The 1996 CIA World Factbook page on Bhutan

From: The CIA'sTHE WORLD FACTBOOK 1996

[Factbook 1996 Home] [Gov Docs Home] [Libraries Home] [UM-St. Louis Home]

Bhutan

(½" Thumbnail of Flag)

Map

Location: 27 30 N, 90 30 E -- Southern Asia, between China and India

|| View GIF from CIA (21 KB) || Download TIFF from CIA (388 KB) || Download PDF from CIA (22 KB) ||

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

½" Thumbnails

|| View GIF from CIA (1 KB) |

| Download TIFF from CIA (6 KB) ||

View GIF from CIA (1 KB) || Download TIFF from CIA (6 KB)

3" Full Size

|| View GIF from CIA (20 KB) |

| Download TIFF from CIA (365 KB) ||

View GIF from CIA (20 KB) || Download TIFF from CIA (365 KB)

Geography

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
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
border countries: 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
Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

People

Population: 1,822,625 (July 1996 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 378,407; female 351,146)
15-64 years: 56% (male 524,972; female 496,715)
65 years and over: 4% (male 36,304; female 35,081) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.32% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 38.48 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 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.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 51.46 years
male: 51.96 years
female: 50.93 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.33 children born/woman (1996 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%

Government

Name of country:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
Data code: BT
Type of government: 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
note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly
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 (Druk Gyalpo): King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) is a hereditary monarch
Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde): was nominated by the king
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) was 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
International organization participation: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO
Diplomatic representation in US: none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Ugyen TSERING; 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
honorary consulate(s): San Francisco; Washington, DC
US diplomatic representation: 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: 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

Economic 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.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 6% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $730 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 8.6% (FY94/95 est.)
Labor force: NA
by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
note: massive lack of skilled labor
Unemployment rate: NA%
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
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
Industrial production growth rate: 7.6% (1992 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 360,000 kW
production: 1.7 billion kWh
consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993)
note: Bhutan exports electricity to India
Agriculture: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Exports: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)
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.)
commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
External debt: $141 million (October 1994)
Economic aid:
recipient: $NA
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); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June

Transportation

Railways: 0 km
Highways:
total: 1,296 km
paved: 416 km
unpaved: 880 km (1988 est.)
Ports: none
Airports:
total: 2
with paved runways 1 524 to 2 437 m: 1
with unpaved runways 914 to 1 523 m: 1 (1995 est.)

Communications

Telephones: 4,620 (1991 est.)
Telephone system:
domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with very 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 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1990)
Radios: 23,000 (1989 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1990 est.)
Televisions: 200 (1985 est.)

Defense

Branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 444,875
males fit for military service: 237,529
males reach military age (18) annually: 17,634 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP

Bhutan

Original publicaton at http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/nsolo/wfb-all.htm (June 17, 1997).