Head of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Population
17,522,010
716,896
Life Expectancy
69.630 years
67.880 years
Capital City
Astana
Thimphu
Largest city
Almaty (population: 2,000,900)
Thimphu (population: 98,676)
Human Development Index
0.807
0.613
GDP per capita
$13,200 US
$6,200 US
Literacy Rate
99.5%
47%
Corruption Perception Index
2.2
5.2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
12.3%
13.9%
Wealthiest Citizens
Alijan Ibragimov ($1.2bn US)
NA
Unemployment Rate
5.400%
4.000%
Death Penalty
NA
Abolished
Political System
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch
in transition to constitutional monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Independence date
16 December 1991 (from Soviet Union)
1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)
Religions
Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages
Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
tenge (KZT) per US dollar - 120.25 (2008 est.), 122.55 (2007), 126.09 (2006), 132.88 (2005), 136.04 (2004)
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
Military Budget as percentage of GDP
1.100%
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
13
0
Location
Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural River in eastern-most Europe
Southern Asia, between China and India
Area
2,724,900 km sq
38,394 km sq
Coastline
0 km
0 km
Climate
continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
