Bhutan

GEOGRAPHY

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Area

Total area: 47,000 sq km
Land area: 47,000 sq km
Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

Land Boundaries

Total 1,075 km, China 470 km, India 605 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime Claims

None; landlocked

International Disputes

None

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
lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m
highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m

Natural Resources

Timber
Hydropower
Gypsum
Calcium carbide

Land Use

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

Irrigated Land

340 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment

Current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water
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
International agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the sea

Note: Landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

PEOPLE

Population

1,822,625 (July 1996 est.)
1,780,638 (July 1995 est.)

Note: Other estimates range as low as 600,000

Age Structure

0-14 Years

40% (male 378,407; female 351,146) (July 1996 est.)
40% (male 368,916; female 342,276) (July 1995 est.)

15-64 Years

56% (male 524,972; female 496,715) (July 1996 est.)
56% (male 513,560; female 486,258) (July 1995 est.)

65 Years and Over

4% (male 36,304; female 35,081) (July 1996 est.) 4% (male 35,413; female 34,215) (July 1995 est.)

Population Growth Rate

2.32% (1996 est.)
2.34% (1995 est.)

Birth Rate

38.48 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
39.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Death Rate

15.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
15.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)

Net Migration Rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 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: 1.04 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

Infant Mortality Rate

116.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
118.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Total population: 51.46 years (1996 est.); 51.03 years (1995 est.)
Male: 50.93 years (1996 est.); 51.56 years (1995 est.)
Female: 50.93 years (1996 est.); 50.48 years (1995 est.)

Total Fertility Rate

5.33 children born/woman (1996 est.)
5.39 children born/woman (1995 est.)

Nationality

Noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Bhutanese

Ethnic Divisions

Bhote 50%
Ethnic Nepalese 35%
Indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Religions

Lamaistic Buddhism 75%
Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Languages

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects; Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Literacy

Age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)

total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1%

Labor Force

By occupation:

Agriculture 93%
Services 5%
Industry and commerce 2%

Note: Massive lack of skilled labor

GOVERNMENT

Names

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

Digraph

Type

Monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital

Thimphu

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

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

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 and Head of Government

King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)

Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde)

Nominated by the king

Cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog); appointed by the king

Legislative Branch

Unicameral

National Assembly (Tshogdu)

Members serve for three years; seats - (150 total, 105 elected from village constituencies, 12 represent religious bodies, and 33 designated by the king to represent government and other secular interests)

Judicial Branch

The Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High Court, judges appointed by the king

Political Parties and Leaders

No legal parties

Other Political or Pressure Groups

Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign

Member of

AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

National Anthem

National anthem

Flag

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 smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about half of GDP. 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 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 key resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to 4,000 per year to minimize foreign influence. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare but growth continues to be constrained by the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Growth picked up in 1995 and the country's balance of payments remained strong with comfortable reserves. The cautious fiscal stance planned for FY95/96 suggests continued economic stability in 1996. However, excessive controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

National Product

GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.); $1.2 billion (1994 est.)

National Product Real Growth Rate

6% (1995 est.)
5% (1994 est.)

National Product Per Capita

$730 (1995 est.)
$700 (1994 est.)

Inflation Rate (consumer Prices)

8.6% (FY94/95 est.)
10% (October 1994)

Unemployment Rate

Budget

Revenues: $52 million
Expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $95 million (FY93/94 est.)

Note: The government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures

Exports

$70.9 million (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)
$66.8 million (f.o.b., FY93/94)

Commodities:

Cardamon
Gypsum
Timber
Handicrafts
Cement
Fruit
Electricity (to India)
Precious stones
Spices

Partners:

India 94%
Bangladesh

Imports

$113.6 million (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)
$97.6 million (c.i.f., FY93/94 est.)

Commodities:

Fuel and lubricants
Grain
Machinery and parts
Vehicles
Fabrics
Rice

Partners:

India 77%
Japan
U.K.
Germany
U.S.

External Debt

$141 million (October 1994)

Industrial Production

Growth rate 7.6% (1992 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP; primarily cottage industry and home based handicrafts

Electricity

Capacity: 360,000 kW
Production: 1.7 billion kWh
Consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993)

Note: Bhutan exports electricity to India

Industries

Cement
Wood products
Processed fruits
Alcoholic beverages
Calcium carbide

Agriculture

Rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy products, foodgrains, eggs

Economic Aid

Recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $115 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million

Currency

1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is also legal tender

Exchange Rates

Ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 35.766 (January 1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991), 17.504 (1990); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee