Bhutan

constitutional monarchy

name: Thimphu geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 38 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time) etymology: the origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means "dissolve" and phu means "rock," in reference to a local deity who dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands

chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006) head of government: Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms election/appointment process: the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch

legislature name: Parliament (Chi Tshog) legislative structure: bicameral

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices) judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on 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 4 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 note: the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters

history: previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008 amendment process: proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National Militia Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2025)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; militia training is compulsory for men aged 20-25 over a 3-year period (2025)

the Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan's closest security partner is India; under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, both countries agreed to cooperate closely on issues relating to their national interests (2025)

180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

$11.517 billion (2023 est.) $10.981 billion (2022 est.) $10.437 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

$14,600 (2023 est.) $14,100 (2022 est.) $13,500 (2021 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

4.9% (2023 est.) 5.2% (2022 est.) 4.4% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

2.8% (2024 est.) 4.2% (2023 est.) 5.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

111% of GDP (2020 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$944.391 million (2024 est.) $867.871 million (2023 est.) $791.342 million (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

$1.513 billion (2024 est.) $1.77 billion (2023 est.) $1.581 billion (2022 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

2.9% (2024 est.) 3.2% (2023 est.) 6% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

revenues: $740.328 million (2020 est.) expenditures: $802.177 million (2020 est.) note: central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

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

rice, milk, potatoes, root vegetables, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, carrots/turnips (2023) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

total: 892,877 (2025 est.) male: 461,679 female: 431,198

0.93% (2025 est.)

0-14 years: 23.1% (male 104,771/female 99,981) 15-64 years: 70.2% (male 322,497/female 298,324) 65 years and over: 6.7% (2024 est.) (male 30,397/female 28,576)

15.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

5.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

total population: 73.7 years (2024 est.) male: 72.5 years female: 75 years

urban population: 44.4% of total population (2023) rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

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

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

total population: 64.9% (2022 est.) male: 73.4% (2022 est.) female: 57% (2022 est.)

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

IDPs: 138 (2024 est.)

4 (2025)

total subscriptions: 790,000 (2024 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2024 est.)

percent of population: 88% (2023 est.)