Bhutan Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 25, 2020

Bhutan, State of Asia; 46,000 km², 754,900 residents (2019).Bhutan, located in the Himalayas, borders China (Tibet) in the north and India in the east, south and west. The capital is Thimphu (114,600 residents, 2017).

Country facts

Printing Yul / Kingdom of Bhutan
Country abbreviation: BT
Area: 46 000 km²
Population (2019): 754,000 residents
Capital: Thimphu
Main language: dzongkha
State: Monarchy
Head of State: Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk (King)
Head of Government: Lotay Tshering
Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 3 360
GNI per capita (2018): US $ 3,080
Currency unit: 1 ngultrum = 100 chetrum
Currency code: BTN
Country number (telephony): 975
Internet Domain Name: bt
Time difference compared to Sweden: +5
National Day: December 17 (the first heir king installed, 1907)

Nature

Land use: forest (66%), agricultural land (3%), other (31%)
Highest mountain: Kula Kangri (7,554 m asl)

Population

Population density (2019): 16 residents per km²
Natural population growth (2019): 0.9%; birth number 16 ‰, death number 7 ‰
Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (26%), 15-64 (70%), 65- (6%)
Average life expectancy (2019): 68 years; men 71 years, women 71 years
Infant mortality (2019): 15 per 1,000 live births
Population forecast 2050: 800,000 residents
HDI (2017): 0.612 (place 134 of 189)
Urbanization rate (2019): 38%
Most populous city (2017): Thimphu (114,600 residents)

Business

Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (16%), industry (42%), service (42%)
Exports (2017): US $ 555 million
Main export products: electricity, calcium carbide, wood, fruit
Main exporting countries: India
Imports (2017): US $ 1,020 million
Main import products: fuel, vehicles, machinery
Main importing countries: India
Railway network: nothing in operation

Bhutan is a transition area between the Himalayan mountain system in the north of over 7,000 m above sea level. and the Brahmaputra flood plain in the south at about 15 m above sea level. This large difference in height and the general slope of the land surface to the south causes large differences in temperature and precipitation and has a strong effect on vegetation, accessibility and cultivation opportunities.

The country has a form of constitutional monarchy. In 1998, the king handed over the executive power to a council of ministers, but retained the role of head of state and commander-in-chief. Ministers are elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term, and ministerial posts are distributed by the King. From 2007 it is allowed to register political parties, and in 2008 the country got its first written constitution.

Agriculture at the self-sufficiency level is the dominant industry. The country’s balance of payments is entirely dependent on foreign aid, which is largely from India. An important source of income is the export of electricity from the country’s rich water energy resources.