Bhutan

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small, land-locked mountainous nation in Asia, located in the eastern Himalaya Mountains north of India and south of China.
It is a country with a strong ancient Buddhist culture and almost completely cut off for centuries to avoid foreign influences.

Bhutan began to open up very slowly to outsiders in the 1970s.
Tourism today is privatised by the Royal Government of Bhutan in 1991 but still restricted; travel is only possible as part of a pre-arranged package or guided tour.

border countries: China (Xizang - Tibet Autonomous Region), India

related countries: Nepal, Bangladesh, United Kingdom

Official Name:
Druk-yul
or Druk Tsendhen, "land of the thunder dragon"
int'l long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
int'l short form: Bhutan

ISO Country Code: bt

Time:
Local Time = UTC +6h

Country Calling Code: +975

Capital City: Thimphu (pop. approx. 55 000)

Other Cities:
Paro, Phoentsholing, Punakha, Bumthong.

Government:
Type: Constitutional Monarchy.
Previously, various laws and Buddhist values guided the relationship between the state and the people, but currently a 39-member Drafting Committee composed of representatives of the people, judiciary, the Monastic Order, and the Royal Government are writing a Constitution which is expected to be presented to the National Assembly for ratification in 2005.
National Day: 17 December

Geography:
Location: Southern Asia, between China and India.
Area: about 40 000 sq. km., roughly the size of Switzerland.
Terrain: Mountainous, from the Himalayas to lower-lying foothills to plains with semi-tropical forest, savannah grassland and bamboo jungles.

Climate: Alpine to temperate to subtropical with monsoon season from June to September.

People:
Nationality: Bhutanese. Note: The Bhutanese refer to themselves as Drukpa people.
Population. 1 000 000 note: the Bhutanese government agencies project a current population of slightly less than 700 000.
GNI per capita PPP: $ 3 330 (year)
Ethnic groups: Bhutan has three main ethnic groups, Sharchops, Ngalongs (50%) and Lhotsampas, one of several Nepalese ethnic groups (35%), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%.
Religions: The tantric form of Mahayana Bhuddhism (Drukpa Kagyupa) is state religion, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%.
Languages: Dzongka (official language), English (medium of instruction), Tshanglakha, Lhotsamkha ( Nepali) and Khenkha, Sharchop.
Literacy: 54% (est.). Women's literacy (est.)--20%.

Natural resources: Hydroelectric power, timber, gypsum, calcium carbide.

Agriculture products: Rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs.

Industries: Cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide.

Exports partners: Bangladesh 60.5%, USA 11.7%, Malaysia 5.7% (2003)

Imports partners: Japan 36.6%, Austria 14.2%, Sweden 8.3%, China 7.5%, Thailand 6%, Bangladesh 6%, Germany 5.5%, Italy 4% (2003)

Currency: Ngultrum (BTN); Indian Rupee (INR)

Source: Government of Bhutan and others.

Bhutan in Figures
Bhutan key statistical data.