Compare Western Sahara (2005) - Bhutan (2005)

Compare Western Sahara (2005) z Bhutan (2005)

	Western Sahara (2005)	Bhutan (2005)

Administrative divisions	none (under de facto control of Morocco)	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: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA	0-14 years: 39.1% (male 452,213/female 420,675) 15-64 years: 56.9% (male 654,109/female 615,431) 65 years and over: 4% (male 45,281/female 44,582) (2005 est.)
Agriculture - products	fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)	rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Airports	11 (2004 est.)	2 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways	total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)	total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways	total: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)	total: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)
Area	total: 266,000 sq km land: 266,000 sq km water: 0 sq km	total: 47,000 sq km land: 47,000 sq km water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative	about the size of Colorado	about half the size of Indiana
Background	Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.	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.
Birth rate	NA births/1,000 population	34.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Budget	revenues: NA expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA	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	none	Thimphu
Climate	hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew	varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Coastline	1,110 km	0 km (landlocked)
Constitution	-	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; now awaiting referendum
Country name	conventional long form: none conventional short form: Western Sahara former: Spanish Sahara	conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan
Death rate	NA deaths/1,000 population	12.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Debt - external	NA	$245 million (2000)
Diplomatic representation from the US	none	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	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
Disputes - international	Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, administered by the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals	approximately 104,000 Bhutanese refugees live in Nepal, 90% of whom reside in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees camps; Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian separatists
Economic aid - recipient	NA	substantial aid from India and other nations
Economy - overview	Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.	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 visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
Electricity - consumption	83.7 million kWh (2002)	312.9 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports	0 kWh (2002)	1.56 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports	0 kWh (2002)	12 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - production	90 million kWh (2002)	2.001 billion kWh (2002)
Elevation extremes	lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m highest point: unnamed location 463 m	lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Environment - current issues	sparse water and lack of arable land	soil erosion; limited access to potable water
Environment - international agreements	party to: none of the selected agreements signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Ethnic groups	Arab, Berber	Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Exchange rates	Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003), 11.0206 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.6256 (2000)	ngultrum per US dollar - 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002), 47.186 (2001), 44.942 (2000)
Executive branch	none	chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo Sangay NGEDUP (since 5 September 2005) 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	NA	NA
Exports - commodities	phosphates 62%	electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - partners	Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts	Bangladesh 47.4%, Japan 30.2%, France 3.4% (2004)
Fiscal year	calendar 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 - composition by sector	agriculture: NA industry: NA services: 40% (1996 est.)	agriculture: 45% industry: 10% services: 45% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita	purchasing power parity - NA	purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate	NA	5.3% (2003 est.)
Geographic coordinates	24 30 N, 13 00 W	27 30 N, 90 30 E
Geography - note	the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas	landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Highways	total: 6,200 km paved: 1,350 km unpaved: 4,850 km (1991 est)	total: 4,007 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 3,983 km (2002)
Household income or consumption by percentage share	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA	lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: NA
Imports	NA	NA
Imports - commodities	fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs	fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
Imports - partners	Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts	Germany 65.4%, Japan 14.3%, Austria 6.8%, UK 4.5% (2004)
Independence	-	8 August 1949 (from India)
Industrial production growth rate	NA	9.3% (1996 est.)
Industries	phosphate mining, handicrafts	cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
Infant mortality rate	total: NA male: NA female: NA	total: 100.44 deaths/1,000 live births male: 98.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 102.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)	NA	3% (2002 est.)
International organization participation	none	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, WTO (observer)
Irrigated land	NA sq km	400 sq km (1998 est.)
Judicial branch	-	Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch)
Labor force	12,000	NA note: massive lack of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation	animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%	agriculture 93%, industry and commerce 2%, services 5%
Land boundaries	total: 2,046 km border countries: Algeria 42 km, Mauritania 1,561 km, Morocco 443 km	total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
Land use	arable land: 0.02% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.98% (2001)	arable land: 3.09% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.48% (2001)
Languages	Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic	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: NA years male: NA years female: NA years	total population: 54.39 years male: 54.65 years female: 54.11 years (2005 est.)
Literacy	definition: NA total population: NA% male: NA% female: NA%	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
Location	Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco	Southern Asia, between China and India
Map references	Africa	Asia
Maritime claims	contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue	none (landlocked)
Military branches	-	Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police) (2005)
Military expenditures - dollar figure	-	$13.7 million (2004)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP	-	1.8% (2004)
National holiday	-	National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Nationality	noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s) adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian	noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese
Natural hazards	hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility	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	phosphates, iron ore	timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
Net migration rate	-	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Political parties and leaders	-	no legal parties
Political pressure groups and leaders	none	Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled)
Population	273,008 (July 2005 est.)	2,232,291 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2005 est.)
Population below poverty line	NA	NA
Population growth rate	NA	2.11% (2005 est.)
Ports and harbors	Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)	-
Radio broadcast stations	AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)	AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)
Religions	Muslim	Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Sex ratio	NA	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 (2005 est.)
Suffrage	none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed	each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law
Telephone system	general assessment: sparse and limited system domestic: NA international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco	general assessment: telecommunications facilities are poor domestic: very low tele-density; domestic service is very poor especially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003 international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2005)
Telephones - main lines in use	about 2,000 (1999 est.)	25,200 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular	0 (1999)	22,000 (2005)
Television broadcast stations	NA	1 (2005)
Terrain	mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast	mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Total fertility rate	NA children born/woman	4.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)
Unemployment rate	NA	NA

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