Bhutan (2003)

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Bhutan 2003 year


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
Age structure	0-14 years: 39.6% (male 438,784; female 407,919) 15-64 years: 56.4% (male 621,666; female 585,550) 65 years and over: 4% (male 43,262; female 42,368) (2003 est.)
Agriculture - products	rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Airports	2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Area	total: 47,000 sq km land: 47,000 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	about half the size of Indiana
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. Maoist Assamese separatists from India, who have established themselves in the southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border incursions.
Birth rate	34.82 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Budget	revenues: $146 million expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of NA note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.)
Capital	Thimphu
Climate	varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Coastline	0 km (landlocked)
Constitution	no written constitution or bill of rights; note - the King commissioned a committee to draft a constitution in 2001, but has yet to be approved
Country name	conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan
Currency	ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
Death rate	13.47 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Debt - external	$245 million (2000)
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)
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; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York
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
Economic aid - recipient	substantial aid from India and other nations
Economy - overview	The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, providing 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. The government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare. 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. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
Electricity - consumption	379.5 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports	1.4 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports	16 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - production	1.896 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source	fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Environment - current issues	soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Environment - international agreements	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups	Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas--one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Exchange rates	ngultrum per US dollar - 48.61 (2002), 47.19 (2001), 44.94 (2000), 43.06 (1999), 41.26 (1998)
Executive branch	chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo Jigme Y. THINLEY (since 30 August 2003) 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 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
Exports	1.4 billion kWh (2001)
Exports	$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports	NA (2001)
Exports - commodities	electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - partners	US 24.1%, UK 23.9%, Pakistan 23.1%, France 13.9% (2002)
Fiscal year	1 July - 30 June
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
GDP	purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector	agriculture: 45% industry: 10% services: 45% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	7.7% (2002 est.)
Geographic coordinates	27 30 N, 90 30 E
Geography - note	landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Highways	total: 3,690 km paved: 2,240 km unpaved: 1,450 km (1999 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
Imports	16 million kWh (2001)
Imports	$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports	NA (2001)
Imports - commodities	fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
Imports - partners	Japan 44.5%, Germany 12.2%, UK 8.5%, Singapore 6%, South Korea 5%, US 4.2% (2002)
Independence	8 August 1949 (from India)
Industrial production growth rate	9.3% (1996 est.)
Industries	cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
Infant mortality rate	total: 104.68 deaths/1,000 live births male: 102.49 deaths/1,000 live births female: 106.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	3% (2002 est.)
International organization participation	AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WTrO (observer)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)	NA
Irrigated land	400 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch)
Labor force	NA note: massive lack of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation	agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
Land boundaries	total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Land use	arable land: 2.98% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.59% (1998 est.)
Languages	Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Legal system	based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 53.58 years male: 53.9 years female: 53.25 years (2003 est.)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
Location	Southern Asia, between China and India
Map references	Asia
Maritime claims	none (landlocked)
Military branches	Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguard, National Militia, Royal Bhutan Police, Forest Guards
Military expenditures - dollar figure	$9.3 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	1.9% (FY02)
Military manpower - availability	males age 15-49: 530,860 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service	males age 15-49: 283,493 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - military age	18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually	males: 22,755 (2003 est.)
National holiday	National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Nationality	noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese
Natural hazards	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
Natural resources	timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Net migration rate	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
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)
Population	2,139,549 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2003 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA%
Population growth rate	2.14% (2003 est.)
Ports and harbors	none
Radio broadcast stations	AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Railways	0 km
Religions	Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
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 (2003 est.)
Suffrage	each family has one vote in village-level elections
Telephone system	general assessment: NA domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with few telephones in use international: international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)
Telephones - main lines in use	6,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular	NA
Television broadcast stations	0 (1997)
Terrain	mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Total fertility rate	4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)
Unemployment rate	NA%
Waterways	none

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