (2008 est.)
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Population growth rate: |
1.301% (2008 est.) |
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Birth rate: |
20.56 births/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
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Death rate: |
7.54 deaths/1,000 population
(2008 est.) |
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Net migration rate: |
NA |
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Sex ratio: |
at birth: 1.05
male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64
years: 1.14 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13
male(s)/female
total population: 1.11 male(s)/female (2008
est.) |
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Infant mortality rate: |
total: 51.92
deaths/1,000 live births
male: 53.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth: |
total population: 65.53
years
male: 64.75 years
female: 66.35 years (2008
est.) |
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Total fertility rate: |
2.48 children born/woman (2008
est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 100 (1999 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths: |
NA |
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Major infectious diseases: |
degree of risk:
intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and
protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne
diseases: malaria
water contact disease: leptospirosis
(2008) |
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Nationality: |
noun: Bhutanese
(singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese |
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Ethnic groups: |
Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%
(includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous
or migrant tribes 15% |
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Religions: |
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian-
and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% |
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Languages: |
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes
speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
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Literacy: |
definition: age 15 and
over can read and write
total population: 47%
male:
60%
female: 34% (2003 est.) |
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Country name: |
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
local
long form: Druk Gyalkhap
local short form: Druk Yul |
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Government type: |
in transition to constitutional
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India |
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Capital: |
name: Thimphu
geographic coordinates: 27 29 N, 89 36 E
time
difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard
Time) |
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Administrative divisions: |
20 districts (dzongkhag,
singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug,
Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar,
Shemgang, Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
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Independence: |
1907 (became a unified kingdom
under its first hereditary king) |
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National holiday: |
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK
became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) |
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Constitution: |
none; note - a draft
constitution was unveiled in March 2005 and is expected to be adopted by
the new National Assembly in 2008 |
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Legal system: |
based on Indian law and English
common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage: |
18 years of age; universal
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Executive branch: |
chief of state: King
Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme
Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 and his son
immediately succeeded him
head of government: Prime Minister
Jigme THINLEY (since 9 April 2008)
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: the monarch is hereditary, but democratic
reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the
monarch with two-thirds vote; election of a new National Assembly occured
in March 2008; the leader of the majority party is nominated as the prime
minister |
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Legislative branch: |
new bicameral Parliament
consists of the non-partisan National Council (25 seats; 20 members
elected by each of the 20 electoral districts (dzongkhags) for four-year
terms and 5 members nominated by the King); and the National Assembly (47
seats; members elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: National Council elections last held on 31 December
2007 and 29 January 2008 (next to be held by December 2012); National
Assembly elections last held on 24 March 2008 (next to be held by March
2013)
election results: National Council - NA; National
Assembly - percent of vote by party - DPT 67%, PDP 33%; seats by party -
DPT 45, PDP 2 |
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Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court of Appeal (the
monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch); note - the draft
constitution establishes a Supreme Court, which will serve as chief court
of appeal |
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Political parties and leaders: |
Bhutan Peace and Prosperity
Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT [Jigme THINLEY]; People's Democratic
Party or PDP [Sangay NGEDUP] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders: |
Buddhist clergy; ethnic
Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian
merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled) |
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International organization participation: |
ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77,
IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer) |
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Diplomatic representation in the US: |
none; note - the Permanent
Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; address:
763 First Avenue, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 682-2268; FAX
[1] (212) 661-0551
consulate(s) general: New York |
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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) |
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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 |
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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 60% 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. 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 such as industrial licensing,
trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
Hydropower exports to India had a major impact on growth in 2007. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity): |
$3.503 billion (2006 est.)
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GDP (official exchange rate): |
$1.164 billion (2007 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate: |
8.8% (2005 est.) |
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GDP - per capita (PPP): |
$1,400 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector: |
agriculture: 24.7%
industry: 37.2%
services: 38.1% (2005) |
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Labor force: |
NA
note: major
shortage of skilled labor |
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Labor force - by occupation: |
agriculture: 63%
industry: 6%
services: 31% (2004 est.) |
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Unemployment rate: |
2.5% (2004) |
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Population below poverty line: |
31.7% (2003) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage
share: |
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
5.5% (2005 est.) |
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Budget: |
revenues: $272 million
expenditures: $350 million
note: the government of
India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (2005)
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Public debt: |
81.4% of GDP (2004) |
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Agriculture - products: |
rice, corn, root crops, citrus,
foodgrains; dairy products, eggs |
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Industries: |
cement, wood products,
processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism |
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Industrial production growth rate: |
9.3% (1996 est.) |
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Electricity - production: |
2 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 0.1%
hydro: 99.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption: |
380 million kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - exports: |
1.5 billion kWh (2005) |
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Electricity - imports: |
20 million kWh (2005) |
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Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day (2005) |
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Oil - consumption: |
1,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)
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Oil - exports: |
0 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - imports: |
1,138 bbl/day (2004) |
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Oil - proved reserves: |
0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
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Natural gas - production: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - consumption: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - exports: |
0 cu m (2005 est.) |
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Natural gas - imports: |
0 cu m (2005) |
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Natural gas - proved reserves: |
0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
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Exports: |
$350 million f.o.b. (2006)
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Exports - commodities: |
electricity (to India),
cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones,
spices |
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Exports - partners: |
India 54.5%, Hong Kong 34.6%,
Bangladesh 6.9% (2006) |
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Imports: |
$320 million c.i.f. (2006)
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Imports - commodities: |
fuel and lubricants, grain,
aircraft, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice |
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Imports - partners: |
India 76%, Japan 5.5%, Germany
3.2% (2006) |
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Economic aid - recipient: |
$90.02 million; note -
substantial aid from India (2005) |
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Debt - external: |
$593 million (2004) |
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Market value of publicly traded shares: |
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Currency (code): |
ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee
(INR) |
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Currency code: |
BTN; INR |
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Exchange rates: |
ngultrum per US dollar - 41.487
(2007), 45.279 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003)
note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee |
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Fiscal year: |
1 July - 30 June
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Telephones - main lines in use: |
31,500 (2006) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular: |
82,100 (2006) |
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Telephone system: |
general assessment:
urban towns and district headquarters have telecommunications services
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 Intelsat (2007) |
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Radio broadcast stations: |
AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2007)
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Radios: |
37,000 (1997) |
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Television broadcast stations: |
1 (2007) |
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Televisions: |
11,000 (1997) |
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Internet country code: |
.bt |
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Internet hosts: |
9,180 (2007) |
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Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
NA |
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Internet users: |
30,000 (2006) |
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Airports: |
2 (2007) |
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Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 1
1,524 to
2,437 m: 1 (2007) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 1
914 to
1,523 m: 1 (2007) |
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Roadways: |
total: 8,050 km
paved: 4,991 km
unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)
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Military branches: |
Royal Bhutan Army (includes
Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police) (2008) |
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Military service age and obligation: |
18 years of age for voluntary
military service; no conscription (2008) |
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Manpower available for military service: |
males age 16-49: 190,104
females age 16-49: 167,289 (2008 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 16-49: 146,063
females age 16-49: 131,193 (2008 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually: |
males age 16-49: 7,847
females age 16-49: 7,530 (2008 est.) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1% (2005 est.) |
| Transnational Issues |
Bhutan |
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Disputes - international: |
over 100,000 Bhutanese
Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in seven UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Refugees camps since 1990; Bhutan cooperates with India
to expel Indian Nagaland separatists; lacking any treaty describing the
boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a boundary
alignment to resolve substantial cartographic discrepancies, the largest
of which lies in Bhutan's northwest |
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