Country Summary: Bhutan
Country Name: Bhutan
Capital: Thimphu
Official Visa & Travel Information: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade - Royal Government of Bhutan (Visa Services)
Government Type: constitutional monarchy
Background: Following Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK - who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century - was named king 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. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders.
In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution - which introduced major democratic reforms - and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. in 2024, of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali - predominantly Lhotshampa - refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.
Continent: Asia
Population: 876,181 (2023 est.)
Ethnic Groups: Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Languages: Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)
Religions: Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)
Economic Overview: hydropower investments spurring economic development; Gross National Happiness economy; sharp poverty declines; low inflation; strong monetary and fiscal policies; stable currency; fairly resilient response to COVID-19; key economic and strategic relations with India; climate vulnerabilities
Currency: Bhutanese Ngultrum (BTN)
Reserves of Foreign Exchange & Gold: $976.26 million (2021 est.) note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars
Real GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $9.015 billion (2021 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars
Real GDP Growth Rate: 4.42% (2021 est.) note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency
Real GDP per Capita: $11,600 (2021 est.) note: data in 2017 dollars
Exports:
$791.08 million (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Comparison Ranking: 188
Export Commodities: iron alloys, dolomite, aircraft, cement, gypsum (2021)
Imports:
$1.588 billion (2022 est.)
note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Comparison Ranking: 181
Import Commodities: refined petroleum, iron products, delivery trucks, cars, wood charcoal (2019)
Import Partners: India 85%, Thailand 5% (2019)
Natural Resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
Agricultural Products: milk, rice, maize, potatoes, roots/tubers, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, spices, ginger
Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism
Industrial Production Growth Rate:
3.94% (2021 est.)
note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency
Comparison Ranking: 99
Labor Force: 426,000 (2022 est.) note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
Unemployment Rate: 5.95% (2022 est.) note: % of labor force seeking employment
Natural Hazards: Geography:
Total: 38,394 sq km
Land: 38,394 sq km
Water: 0 sq km
(Country Summary, The World Factbook, CIA.gov)
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