Bhutan

total: 3,189 (2020 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.4 (2020 est.)

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)

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total: 670,800 (2021 est.) percent of population: 86% (2021 est.)

general assessment: the small land-locked Kingdom of Bhutan has only recently emerged from decades of isolation from the modern world; that, and its mountainous terrain, left the country far back in the field in terms of teledensity as well as access to the Internet; over the last decade, the country has undergone a significant transformation due to the opening of its borders, liberalization of its telecom sector, and the active support from the government towards increased competition in the mobile, broadband, and ISP segments; the relatively widespread availability of the mobile platform has caused an explosion in mobile broadband subscriber numbers, growing from zero to over 100% penetration in just ten years (between 2010 and 2019).; the onset of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 caused the subscription rates to drop back a little; growth is projected to return in 2022 (along with the broader mobile market) as the overall economy recovers; the government opens up more to foreign investment, trade, and tourism; and network expansion continues the recent (December 2021) launch of 5G services by both of the country s mobile operators being particularly noteworthy (2022) domestic: approximately 3 to 100 fixed-line and 100 mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people (2021) international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat

total subscriptions: 20,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2022 est.)

total subscriptions: 742,000 (2022 est.) subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 95 (2022 est.)

milk, rice, root vegetables, potatoes, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chilies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, bison milk (2022) note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

revenues: $740.333 million (2020 est.) expenditures: $591.697 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

-$999.999 million (2023 est.) -$805.723 million (2022 est.) -$319.279 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

$2.514 billion (2022 est.) note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

hydropower investments spurring economic development; Gross National Happiness economy; sharp poverty declines; low inflation; strong monetary and fiscal policies; stable currency; fairly resilient response to COVID-19; key economic and strategic relations with India; climate vulnerabilities

ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar - 82.601 (2023 est.) 78.604 (2022 est.) 73.918 (2021 est.) 74.1 (2020 est.) 70.42 (2019 est.)

$815.05 million (2023 est.) $791.342 million (2022 est.) $739.514 million (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

iron alloys, dolomite, gypsum, cement, electricity (2022) note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

India 88%, Italy 5%, Nepal 2%, Colombia 2%, Singapore 1% (2022) note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

$2.898 billion (2022 est.) note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate

household consumption: 57.6% (2022 est.) government consumption: 21% (2022 est.) investment in fixed capital: 55.2% (2022 est.) investment in inventories: 0.1% (2022 est.) exports of goods and services: 25.8% (2022 est.) imports of goods and services: -60.1% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

agriculture: 14.7% (2022 est.) industry: 31.8% (2022 est.) services: 51.2% (2022 est.) note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

28.5 (2022 est.) note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.) highest 10%: 22.7% (2022 est.) note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

$1.754 billion (2023 est.) $1.581 billion (2022 est.) $1.027 billion (2021 est.) note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

computers, refined petroleum, electrical machinery, coke, wood charcoal (2022) note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

India 75%, China 12%, Indonesia 5%, Thailand 2%, Singapore 1% (2022) note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

5.6% (2022 est.) note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

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

4.23% (2023 est.) 5.64% (2022 est.) 7.35% (2021 est.) note: annual % change based on consumer prices

430,000 (2023 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

12.4% (2022 est.) note: % of population with income below national poverty line

111.01% of GDP (2020 est.) note: central government debt as a % of GDP

$10.981 billion (2022 est.) $10.437 billion (2021 est.) $9.995 billion (2020 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

5.21% (2022 est.) 4.42% (2021 est.) -10.22% (2020 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

$14,000 (2022 est.) $13,400 (2021 est.) $12,900 (2020 est.) note: data in 2021 dollars

3.31% of GDP (2022 est.) 2.65% of GDP (2021 est.) 3.39% of GDP (2020 est.) note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

$976.26 million (2021 est.) $1.427 billion (2020 est.) $1.238 billion (2019 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

12.28% (of GDP) (2020 est.) note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

5.65% (2023 est.) 5.95% (2022 est.) 4.8% (2021 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment

total: 29.2% (2023 est.) male: 25.1% (2023 est.) female: 33.1% (2023 est.) note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

1.206 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from coal and metallurgical coke: 728,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.) from petroleum and other liquids: 478,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

production: 177,000 metric tons (2022 est.) consumption: 325,000 metric tons (2022 est.) exports: 100 metric tons (2022 est.) imports: 148,000 metric tons (2022 est.)

installed generating capacity: 2.342 million kW (2022 est.) consumption: 9.752 billion kWh (2022 est.) exports: 6 billion kWh (2020 est.) imports: 834.7 million kWh (2022 est.) transmission/distribution losses: 83.626 million kWh (2022 est.)

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

hydroelectricity: 100% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

60.788 million Btu/person (2022 est.)

refined petroleum consumption: 3,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

particulate matter emissions: 26.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.) carbon dioxide emissions: 1.26 megatons (2016 est.) methane emissions: 1.11 megatons (2020 est.)

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

soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal

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

agricultural land: 13.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.) forest: 85.5% (2018 est.) other: 0.9% (2018 est.)

0% of GDP (2018 est.)

1.89% of GDP (2018 est.)

78 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.) industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2019 est.) agricultural: 320 million cubic meters (2020 est.)

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

municipal solid waste generated annually: 111,314 tons (2007 est.) municipal solid waste recycled annually: 957 tons (2016 est.) percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.9% (2016 est.)

total : 38,394 sq km land: 38,394 sq km water: 0 sq km

slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana

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

0 km (landlocked)

highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m mean elevation: 2,220 m

27 30 N, 90 30 E

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

320 sq km (2012)

total: 1,136 km border countries (2): China 477 km; India 659 km

agricultural land: 13.6% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.) forest: 85.5% (2018 est.) other: 0.9% (2018 est.)

Southern Asia, between China and India

Asia

none (landlocked)

violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang

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 denotes "high ground" to express the meaning of "dissolving high ground," in reference to a local deity that dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bhutan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

history: previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008 amendments: 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

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan local long form: Druk Gyalkhap local short form: Druk Yul etymology: named after the Bhotia, the ethnic Tibetans who migrated from Tibet to Bhutan; "Bod" is the Tibetan name for their land; the Bhutanese name "Druk Yul" means "Land of the Thunder Dragon"

embassy: none; frequent informal contact is maintained via the US embassy in New Delhi (India) and Bhutan's Permanent Mission to the UN

chief of mission: Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations (vacant); Charg d'Affaires Phuntsho NORBU (since October 2022); note - also serving as the Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN telephone: [1] (212) 682-2371 FAX: [1] (212) 661-0551 email address and website: consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bt https://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/ consulate(s) general: 343 East, 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017 note - although Bhutan and the United States do not have diplomatic relations, the two countries established consular relations on 23 July 1986; the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Bhutan was established in New York with an officer from the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations holding dual accreditation as the Consul General with consular jurisdiction in the US

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 elections/appointments: 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

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

constitutional monarchy

17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)

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

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)

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices); 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 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

civil law based on Buddhist religious law

description: bicameral Parliament or Chi Tshog consists of: non-partisan National Council or Gyelyong Tshogde (25 seats; 20 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 members appointed by the king; members serve 5-year terms) National Assembly or Tshogdu (47 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies in a two-round system; in the primary round, contesting political parties are directly selected by simple majority vote; in the main round, the two top parties in the primary round field candidates who are directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms) elections: National Council - last held on 20 April 2023 (next to be held in 2028) National Assembly - first round held on 30 November 2023 with a runoff on 9 January 2024 (next to be held in 2028) election results: National Council - seats by party - independent 20 (all candidates ran as independents) and 5 appointed by the king; composition - men 22, women 3, percentage women 12% National Assembly - percent of vote by party in first round - PDP 42.5%, BTP 19.6%, DPT 14.9%, DNT 13.1% DTT 9.8%; percent of vote in second round - PDP 55%, BTP 45%; seats by party PDP 30, BTP 17; composition - men 45, women 2, percentage women 4.3%; total percentage women in Parliament 6.9%

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

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

thunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow

Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT Bhutan Tendrel Party or BTP Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTT People's Democratic Party or PDP United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT

18 years of age; universal

After Britain s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK -- who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century -- was named king 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. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders. In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution -- which introduced major democratic reforms -- and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 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. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. In 2024, of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali -- predominantly Lhotshampa -- refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.

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 relies on India for military training, arms supplies, and the country s air defense (2024)

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 (2024)

estimated 7-8,000 active personnel (2024)

190 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)

the Royal Bhutan Army is lightly armed; it has a small amount of heavy equipment, such as armored cars and helicopters, originating from India and Thailand (2024)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period (2023) note: in 2021, the Royal Bhutan Army graduated from a year-long training course the first batch of 150 women to be allowed to serve in combat roles; previously, women were allowed to serve in medical and other non-combat roles

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)

total: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) beer: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.) other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

15.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

NA

NA

4.4% of GDP (2020)

62.8% (2023 est.)

5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

total dependency ratio: 40.7 youth dependency ratio: 32.1 elderly dependency ratio: 8.6 potential support ratio: 11.1 (2021 est.)

improved: urban: 99.5% of population rural: 100% of population total: 99.8% of population unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population rural: 0% of population total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)

7% of GDP (2021 est.)

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

0.86 (2024 est.)

1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)

total: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.) male: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births female: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

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

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

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 70.9% male: 77.9% female: 62.8% (2021)

203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)

60 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

total: 30.7 years (2024 est.) male: 31.1 years female: 30.3 years

noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

6.4% (2016)

0.5 physicians/1,000 population (2020)

total: 884,546 male: 457,665 female: 426,881 (2024 est.)

0.95% (2024 est.)

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

improved: urban: 90.8% of population rural: 83.1% of population total: 86.4% of population unimproved: urban: 9.2% of population rural: 16.9% of population total: 13.6% of population (2020 est.)

total: 13 years male: 13 years female: 13 years (2018)

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female 0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

1.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)

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

announced in 2018 that it intends to establish a space agency, but has not yet done so; has a Division of Telecom and Space (DoTS) under the GovTech Agency (2024)

has a small, recently established program focused on acquiring satellites and developing the capabilities to manufacture satellites; cooperates with India and the US (2024) note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide

4 (2024)

A5

8 (2024)

number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020) inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6 annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 275,849 (2018) annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 690,000 (2018) mt-km

total: 12,205 km (2017) urban: 437 km