The World Factbook (1990)/Bhutan
₤Bhutan
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See regional map VIII
Geography
Total area: 47,000 km²; land area: 47,000
km²
Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries: 1,075 km total; China 470 km, India 605 km
Coastline: none—landlocked
Maritime claims: none—landlocked
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
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use: 2% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 5% meadows and pastures; 70% forest and woodland; 23% other
Environment: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the source of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon
Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
People
Population: 1,565,969 (July 1990), growth
rate 2.0% (1990)
Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1990)
Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: migrants/1,000 population (1990)
Infant mortality rate: 137 deaths/1,000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 48 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.0 children born/woman (1990)
Nationality: noun—Bhutanese (sing., pl.); adjective—Bhutanese
Ethnic divisions: 60% Bhote, 25% ethnic Nepalese, 15% indigenous or migrant tribes
Religion: 75% Lamaistic Buddhism, 25% Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism
Language: Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects—most widely spoken dialect is Dzongkha (official); Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy: 5%
Labor force: NA; 95% agriculture, 1% industry and commerce; massive lack of skilled labor (1983)
Organized labor: not permitted
Government
Long-form name: Kingdom of Bhutan
Type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Capital: Thimphu
Administrative divisions: 3 regions and 1 division*; Central Bhutan, Eastern Bhutan, Southern Bhutan*, Western Bhutan; note—there may now be 18 districts (dzong, singular and plural) named Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdiphodrang
Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
National holiday: National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Executive branch: monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council, Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog)
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu)
Judicial branch: High Court
Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government—King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
Political parties: no legal parties
Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections
Elections: no national elections
Communists: no overt Communist presence
Other political or pressure groups: Buddhist clergy, Indian merchant community, ethnic Nepalese organizations
Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IMF, NAM, SAARC, UNESCO, UPU, UN, WHO
Diplomatic representation: 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
Flag: 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
Economy
Overview: The economy is based on
agriculture and forestry, which provide the
main livelihood for 90% of the population
and account for about 50% of GDP. One
of the world's least developed countries,
rugged mountains dominate and make the
building of roads and other infrastructure
difficult and expensive. Bhutan's
hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists
are its most important natural
resources.
GDP: $273 million, per capita $199; real growth rate 6.3% (1988 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (1989 est.)
Unemployment: NA
Budget: revenues $99 million; expenditures $128 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (FY89 est.)
Exports: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY89); commodities—cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit; partners—India 93%
Imports: $138.3 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.); commodities—fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics; partners India—67%
External debt: $70.1 million (FY89 est.)
Industrial production: growth rate -12.4% (1988 est.)
Electricity: 353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,300 kWh per capita (1989)
Industries: cement, chemical products, mining, distilling, food processing, handicrafts
Agriculture: 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
Aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-87), $85.8 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million
Currency: ngultrum (plural—ngultrum); 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note—Indian currency is also legal tender
Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1—16.965 (January 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
Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
Communications
Highways: 1,304 km total; 418 km
surfaced, 515 km improved, 371 km
unimproved earth
Civil air: 1 jet, 2 prop
Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
Telecommunications: inadequate; 1,890 telephones (1985); 15,000 radio receivers (1987 est.); 85 TV sets (1985); stations—20 AM, no FM, no TV
Defense Forces
Branches: Royal Bhutan Army
Military manpower: males 15-49, 389,142; 208,231 fit for military service; 17,203 reach military age (18) annually
Defense expenditures: NA