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This article is an import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a real Wikitravel country article according to our country article template. Please plunge forward and edit Bhutan.

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.

[edit] Geography

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

[edit] People

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.)

[edit] Government

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

[edit] Economy

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

[edit] Communications

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)

[edit] Transportation

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)

[edit] Military

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)

[edit] Transnational Issues

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