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Communications

Airports [time series]

total: 2 usable: 2 with permanent-surface runways: 1 with runways over 3,659 m: 0 with runways 2,440-3,659 m: 0 with runways 1,220-2,439 m: 2

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,165 km paved: NA unpaved: gravel 1,703 km undifferentiated: 462 km

Telecommunication systems (Telecommunications) [time series]

domestic telephone service is very poor with very few telephones in use; international telephone and telegraph service is by land line through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990); broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, no TV (1990)

Defense Forces

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 age 15-49 424,558; fit for military service 226,851; reach military age (18) annually 17,310 (1994 est.)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture) [time series]

accounts for 45% 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 products, eggs

Budget [time series]

revenues: $100 million expenditures: $112 million, including capital expenditures of $60 million (FY92 est.) note: the government of India finances nearly one-quarter of Bhutan's budget expenditures

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $115 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million

Electricity [time series]

capacity: 336,000 kW production: 1.5422 billion kWh consumption per capita: 2,203 kWh (25.8% is exported to India leaving 1,633 kWh per capita; 1990-91)

Exchange rates [time series]

ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 31.370 (January 1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Exports [time series]

$66 million (f.o.b., FY93 est.) commodities: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices partners: India 82%, Bangladesh, Singapore

Debt - external (External debt) [time series]

$141 million (June 1993)

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

Imports [time series]

$125 million (c.i.f., FY93 est.) commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics partners: India 60%, Japan, Germany, US, UK

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

growth rate NA%; accounts for 8% of GDP; primarily cottage industry and home based handicrafts

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

11% (October 1993)

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

GDP - purchasing power equivalent - $500 million (1993 est.)

Real GDP per capita (National product per capita) [time series]

$700 (1993 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (National product real growth rate) [time series]

5% (FY93 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. 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 its most important natural resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to 4,000 per year to minimize foreign influence. Much of the impetus for growth has come from large public-sector companies. Nevertheless, in recent years, Bhutan has shifted toward decentralized development planning and greater private initiative. The government privatized several large public-sector firms, is revamping its trade regime and liberalizing administerial procedures over industrial licensing. The government's industrial contribution to GDP decreased from 13% in 1988 to about 10% in 1992.

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Geography

Area [time series]

total area: 47,000 sq km land area: 47,000 sq km comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

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]

0 km (landlocked)

Environment - current issues (Environment) [time series]

current issues: soil erosion; limited access to safe drinking 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 international agreements: party to - Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea

Disputes - international (International disputes) [time series]

none

Irrigated land [time series]

340 sq km (1989 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 70% other: 23%

Location [time series]

Southern Asia, in the Himalayas, between China and India

Map references [time series]

Asia, Standard Time Zones of the World

Maritime claims [time series]

none; landlocked

Natural resources [time series]

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide

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

Government

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

Chief of State and Head of Government [time series]

King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)

Constitution [time series]

no written constitution or bill of rights

Digraph [time series]

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

no formal diplomatic relations; the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York

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

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); no national elections

International organization participation (Member of) [time series]

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

Country name (Names) [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan

National holiday [time series]

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

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

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

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

no legal parties

Legislative branch (Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde)) [time series]

nominated by the king cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog); appointed by the king

Suffrage [time series]

each family has one vote in village-level elections

Government type (Type) [time series]

monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Diplomatic representation from the US (US diplomatic representation) [time series]

no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India)

People

Birth rate [time series]

39.31 births/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Death rate [time series]

15.93 deaths/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Ethnic groups (Ethnic divisions) [time series]

Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Infant mortality rate [time series]

121 deaths/1,000 live births (1994 est.)

Labor force [time series]

NA by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2% note: massive lack of skilled labor

Languages [time series]

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects; Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 50.6 years male: 51.15 years female: 50.03 years (1994 est.)

Literacy [time series]

total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1994 est.)

Population [time series]

716,380 (July 1994 est.) note: other estimates range as high as 1.7 million (July 1994 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.34% (1994 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.42 children born/woman (1994 est.)