Bhutan. English. |
| The World Factbook 2002 | ||
| Bhutan | 
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| Introduction | Bhutan |
| 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. 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 85,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. Maoist Assamese separatists from India, who have established themselves in the southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border incursions. |
| Geography | Bhutan |
| Location: |
Southern Asia, between China and India |
| Geographic
coordinates: |
27 30 N, 90 30 E |
| Map
references: |
Asia |
| Area: |
total: 47,000 sq
km water: 0 sq km land: 47,000 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: 2.98%
permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.59% (1998 est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
400 sq km (1998 est.) |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| People | Bhutan |
| Population: |
2,094,176 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2002 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14 years: 39.8%
(male 431,883; female 401,386) 15-64 years: 56.2% (male 606,184; female 571,310) 65 years and over: 4% (male 42,193; female 41,220) (2002 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
2.15% (2002 est.) |
| Birth
rate: |
35.26 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Death
rate: |
13.74 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
| Net
migration rate: |
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 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: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2002 est.) |
| Infant
mortality rate: |
106.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
| Life
expectancy at birth: |
total population:
53.19 years female: 52.83 years (2002 est.) male: 53.53 years |
| Total
fertility rate: |
5 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- adult prevalence rate: |
less than 0.01% (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- people living with HIV/AIDS: |
less than 100 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS
- deaths: |
NA |
| 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: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.) |
| Government | Bhutan |
| Country
name: |
conventional long form:
Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan |
| Government
type: |
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India |
| Capital: |
Thimphu |
| Administrative
divisions: |
18 districts (dzongkhag,
singular and plural); 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
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) 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 head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo Khandu WANGCHUK (since 8 August 2001) 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 |
| 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, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), 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 | Bhutan |
| Economy
- overview: |
The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, providing 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. Major hydroelectric projects will lead expansion of GDP in 2002 by an estimated 6%. |
| GDP: |
purchasing power parity - $2.5 billion (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- real growth rate: |
6% (2000 est.) |
| GDP
- per capita: |
purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2001 est.) |
| GDP
- composition by sector: |
agriculture: 45%
industry: 20% services: 35% (2001 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% |
| Unemployment
rate: |
NA% |
| 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: |
1.876 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- production by source: |
fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 100% other: 0% (2000) nuclear: 0% |
| Electricity
- consumption: |
380.68 million kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- exports: |
1.385 billion kWh (2000) |
| Electricity
- imports: |
21 million kWh (2000) |
| Agriculture
- products: |
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs |
| Exports: |
$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.) |
| Exports
- commodities: |
electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices |
| Exports
- partners: |
India 94%, Bangladesh |
| Imports: |
$196 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: |
$245 million (1998) |
| Economic
aid - recipient: |
substantial aid from India and other nations |
| Currency: |
ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR) |
| Currency
code: |
BTN; INR |
| Exchange
rates: |
ngultrum per US dollar - 48.336 (January 2002), 47.186 (2001), 44.942 (2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee which is also legal tender |
| Fiscal
year: |
1 July - 30 June |
| Communications | Bhutan |
| 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) |
| Radios: |
37,000 (1997) |
| Television
broadcast stations: |
0 (1997) |
| Televisions: |
11,000 (1997) |
| Internet
country code: |
.bt |
| Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
NA |
| Internet
users: |
2,500 (2002) |
| Transportation | Bhutan |
| Railways: |
0 km |
| Highways: |
total: 3,285 km paved: 1,994 km unpaved: 1,291 km (1996) |
| Waterways: |
none |
| Ports
and harbors: |
none |
| Airports: |
2 (2001) |
| Airports
- with paved runways: |
total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002) |
| Airports
- with unpaved runways: |
total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002) |
| Military | Bhutan |
| Military
branches: |
Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguard, National Militia, Royal Bhutan Police, Forest Guards |
| Military
manpower - military age: |
18 years of age (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - availability: |
males age 15-49: 517,470 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - fit for military service: |
males age 15-49: 276,303 (2002 est.) |
| Military
manpower - reaching military age annually: |
males: 21,167 (2002 est.) |
| Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$9.3 million (FY01) |
| Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
1.9% (FY01) |
| Transnational Issues | Bhutan |
| Disputes
- international: |
approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal, 90% of whom reside in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees camps, place decades-long strains on Nepal |
Source:
The World Factbook 2002
Last Updated: 19 March 2003
2000-2007
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