Head of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Population
6,961,049
716,896
Life Expectancy
63.170 years
67.880 years
Capital City
Thimphu
Largest city
Lome (population: 749,700)
Thimphu (population: 98,676)
Human Development Index
0.479
0.613
GDP per capita
$6,200 US
Literacy Rate
60.9%
47%
Corruption Perception Index
2.7
5.2
Percentage of Women in Parliament
11.1%
13.9%
Wealthiest Citizens
Unemployment Rate
4.000%
Death Penalty
Abolished in practice
Abolished
Political System
republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule
in transition to constitutional monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
Independence date
1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)
Religions
Christian 29%, Muslim 20%, indigenous beliefs 51%
Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages
French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)
Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
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
1.000%
Beijing Olympics Medal Count
1
0
Location
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana
Southern Asia, between China and India
Area
56,785 km sq
38,394 km sq
Coastline
56 km
0 km
Climate
tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
