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| Introduction | Bhutan |
| Background: | In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. |
| People | Bhutan |
| Population: | 2,185,569 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2004 est.) |
| Age structure: | 0-14 years: 39.3% (male 445,548; female 414,338) 15-64 years: 56.6% (male 637,637; female 600,253) 65 years and over: 4% (male 44,298; female 43,495) (2004 est.) |
| Median age: | total: 20.2 years male: 20 years female: 20.3 years (2004 est.) |
| Population growth rate: | 2.12% (2004 est.) |
| Birth rate: | 34.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Death rate: | 13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Net migration rate: | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.) |
| Sex ratio: | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2004 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate: | total: 102.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 104.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births |
| Life expectancy at birth: | total population: 53.99 years male: 54.27 years female: 53.68 years (2004 est.) |
| Total fertility rate: | 4.87 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: | less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: | less than 100 (1999 est.) |
| HIV/AIDS - deaths: | NA |
| Nationality: | noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese |
| Ethnic groups: | Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% |
| Religions: | Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% |
| Languages: | Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects |
| Literacy: | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.) |
| Government | Bhutan |
| Country name: | conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan |
| Government type: | monarchy; special treaty relationship with India |
| Capital: | Thimphu |
| Administrative divisions: | 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse |
| Independence: | 8 August 1949 (from India) |
| National holiday: | National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) |
| Constitution: | no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution, which is to become effective in 2005 |
| Legal system: | based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
| Suffrage: | each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law, though no elections have been held |
| Executive branch: | chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo Yeshey ZIMBA (since 20 August 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch |
| Legislative branch: | unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms) elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: NA |
| Judicial branch: | Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch) |
| Political parties and leaders: | no legal parties |
| Political pressure groups and leaders: | Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled) |
| International organization participation: | AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer) |
| Diplomatic representation in the US: | none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York |
| Diplomatic representation from the US: | the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India) |
| Flag description: | divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side |
| Communications | Bhutan |
| Telephones - main lines in use: | 25,200 (2003) |
| Telephones - mobile cellular: | 8,000 (2003) |
| Telephone system: | general assessment: NA domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with few telephones in use international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990) |
| Radio broadcast stations: | AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998) |
| Radios: | 37,000 (1997) |
| Television broadcast stations: | 0 (1997) |
| Televisions: | 11,000 (1997) |
| Internet country code: | .bt |
| Internet hosts: | 985 (2003) |
| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): | NA |
| Internet users: | 15,000 (2003) |
| Transportation | Bhutan |
| Highways: | total: 3,690 km paved: 2,240 km unpaved: 1,450 km (1999 est.) |
| Ports and harbors: | none |
| Airports: | 2 (2003 est.) |
| Airports - with paved runways: | total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Airports - with unpaved runways: | total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.) |
| Military | Bhutan |
| Military branches: | Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguard, National Militia |
| Military manpower - military age and obligation: | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001) |
| Military manpower - availability: | males age 15-49: 544,560 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - fit for military service: | males age 15-49: 290,843 (2004 est.) |
| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: | males: 23,379 (2004 est.) |
| Military expenditures - dollar figure: | $11.2 million (2003) |
| Military expenditures - percent of GDP: | 1.9% (2003) |
| Transnational Issues | Bhutan |
| Disputes - international: | approximately 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal, 90% of whom reside in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees camps, place decades-long strains on Nepal; India seeks cooperation from Bhutan to keep out Indian Nagaland insurgents |
| This page was last updated on 16 December, 2004 |
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