in transition to constitutional monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Independence date
16 September 1810 (declared); 27 September 1821 (recognized by Spain)
1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)
Religions
Roman Catholic 76.5%, Protestant 6.3% (Pentecostal 1.4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.1%, other 3.8%), other 0.3%, unspecified 13.8%, none 3.1% (2000 census)
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages
Spanish only 92.7%, Spanish and indigenous languages 5.7%, indigenous only 0.8%, unspecified 0.8%; note - indigenous languages include various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional languages (2005)
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Mexican pesos (MXN) per US dollar - 11.016 (2008 est.), 10.8 (2007), 10.899 (2006), 10.898 (2005), 11.286 (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
0.500%
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
3
0
Location
Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US
Southern Asia, between China and India
Area
1,964,375 km sq
38,394 km sq
Coastline
9,330 km
0 km
Climate
varies from tropical to desert
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
