BHUTAN GEOGRAPHY Total area: 47,000 km2; land area: 47,000 km2 Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana Land boundaries: 1,075 km total; China 470 km, India 605 km Coastline: none--landlocked Maritime claims: none--landlocked Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide, tourism potential Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 5%; forest and woodland 70%; other 23% Environment: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the source of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes PEOPLE Population: 1,598,216 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991) Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991) Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1991) Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991) Infant mortality rate: 135 deaths/1,000 live births (1991) Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 48 years female (1991) Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991) Nationality: noun--Bhutanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Bhutanese Ethnic divisions: Bhote 60%, ethnic Nepalese 25%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15% Religion: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% Language: Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects--most widely spoken dialect is Dzongkha (official); Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%) Labor force: NA; agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%; massive lack of skilled labor Organized labor: not permitted GOVERNMENT Long-form name: Kingdom of Bhutan Type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India Capital: Thimphu Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India) Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction National holiday: National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907) Executive branch: monarch, chairman of the Royal Advisory Council, Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), chairman of the Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu) Judicial branch: High Court Leaders: Chief of State and Head of Government--King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) Political parties: no legal parties Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections Elections: no national elections Communists: no overt Communist presence Other political or pressure groups: Buddhist clergy, Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign Member of: AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO Diplomatic representation: no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India); the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side ECONOMY Overview: The economy, one of the world's least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 50% of GDP. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with that of India through strong trade and monetary links. Low wages in industry lead most Bhutanese to stay in agriculture. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are its most important natural resources. GDP: $273 million, per capita $199 (1988) real growth rate 4% (1989 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1990 est.) Unemployment: NA Budget: revenues $99 million; expenditures $128 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (FY89 est.) Exports: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY89); commodities--cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit; partners--India 93% Imports: $138.3 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.); commodities--fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics; partners--India 67% External debt: $70.1 million (FY89 est.) Industrial production: growth rate - 12.4% (1988 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP Electricity: 353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,280 kWh per capita (1990) Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; based on subsistence farming and animal husbandry; self-sufficient in food except for foodgrains; other production--rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy, and eggs Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-88), $86.0 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million Currency: ngultrum (plural--ngultrum); 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note--Indian currency is also legal tender Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--18.329 (January 1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611 (1986), 12.369 (1985); note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June COMMUNICATIONS Highways: 1,304 km total; 418 km surfaced, 515 km improved, 371 km unimproved earth Civil air: 1 jet, 2 prop Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220-2,439 m Telecommunications: inadequate; 1,990 telephones (1988); 22,000 radios (1990 est.); 85 TVs (1985); stations--1 AM, 1 FM, no TV (1990) DEFENSE FORCES Branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia Manpower availability: males 15-49, 398,263; 213,083 fit for military service; 17,321 reach military age (18) annually Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP