Bhutan

Broadcast media

state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012)

Internet country code

.bt

Internet hosts

14,590 (2012) country comparison to the world: 126

Internet users

50,000 (2009) country comparison to the world: 174

Telephone system

general assessment: urban towns and district headquarters have telecommunications services domestic: low teledensity; domestic service is poor especially in rural areas; mobile-cellular service, started in 2003, is now widely available international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2012)

Telephones - main lines in use

27,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 179

Telephones - mobile cellular

560,000 (2012) country comparison to the world: 165

Agriculture - products

rice, corn, root crops, citrus; dairy products, eggs

Budget

revenues: $588.2 million expenditures: $639.5 million note: the government of India finances nearly one-quarter of Bhutan's budget expenditures (2013 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-2.4% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Central bank discount rate

NA%

Commercial bank prime lending rate

14% (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 50 14% (31 December 2012 est.)

Current account balance

$401.5 million (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 53 -$311.6 million (2012 est.)

Debt - external

$1.275 billion (2011) country comparison to the world: 155 $836 million (2009)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

38.7 country comparison to the world: 70 38.1

Economy - overview

Bhutan's economy, small and less developed, is based largely on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than half of the population. Because rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive, industrial production is primarily of the cottage industry type. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and is dependent on India for financial assistance and migrant laborers for development projects, especially for road construction. Multilateral development organizations administer most educational, social, and environment programs, and take 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. Complicated controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Bhutan’s largest export - hydropower to India - is creating employment and will probably sustain growth in the coming years. Only 5% of Bhutan’s 30,000 megawatt hydropower potential is currently tapped. The large amount of equipment needed to import materials to build hydropower plants has expanded Bhutan's trade and current account deficits. Bhutan’s GDP has rebounded strongly since the global recession began in 2008. Bhutan hopes to play a larger role in regional economic integration as a member of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.

Exchange rates

ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar - 56.61 (2013 est.) 53.44 (2012 est.) 45.73 (2010 est.) 46.68 (2009 est.) 43.51 (2008 est.)

Exports

$721.8 million (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 $662.2 million (2011 est.)

Exports - commodities

electricity (to India), ferrosilicon, cement, calcium carbide, copper wire, manganese, vegetable oil

Exports - partners

India 83.8%, Hong Kong 10.8% (2013 est.)

Fiscal year

1 July - 30 June

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.133 billion (2013 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$5.235 billion (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 170 $4.947 billion (2012 est.) $4.529 billion (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 37.9% government consumption: 21.3% investment in fixed capital: 64% investment in inventories: -0.1% exports of goods and services: 28.6% imports of goods and services: -51.7% (2013 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 13.8% industry: 41.2% services: 45% (2013 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$7,000 (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 142 $6,700 (2012 est.) $6,100 (2011 est.) note: data are in 2013 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.8% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 39 9.2% (2012 est.) 8.5% (2011 est.)

Gross national saving

29.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 29 29.1% of GDP (2012 est.) 29.2% of GDP (2011 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 2.3% highest 10%: 37.6% (2003)

Imports

$1.28 billion (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 175 $1.185 billion (2011 est.)

Imports - commodities

fuel and lubricants, passenger cars, machinery and parts, fabrics, rice

Imports - partners

India 72.3%, South Korea 6% (2013 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

7% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 35

Industries

cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

11% (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 210 10.9% (2012 est.)

Labor force

336,400 country comparison to the world: 162 note: major shortage of skilled labor (2012)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 62% industry: 19% services: 19% (2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$NA country comparison to the world: 104 $283.4 million

Population below poverty line

12% (2012)

Public debt

38.9% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 93 44.1% of GDP (2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.099 billion (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 167 $1.062 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$63.5 million country comparison to the world: 108

Stock of domestic credit

$915 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 155 $874.4 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$224.9 million (31 December 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 174 $191.9 million (31 December 2012 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

27.6% of GDP (2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Unemployment rate

2.1% (2013) country comparison to the world: 17 4% (2009)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

335,700 Mt (2011 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 91

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 165

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 157

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 111

Electricity - consumption

1.68 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 144

Electricity - exports

5.4 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 27

Electricity - from fossil fuels

1.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 205

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

98.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 6

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 56

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 161

Electricity - imports

20 million kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 105

Electricity - installed generating capacity

1.505 million kW (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 116

Electricity - production

7.23 billion kWh (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 125

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 166

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2013 est.) country comparison to the world: 118

Refined petroleum products - consumption

1,719 bbl/day (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 193

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 158

Refined petroleum products - imports

1,998 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 181

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 126

Area

total: 38,394 sq km country comparison to the world: 137 land: 38,394 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative

about one-half the size of Indiana

Climate

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m

Environment - current issues

soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Environment - international agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 0.34 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%) per capita: 458 cu m/yr (2008)

Geographic coordinates

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Geography - note

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

Irrigated land

319.1 sq km (2010)

Land boundaries

total: 1,136 km border countries: China 477 km, India 659 km

Land use

arable land: 2.49% permanent crops: 0.46% other: 97.06% (2011)

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

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

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Terrain

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Total renewable water resources

78 cu km (2011)

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

Capital

name: Thimphu geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 38 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Constitution

previous (various royal decrees); first constitution drafted November 2001 - March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008 (2011)

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan local long form: Druk Gyalkhap local short form: Druk Yul

Diplomatic representation from the US

the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although frequent informal contact is maintained via the US embasssy in New Delhi (India) and Bhutan's Permanent Mission to the UN

Diplomatic representation in the US

none; note - the Permanent Mission to the UN for Bhutan has consular jurisdiction in the US; the permanent representative to the UN is Kunzang C. NAMGYEL (since February 2014); address: 343 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 682-2268; FAX [1] (212) 661-0551 consulate(s) general: New York

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; the nearly two-year delay between the former King's abdication and his son's coronation on 6 November 2008 was to ensure an astrologically auspicious coronation date and to give the new king, who had limited experience, deeper administrative expertise under the guidance of his father head of government: Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since July 2013) cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Zhungtshog) nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; the leader of the majority party is nominated as the prime minister (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: the monarchy is hereditary, but the 2008 constitution grants the Parliament authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote; election of a National Assembly last occurred in July 2013, resulting in the transfer of power to the former opposition party

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; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty

Government type

constitutional monarchy

Independence

1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)

International law organization participation

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

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)

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 5 justices including the chief justice ) note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the four other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier subordinate courts: High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts

Legal system

civil law based on Buddhist religious law

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Chi Tshog consists of the non-partisan National Council or Gyelyong Tshogde (25 seats; 20 members elected by each of the 20 administrative districts (dzongkhags) for four-year terms and 5 members appointed by the king); and the National Assembly or Tshogdu (47 seats; members nominated by the two parties and elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms) elections: National Council election last held on 23 April 2013 (next to be held in 2017); National Assembly election (first round) held on 31 May 2013; second round on 13 July 2013 election results: National Council - independents 20; note - all candidates required to run as independents; National Assembly - first round poll held on 31 May 2013 - percent of vote by party - DPT 44.52%; PDP 32.53%; DNT 17.04%; DCT 5.9%; second round poll held on 13 July 2013 - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.88%, DPT 45.12%; seats by party - PDP 32, DPT 15

National anthem

name: "Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom) lyrics/music: Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI note: adopted 1953

National holiday

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

National symbol(s)

thunder dragon known as Druk

Political parties and leaders

Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT [Jigme THINLEY]; Bhutan Kuen-Nyam Party or BNK [Sonam TOBGAY]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tshering TOBGAY]; Druk Nymrub Tshogpa or DNT; Druck Chirwang Tshogpa or DCT

Political pressure groups and leaders

United Front for Democracy (exiled); Druk National Congress (exiled) other: Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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 to Bhutan the areas annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which introduced major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne in favor of 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, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. Elections for seating the country's first parliament were completed in March 2008; the king ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following parliamentary elections in 2013, which routed the incumbent party. The disposition of some 30,000 Bhutanese refugees - housed in two UN refugee camps in Nepal - remains unresolved.

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 202,407 females age 16-49: 180,349 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 157,664 females age 16-49: 144,861 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 7,363 female: 7,095 (2010 est.)

Military branches

Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police) (2009)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period (2012)

Age structure

0-14 years: 27.3% (male 102,196/female 97,923) 15-24 years: 20.1% (male 75,327/female 72,472) 25-54 years: 40.8% (male 159,868/female 139,236) 55-64 years: 5.8% (male 22,769/female 19,699) 65 years and over: 6% (male 23,153/female 21,000) (2014 est.)

Birth rate

18.12 births/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Child labor - children ages 5-14

total number: 25,801 percentage: 18 % (2010 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

12.8% (2010) country comparison to the world: 59

Contraceptive prevalence rate

65.6% (2010)

Death rate

6.78 deaths/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 140

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 48.1 % youth dependency ratio: 40.8 % elderly dependency ratio: 7.2 % potential support ratio: 13.8 (2014 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban: 99.4% of population rural: 97.3% of population total: 98.1% of population unimproved: urban: 0.6% of population rural: 2.7% of population total: 1.9% of population (2012 est.)

Education expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 86

Ethnic groups

Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 109

HIV/AIDS - deaths

100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 127

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

1,100 (2012 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Health expenditures

4.1% of GDP (2011) country comparison to the world: 162

Hospital bed density

1.8 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

total: 37.89 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 61 male: 38.34 deaths/1,000 live births female: 37.42 deaths/1,000 live births (2014 est.)

Languages

Sharchhopka 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 68.98 years country comparison to the world: 157 male: 68.06 years female: 69.95 years (2014 est.)

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 52.8% male: 65% female: 38.7% (2005 est.)

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria (2013)

Major urban areas - population

THIMPHU (capital) 99,000 (2011)

Maternal mortality rate

180 deaths/100,000 live births (2010) country comparison to the world: 59

Median age

total: 26.2 years male: 26.8 years female: 25.6 years (2014 est.)

Nationality

noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 100

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

5.3% (2008) country comparison to the world: 154

Physicians density

0.07 physicians/1,000 population (2008)

Population

733,643 country comparison to the world: 166 note: the Factbook population estimate is consistent with the first modern census of Bhutan, conducted in 2005; previous Factbook population estimates for Bhutan, 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 2014 est.)

Population growth rate

1.13% (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 106

Religions

Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban: 74.5% of population rural: 31.1% of population total: 46.9% of population unimproved: urban: 25.5% of population rural: 68.9% of population total: 53.1% of population (2012 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2012)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-24 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 25-54 years: 1.15 male(s)/female 55-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2014 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.02 children born/woman (2014 est.) country comparison to the world: 121

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 7.2% country comparison to the world: 127 male: 7.3% female: 7.2% (2012)

Urbanization

urban population: 35.6% of total population (2011) rate of urbanization: 3.65% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Disputes - international

lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the largest of which lie in Bhutan's northwest and along the Chumbi salient

Airports

2 (2013) country comparison to the world: 198

Airports - with paved runways

total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2012)

Roadways

total: 8,050 km country comparison to the world: 140 paved: 4,991 km (includes 622 km of expressways) unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)