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South Asia
Page last updated: April 24, 2024
After Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK -- who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century -- was named king 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. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders.
In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution -- which introduced major democratic reforms -- and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. In 2024, of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali -- predominantly Lhotshampa -- refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.
Southern Asia, between China and India
27°30' N, 90°30' E
Asia
Total: 38,394 km²
Land: 38,394 km²
Water: 0 km²
Slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana
Area comparison map:
Total: 1,136 km
Border countries (2): China 477 km; India 659 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
Highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m
Lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m
Mean elevation: 2,220 m
Timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
Agricultural land: 13.6% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)
Forest: 85.5% (2018 est.)
Other: 0.9% (2018 est.)
320 km² (2012)
Violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
Landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
876,181 (2023 est.)
Noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
Adjective: Bhutanese
Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)
Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)
0-14 years: 23.49% (male 105,317/female 100,526)
15-64 years: 69.97% (male 318,732/female 294,292)
65 years and over: 6.54% (2023 est.) (male 29,582/female 27,732)
2023 population pyramid:
Total dependency ratio: 40.7
Youth dependency ratio: 32.1
Elderly dependency ratio: 8.6
Potential support ratio: 11.1 (2021 est.)
Total: 30.2 years (2023 est.)
Male: 30.6 years
Female: 29.8 years
0.96% (2023 est.)
15.6 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)
6.1 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)
Urban population: 44.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)
At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
Total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2023 est.)
60 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)
Total: 25.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)
Male: 25.9 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 25.3 deaths/1,000 live births
Total population: 73 years (2023 est.)
Male: 71.8 years
Female: 74.3 years
1.77 children born/woman (2023 est.)
0.86 (2023 est.)
NA
Improved: urban: 99.5% of population
Rural: 100% of population
Total: 99.8% of population
Unimproved: urban: 0.5% of population
Rural: 0% of population
Total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)
4.4% of GDP (2020)
0.5 physicians/1,000 population (2020)
1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)
Improved: urban: 90.8% of population
Rural: 83.1% of population
Total: 86.4% of population
Unimproved: urban: 9.2% of population
Rural: 16.9% of population
Total: 13.6% of population (2020 est.)
6.4% (2016)
Total: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Beer: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
NA
62.8% (2023 est.)
7% of GDP (2021 est.)
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 70.9%
Male: 77.9%
Female: 62.8% (2021)
Total: 13 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 13 years (2018)
Soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal
Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Agricultural land: 13.6% (2018 est.)
Arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.)
Permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)
Permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)
Forest: 85.5% (2018 est.)
Other: 0.9% (2018 est.)
Urban population: 44.4% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Total population growth rate v. urban population growth rate, 2000-2030
1.89% of GDP (2018 est.)
0% of GDP (2018 est.)
Particulate matter emissions: 26.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 1.26 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 1.11 megatons (2020 est.)
Municipal solid waste generated annually: 111,314 tons (2007 est.)
Municipal solid waste recycled annually: 957 tons (2016 est.)
Percent of municipal solid waste recycled: 0.9% (2016 est.)
Municipal: 20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 3 million cubic meters (2019 est.)
Agricultural: 320 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
78 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)
Conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
Conventional short form: Bhutan
Local long form: Druk Gyalkhap
Local short form: Druk Yul
Etymology: named after the Bhotia, the ethnic Tibetans who migrated from Tibet to Bhutan; "Bod" is the Tibetan name for their land; the Bhutanese name "Druk Yul" means "Land of the Thunder Dragon"
Constitutional monarchy
Name: Thimphu
Geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 38 E
Time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: the origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means "dissolve" and phu denotes "high ground" to express the meaning of "dissolving high ground," in reference to a local deity that dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands
20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang
17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
History: previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008
Amendments: proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king
Civil law based on Buddhist religious law
Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Citizenship by birth: no
Citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bhutan
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years
18 years of age; universal
Chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 to his son
Head of government: Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms
Elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch
Description: bicameral Parliament or Chi Tshog consists of:
Non-partisan National Council or Gyelyong Tshogde (25 seats; 20 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 members appointed by the king; members serve 5-year terms)
National Assembly or Tshogdu (47 seats; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies in a two-round system; in the primary round, contesting political parties are directly selected by simple majority vote; in the main round, the two top parties in the primary round field candidates who are directly elected by simple majority vote; members serve 5-year terms)
Elections: National Council - last held on 20 April 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
National Assembly - first round held on 30 November 2023 with a runoff on 9 January 2024 (next to be held in 2028)
Election results: National Council - seats by party - independent 20 (all candidates ran as independents) and 5 appointed by the king; composition as of February 2024 - men 22, women 3, percentage women 12%
National Assembly - percent of vote by party in first round - PDP 42.5%, BTP 19.6%, DPT 14.9%, DNT 13.1% DTT 9.8%; percent of vote in second round - PDP 55%, BTP 45%; seats by party PDP 30, BTP 17; composition as of February 2024 - men 45, women 2, percentage women 4.3%; total percentage women in Parliament 6.9%
Highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier
Subordinate courts: High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts
Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT [Dorji WANGDI]
Bhutan Tendrel Party or BTP (Pema CHEWANG)
Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTT [Kinga TSHERING]
People's Democratic Party or PDP [Tshering TOBGAY]
United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT [Lotay TSHERING]
ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
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; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty
Thunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow
Name: "Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)
Lyrics/music: Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI
Note: adopted 1953
Hydropower investments spurring economic development; Gross National Happiness economy; sharp poverty declines; low inflation; strong monetary and fiscal policies; stable currency; fairly resilient response to COVID-19; key economic and strategic relations with India; climate vulnerabilities
$9.015 billion (2021 est.)
$8.634 billion (2020 est.)
$9.616 billion (2019 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
4.42% (2021 est.)
-10.22% (2020 est.)
5.76% (2019 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
$11,600 (2021 est.)
$11,200 (2020 est.)
$12,500 (2019 est.)
Note: data in 2017 dollars
$2.768 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in current dollars at official exchange rate
5.64% (2022 est.)
7.35% (2021 est.)
5.63% (2020 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices
Agriculture: 16.2% (2017 est.)
Industry: 41.8% (2017 est.)
Services: 42% (2017 est.)
Comparison rankings: services 205; industry 23; agriculture 60
Household consumption: 58% (2017 est.)
Government consumption: 16.8% (2017 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 47.2% (2017 est.)
Investment in inventories: 0% (2017 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 26% (2017 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -48% (2017 est.)
Milk, rice, maize, potatoes, roots/tubers, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, spices, ginger
Cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism
3.94% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
426,000 (2022 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
5.95% (2022 est.)
4.8% (2021 est.)
5.03% (2020 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment
Total: 18.8% (2021 est.)
Male: 15.6%
Female: 22%
12.4% (2022 est.)
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
28.5 (2022 est.)
Note: index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality
Lowest 10%: 3.6%
Highest 10%: 22.7% (2022 est.)
Note: % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population
2.65% of GDP (2021 est.)
3.39% of GDP (2020 est.)
2.07% of GDP (2019 est.)
Note: personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities
Revenues: $710 million (2020 est.)
Expenditures: $777 million (2020 est.)
Note: the Government of India finances nearly one-quarter of Bhutan's budget expenditures
-3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
111.01% of GDP (2020 est.)
90.36% of GDP (2019 est.)
95.85% of GDP (2018 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP
12.28% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP
1 July - 30 June
-$852.583 million (2022 est.)
-$321.535 million (2021 est.)
-$381.153 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars
$791.08 million (2022 est.)
$741.602 million (2021 est.)
$786.681 million (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
India 94% (2019)
Iron alloys, dolomite, aircraft, cement, gypsum (2021)
$1.588 billion (2022 est.)
$1.027 billion (2021 est.)
$1.188 billion (2020 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
India 85%, Thailand 5% (2019)
Refined petroleum, iron products, delivery trucks, cars, wood charcoal (2019)
$976.26 million (2021 est.)
$1.427 billion (2020 est.)
$1.238 billion (2019 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
$2.671 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
$2.355 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -
Exchange rates:
78.604 (2022 est.)
73.918 (2021 est.)
74.1 (2020 est.)
70.42 (2019 est.)
68.389 (2018 est.)
Electrification - total population: 100% (2021)
Installed generating capacity: 2.334 million kW (2020 est.)
Consumption: 4.315 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Exports: 4.6 billion kWh (2019 est.)
Imports: 22.85 million kWh (2019 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 60 million kWh (2019 est.)
Comparison rankings: installed generating capacity 116; transmission/distribution losses 44; imports 115; exports 38; consumption 130
Fossil fuels: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Nuclear: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Solar: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Wind: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Hydroelectricity: 100% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Tide and wave: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Geothermal: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Biomass and waste: 0% of total installed capacity (2020 est.)
Production: 174,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Consumption: 211,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Exports: 0 metric tons (2020 est.)
Imports: 37,000 metric tons (2020 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 metric tons (2019 est.)
Total petroleum production: 0 bbl/day (2021 est.)
Refined petroleum consumption: 4,400 bbl/day (2019 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate exports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil and lease condensate imports: 0 bbl/day (2018 est.)
Crude oil estimated reserves: 0 barrels (2021 est.)
0 bbl/day (2017 est.)
0 bbl/day (2015 est.)
3,120 bbl/day (2015 est.)
Production: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Consumption: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Exports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Imports: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
Proven reserves: 0 cubic meters (2021 est.)
934,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 328,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 606,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
From consumed natural gas: 0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)
100.135 million Btu/person (2019 est.)
Total subscriptions: 19,566 (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2021 est.)
Total subscriptions: 778,008 (2021 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2021 est.)
General assessment: the small land-locked Kingdom of Bhutan has only recently emerged from decades of isolation from the modern world; that, and its mountainous terrain, left the country far back in the field in terms of teledensity as well as access to the Internet; over the last decade, the country has undergone a significant transformation due to the opening of its borders, liberalization of its telecom sector, and the active support from the government towards increased competition in the mobile, broadband, and ISP segments; the relatively widespread availability of the mobile platform has caused an explosion in mobile broadband subscriber numbers, growing from zero to over 100% penetration in just ten years (between 2010 and 2019).; the onset of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 caused the subscription rates to drop back a little; growth is projected to return in 2022 (along with the broader mobile market) as the overall economy recovers; the government opens up more to foreign investment, trade, and tourism; and network expansion continues – the recent (December 2021) launch of 5G services by both of the country’s mobile operators being particularly noteworthy (2022)
Domestic: approximately 3 to 100 fixed-line and 100 mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people (2021)
International: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat
State-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012)
.bt
Total: 670,800 (2021 est.)
Percent of population: 86% (2021 est.)
Total: 3,189 (2020 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0.4 (2020 est.)
Number of registered air carriers: 2 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 6
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 275,849 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 690,000 (2018) mt-km
A5
4 (2024)
8 (2024)
Total: 12,205 km (2017)
Urban: 437 km
Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and an air wing); National Militia
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2023)
Estimated 8,000 active personnel (2023)
India has provided most of the Royal Bhutan Army's equipment (2023)
18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period (2023)
Note: in 2021, the Royal Bhutan Army graduated from a year-long training course the first batch of 150 women to be allowed to serve in combat roles; previously, women were allowed to serve in medical and other non-combat roles
190 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)
The Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; the force is deployed throughout the country in more than a dozen “wings,” each comprised of a few infantry companies; the Army also has units of royal bodyguards and special forces; Bhutan relies on India for military training, arms supplies, and the country’s air defense (2023)
Announced in 2018 that it intends to establish a space agency, but has not yet done so (2023)
Has a small, recently established program focused on acquiring satellites and developing the capabilities to manufacture satellites; cooperates with India (2023)
Note: further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in Appendix S