Airports [time series]

2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m

Civil air [time series]

1 jet, 2 prop

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

1,304 km total; 418 km surfaced, 515 km improved, 371 km unimproved earth

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

inadequate; 1,990 telephones (1988); 22,000 radios (1990 est.); 85 TVs (1985); stations--1 AM, 1 FM, no TV (1990)

Military and security forces (Branches) [time series]

Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia

Military expenditures (Defense expenditures) [time series]

$NA, NA% of GDP

Manpower availability [time series]

males 15-49, 398,263; 213,083 fit for military service; 17,321 reach military age (18) annually

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 50% of GDP; based on subsistence farming and animal husbandry; self-sufficient in food except for foodgrains; other production--rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy, and eggs

Budget [time series]

revenues $99 million; expenditures $128 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (FY89 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

ngultrum (plural--ngultrum); 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note--Indian currency is also legal tender

Economic aid [time series]

Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $86.0 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million

Electricity [time series]

353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,280 kWh per capita (1990)

Exchange rates [time series]

ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--18.329 (January 1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611 (1986), 12.369 (1985); note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Exports [time series]

$70.9 million (f.o.b., FY89); commodities--cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit; partners--India 93%

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$70.1 million (FY89 est.)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July-30 June

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

$273 million, per capita $199 (1988) real growth rate 4% (1989 est.)

Imports [time series]

$138.3 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.); commodities--fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics; partners--India 67%

Industrial production growth rate (Industrial production) [time series]

growth rate - 12.4% (1988 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

9% (1990 est.)

Economic overview (Overview) [time series]

The economy, one of the world's least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 50% of GDP. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with that of India through strong trade and monetary links. Low wages in industry lead most Bhutanese to stay in agriculture. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are its most important natural resources.

Unemployment rate (Unemployment) [time series]

NA

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

none--landlocked

Area - comparative (Comparative area) [time series]

slightly more than half the size of Indiana

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the source of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon

Land boundaries [time series]

1,075 km total; China 470 km, India 605 km

Land use [time series]

arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and woodland 70%; other 23%

Maritime claims [time series]

none--landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide, tourism potential

Note [time series]

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

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Area (Total area) [time series]

47,000 km2; land area: 47,000 km2

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Capital [time series]

Thimphu

Political parties (Communists) [time series]

no overt Communist presence

Constitution [time series]

no written constitution or bill of rights

Diplomatic representation in the US (Diplomatic representation) [time series]

no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India); the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US

Executive branch (Elections) [time series]

no national elections

Executive branch [time series]

monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council, Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog)

Flag [time series]

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

Independence [time series]

8 August 1949 (from India)

Judicial branch [time series]

High Court Chief of State and Head of Government--King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)

Legal system [time series]

based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu)

Country name (Long-form name) [time series]

Kingdom of Bhutan

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO

National holiday [time series]

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

Political parties (Other political or pressure groups) [time series]

Buddhist clergy, Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign

Political parties [time series]

no legal parties

Suffrage [time series]

each family has one vote in village-level elections

Government type (Type) [time series]

monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Birth rate [time series]

37 births/1,000 population (1991)

Death rate [time series]

17 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Bhote 60%, ethnic Nepalese 25%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

135 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

Labor force [time series]

NA; agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%; massive lack of skilled labor

Languages (Language) [time series]

Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects--most widely spoken dialect is Dzongkha (official); Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

50 years male, 48 years female (1991)

Literacy [time series]

NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

Nationality [time series]

noun--Bhutanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Bhutanese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

Organized labor [time series]

not permitted

Population [time series]

1,598,216 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)

Religions (Religion) [time series]

Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.9 children born/woman (1991)