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Bhutan

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Background :

In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land to British India. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up 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. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of over 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which would introduce major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne to his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK, in order to give him experience as head of state before the democratic transition. In early 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty to allow Bhutan greater autonomy in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate policy decisions in this area with New Delhi. In July 2007, seven ministers of Bhutan's ten-member cabinet resigned to join the political process, and the cabinet acted as a caretaker regime until democratic elections for seats to the country's first parliament were completed in March 2008. The king ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008. 

Location :

Southern Asia, between China and India 

Geographic Coordinates Center :

27 30 N, 90 30 E  (Latitude, Longtitude)

Geographic Coordinates Rectangle :

West 88.76
North 28.32
East 92.13
South 26.71

Area :

total 38 394 square km
land 38 394 square km
water 0 square km

Land boundaries :

total 1 075 km
China (cn) 470 km
India (in) 605 km

Coastline :

0.00 km

Climate :

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

Terrain :

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna 

Elevation extremes :

lowest point 97 metres
highest point 7 553 metres

Natural resources :

calcium carbonate gypsum
hydropower timber

Land use :

arable land 2.30 %
permanent crops 0.43 %
other 97.27 %

Irrigated land :

400 square km

Natural hazards :

lides torms

current issues :

soil erosion; limited access to potable water 

international agreements :

Biodiversity Climate Change
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol Desertification
Endangered Species Hazardous Wastes
Law of the Sea Ozone Layer Protection

Population :

691 141 

Indicators :

Growth rate 1.27 %
Birth rate 20.07 births/1,000 population
Total fertility rate 2.38 children born/woman
Death rate 7.39 deaths/1,000 population

Age structure :

0-14 years 30.20 %
15-64 years 64.30 %
65 years and over 5.50 %

Median age :

total 23.90 years
male 24.50 years
female 23.30 years

Sex ratio :

at birth 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over 1.12 male(s)/female
total population 1.10 male(s)/female

Health :

Infant mortality rate 49.36 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth - total population 66.13 years
Life expectancy at birth - male 65.33 years
Life expectancy at birth - female 66.97 years
HIV-AIDS adult prevalence rate 0.10 %
HIV-AIDS people living with HIV-AIDS 100

Religions :

Buddhist 75.00 %
Hinduism 25.00 %

Languages :

Dzongkha  
Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects  
Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects  

Literacy :

total population 47.00 %
male 60.00 %
female 34.00 %

Country name :

conventional long form Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form Bhutan
local long form Druk Gyalkhap
local short form Druk Yul

Country Codes :

ISO 3166 BT
ISO Numeric 64
ISO3 BTN
FIPS BT
ccTLD bt
English Bhutan

Administrative divisions :

20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang 

Capital :

name Thimphu
geographic coordinates 27 29 N, 89 36 E
time difference 6.00

International organization participation :

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

National holiday :

National Day

1907-12-17

Executive branch :

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK Prime Minister Jigme THINLEY

Legislative branch :

DPT 67.00 %
PDP 33.00 %

GDP - Gross Domestic product :

PPP - Purchasing Power Parity 4 340 000 000 $
Official Exchange Rate 1 493 000 000
RGR - Real Growth rate 5.00 %
PPP - per capita 6 200 $

GDP Composition by sector :

agriculture 22.30 %
industry 37.90 %
services 39.80 %

Labor force - by occupation :

agriculture 63.00 %
industry 6.00 %
services 31.00 %

Other Indicators :

Labor force 299 900 people
Unemployment rate 4.00 %
Population below poverty line 23.20 %
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 8.00 %
Current account balance 164 000 000 $
Debt external 836 000 000 $
Military expenditures 1.00 % of GDP
Public debt 57.80 % of GDP

Household income or consumption by percentage share :

lowest 10% 2.30 %
highest 10% 37.60 %

Budget :

revenues 302 000 000 $
expenditures 588 000 000 $

Agriculture - products :

citrus corn
dairy eggs
foodgrains rice
root crops

Industries :

alcoholic beverages calcium carbide
cement processed fruits
tourism wood products

Energy :

Electricity Production 1 480 000 000 kWh
Electricity Consumption 184 000 000 kWh
Electricity Exports 1 296 000 000 kWh
Oil Consumption 1 250 bbl/day
Oil Imports 1 250 bbl/day

Value :

513 000 000 $

Commodities :

calcium carbide cement
copper wire electricity
ferrosilicon manganese
vegetable oil

Value :

533 000 000 $

Commodities :

fuels and lubricants machinery and parts
passenger cars rice
textiles

Currency-name :

ngultrum 

Communications :

Telephons Main lines in use 27 500
Telephons Mobile, Cellular 251 000
FM Radio broadcast stations 9
Television broadcast stations 1
Internet Country code (ccTLD) bt
Internet Hosts 9 096
Internet Users 40 000

Transportation :

Airports with paved runways 1
Roadways - total 8 050 km
Roadways - paved 4 991 km
Roadways - unpaved 3 059 km

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