in transition to constitutional monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
constitutional republic
Independence date
1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)
1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)
Religions
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Lutheran Church of Iceland 82.1%, Roman Catholic Church 2.4%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.3%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.6%, other Christian 2.8%, other religions 0.9%, unaffiliated 2.6%, other or unspecified 5.5% (2006 est.)
Languages
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken
fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite
External Debt
$1,275,000,000 $
$124,500,000,000 US
Exchange Rate
ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar - 41.487 (2007), 45.279 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003) note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee
Icelandic kronur (ISK) per US dollar - 85.619 (2008 est.), 63.391 (2007), 70.195 (2006), 62.982 (2005), 70.192 (2004)
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.000%
0.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
0
1
Location
Southern Asia, between China and India
Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK
Area
38,394 km sq
103,000 km sq
Coastline
0 km
4,970 km
Climate
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers
