Himalayas
Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m
highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide
Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 70%
other: 23%
Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1989 est.)
Environment:
current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water
natural hazards: violent storms coming down 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
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea
Geographic note: landlocked; strategic location between China and
India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
People———
Population: 1,822,625 (July 1996 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000
Age structure:
0–14 years: 40% (male 378,407; female 351,146)
15–64 years: 56% (male 524,972; female 496,715)
65 years and over: 4% (male 36,304; female 35,081) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.32% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 38.48 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 15.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
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: 1.04 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 116.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.46 years male: 51.96 years female: 50.93 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 5.33 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic divisions: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or
migrant tribes 15%
Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%
Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan
dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1%
Government—————
Name of country: conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan
Data code: BT
Type of government: 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)
National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen
Wangchuck became first hereditary king)
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights
note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the
National Assembly
Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections
Executive branch:
Chief of State and Head of Government (Druk Gyalpo): King Jigme
Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) is a hereditary monarch
Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde): was nominated by the king
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) was appointed by
the king
Legislative branch: unicameral
National Assembly (Tshogdu): members serve for three years; seats -
(150 total, 105 elected from village constituencies, 12 represent
religious bodies, and 33 designated by the king to represent
government and other secular interests)
Judicial branch: the Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High
Court, judges appointed by the king
Political parties and leaders: no legal parties
Other political or pressure groups: Buddhist clergy; Indian
merchant community;
