CIA World Fact Book, 2004/Bhutan


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!| 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.
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!| Location: !| Geographic coordinates: !| Map references: !| Area: water: 0 sq km land: 47,000 sq km !| Area - comparative: !| Land boundaries: border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km !| Coastline: !| Maritime claims: !| Climate: !| Terrain: !| Elevation extremes: highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m !| Natural resources: !| Land use: permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.48% (2001) !| Irrigated land: !| Natural hazards: !| Environment - current issues: !| Environment - international agreements: signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea !| Geography - note:
 * Southern Asia, between China and India
 * 27 30 N, 90 30 E
 * Asia
 * total: 47,000 sq km
 * about half the size of Indiana
 * total: 1,075 km
 * 0 km (landlocked)
 * none (landlocked)
 * varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
 * mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
 * lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
 * timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
 * arable land: 3.09%
 * 400 sq km (1998 est.)
 * violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
 * soil erosion; limited access to potable water
 * party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
 * landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
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!| Population: note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2004 est.) !| Age structure: 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: male: 20 years female: 20.3 years (2004 est.) !| Population growth rate: !| Birth rate: !| Death rate: !| Net migration rate: !| Sex ratio: 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: female: 104.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.) male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births !| Life expectancy at birth: male: 54.27 years female: 53.68 years (2004 est.) !| Total fertility rate: !| HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: !| HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: !| HIV/AIDS - deaths: !| Nationality: adjective: Bhutanese !| Ethnic groups: !| Religions: !| Languages: !| Literacy: total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
 * 2,185,569
 * 0-14 years: 39.3% (male 445,548; female 414,338)
 * total: 20.2 years
 * 2.12% (2004 est.)
 * 34.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 est.)
 * at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
 * total: 102.56 deaths/1,000 live births
 * total population: 53.99 years
 * 4.87 children born/woman (2004 est.)
 * less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
 * less than 100 (1999 est.)
 * NA
 * noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
 * Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
 * Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
 * Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
 * definition: age 15 and over can read and write
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!| Country name: conventional short form: Bhutan !| Government type: !| Capital: !| Administrative divisions: note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse !| Independence: !| National holiday: !| Constitution: !| Legal system: !| Suffrage: !| Executive branch: 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: elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: NA !| Judicial branch: !| Political parties and leaders: !| Political pressure groups and leaders: !| International organization participation: !| Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general: New York !| Diplomatic representation from the US: !| Flag description:
 * conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
 * monarchy; special treaty relationship with India
 * Thimphu
 * 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
 * 8 August 1949 (from India)
 * National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
 * no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in November 2004 presented a draft to the Council of Ministers
 * based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
 * each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law
 * chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
 * 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)
 * Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch)
 * no legal parties
 * Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled)
 * AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)
 * 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
 * the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)
 * 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
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!| Economy - overview: !| GDP: !| GDP - real growth rate: !| GDP - per capita: !| GDP - composition by sector: industry: 10% services: 45% (2002 est.) !| Population below poverty line: !| Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%: NA !| Inflation rate (consumer prices): !| Labor force: note: massive lack of skilled labor (1997 est.) !| Labor force - by occupation: !| Unemployment rate: !| Budget: note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.) expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of NA !| Agriculture - products: !| Industries: !| Industrial production growth rate: !| Electricity - production: !| Electricity - consumption: !| Electricity - exports: !| Electricity - imports: !| Oil - production: !| Oil - consumption: !| Oil - exports: !| Oil - imports: !| Exports: !| Exports - commodities: !| Exports - partners: !| Imports: !| Imports - commodities: !| Imports - partners: !| Debt - external: !| Economic aid - recipient: !| Currency: !| Currency code: !| Exchange rates: !| Fiscal year:
 * The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 90% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector encourages the visits of upscale, environmentally conscientious visitors. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
 * purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2002 est.)
 * 7.7% (2002 est.)
 * purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
 * agriculture: 45%
 * NA
 * lowest 10%: NA
 * 3% (2002 est.)
 * NA
 * agriculture 93%, industry and commerce 2%, services 5%
 * NA
 * revenues: $146 million
 * rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
 * cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
 * 9.3% (1996 est.)
 * 1.896 billion kWh (2001)
 * 379.5 million kWh (2001)
 * 1.4 billion kWh (2001)
 * 16 million kWh (2001)
 * 0 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * 1,020 bbl/day (2001 est.)
 * NA (2001)
 * NA (2001)
 * $154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
 * electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
 * Bangladesh 60.5%, US 11.7%, Malaysia 5.7% (2003)
 * $196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
 * fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
 * Japan 36.6%, Austria 14.2%, Sweden 8.3%, China 7.5%, Thailand 6%, Bangladesh 6%, Germany 5.5%, Italy 4% (2003)
 * $245 million (2000)
 * substantial aid from India and other nations
 * ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
 * BTN; INR
 * ngultrum per US dollar - 46.5806 (2003), 48.6103 (2002), 47.1864 (2001), 44.9416 (2000), 43.0554 (1999)
 * 1 July - 30 June
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!| Telephones - main lines in use: !| Telephones - mobile cellular: !| Telephone system: 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: !| Radios: !| Television broadcast stations: !| Televisions: !| Internet country code: !| Internet hosts: !| Internet Service Providers (ISPs): !| Internet users:
 * 25,200 (2003)
 * 8,000 (2003)
 * general assessment: NA
 * AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
 * 37,000 (1997)
 * 0 (1997)
 * 11,000 (1997)
 * .bt
 * 985 (2003)
 * NA
 * 15,000 (2003)
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!| Highways: paved: 2,240 km unpaved: 1,450 km (1999 est.) !| Ports and harbors: !| Airports: !| Airports - with paved runways: 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.) !| Airports - with unpaved runways: 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
 * total: 3,690 km
 * none
 * 2 (2003 est.)
 * total: 1
 * total: 1
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!| Military branches: !| Military manpower - military age and obligation: !| Military manpower - availability: !| Military manpower - fit for military service: !| Military manpower - reaching military age annually: !| Military expenditures - dollar figure: !| Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
 * Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguard, National Militia
 * 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
 * males age 15-49: 544,560 (2004 est.)
 * males age 15-49: 290,843 (2004 est.)
 * males: 23,379 (2004 est.)
 * $11.2 million (2003)
 * 1.9% (2003)
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