Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1990)

Radios [time series]

23,000 (1989 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with very few telephones in use international : international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

4,620 (1991 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

0 (1990 est.)

Televisions [time series]

200 (1985 est.)

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $52 million expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $95 million (FY93/94 est.) note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

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

Debt - external [time series]

$141 million (October 1994)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: $NA

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 40% of GDP. 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 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 key resources; however, the government limits the number of tourists to 4,000 per year to minimize foreign influence. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare, but growth continues to be constrained by the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Growth picked up in 1995 and the country's balance of payments remained strong with comfortable reserves. The cautious fiscal stance planned for FY95/96 suggests continued economic stability in 1996. However, excessive controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

Electricity - capacity [time series]

351,000 kW (1989)

Electricity - consumption per capita [time series]

79 kWh (1995 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

1.67 billion kWh (1994) note: exports electricity to India

Exchange rates [time series]

ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 35.872 (January 1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Exports [time series]

total value: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.) commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices partners: India 94%, Bangladesh

Fiscal year [time series]

1 July - 30 June

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

purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 42% industry: 31% services : 27%

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $730 (1995 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

6.9% (1995 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $113.6 million (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.) commodities : fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

7.6% (1992 est.)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate - consumer price index) [time series]

8.6% (FY94/95 est.)

Labor force [time series]

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

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%

Area [time series]

total: 47,000 sq km land: 47,000 sq km water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

about 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)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

soil erosion; limited access to potable water

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified : Law of the Sea

Geographic coordinates [time series]

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Geography - note [time series]

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

Irrigated land [time series]

340 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures : 6% forests and woodland: 66% other: 26% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Asia, between China and India

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

violent storms coming down 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 [time series]

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

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

Constitution [time series]

no written constitution or bill of rights note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly

Country name [time series]

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

Data code [time series]

BT

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

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

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by Ugyen TSERING; 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 honorary consulate(s): San Francisco; Washington, DC

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972); note - the king is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the king note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the king elections : none; the king is a hereditary monarch

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

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

Government type [time series]

monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Independence [time series]

8 August 1949 (from India)

International organization participation [time series]

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

Judicial branch [time series]

the Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High Court, judges appointed by the king

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 or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 12 represent religious bodies, and 33 are designated by the king to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms) elections: last held NA (next to be held NA) election results: NA

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Thimphu

National holiday [time series]

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

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

no legal parties

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

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

Suffrage [time series]

each family has one vote in village-level elections

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$NA

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

NA%

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 455,556 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males : 243,156 (1997 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

18 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 18,290 (1997 est.)

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 40% (male 387,721; female 359,857) 15-64 years: 56% (male 536,797; female 507,551) 65 years and over: 4% (male 37,249; female 36,016) (July 1997 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

37.91 births/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Death rate [time series]

14.94 deaths/1,000 population (1997 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

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

Infant mortality rate [time series]

114 deaths/1,000 live births (1997 est.)

Languages [time series]

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

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population : 51.88 years male: 52.37 years female: 51.37 years (1997 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition : age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1997 est.)

People - note [time series]

refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

Population [time series]

1,865,191 (July 1997 est.) note: other estimates range as low as 600,000

Population growth rate [time series]

2.3% (1997 est.)

Religions [time series]

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

Sex ratio [time series]

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 : 1.03 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (1997 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

5.27 children born/woman (1997 est.)

Disputes - international [time series]

none BOLIVIA

Airports [time series]

2 (1996 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1996 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 2,210 km paved: 0 km unpaved : 2,210 km (1995 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

0 km