Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
10,000 (2023 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012)
Communications: Internet country code
.bt
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
91.28% (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
0 (2024 est.) no service
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
0 (2024 est.) no service
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
100 (2024 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
790,000 (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
rice, milk, potatoes, root vegetables, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, carrots/turnips (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$802.177 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$740.328 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2013
-$472.2 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2014
-$490.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2015
-$548.3 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2016
-$622.7 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2017
-$540.4 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2018
-$478.2 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2019
-$500.8 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2020
-$381.2 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2021
-$319.3 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$805.723 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
-$963.122 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
-$669.766 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2022
$3.160 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$2.827 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates
83.6693 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2013
58.5978 (2013 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2014
61.0295 (2014 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2015
64.1519 (2015 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2016
67.1953 (2016 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2017
65.1216 (2017 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2018
68.3895 (2018 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2019
70.4203 (2019 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
74.0996 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
73.9180 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
78.6045 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
82.5993 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
83.6693 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
iron alloys, aircraft, dolomite, semi-finished iron, cement (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2011
$750.0 million (2011 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2014
$714.2 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2015
$690.0 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2016
$639.4 million (2016 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2017
$737.1 million (2017 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2018
$754.1 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2019
$860.6 million (2019 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2020
$689.7 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2021
$808.5 million (2021 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$791.342 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$867.871 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$944.391 million (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
28.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
20.3% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
59.4% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
-53.2% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
44.5% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
0.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
15% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
29.6% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
52.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$16,215 (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$3.019 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$12.751 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2017
37.4 (2017 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
28.5 (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
22.7% (2022 est.)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, gold, plastics, broadcasting equipment, iron reductions (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2010
$1.121 billion (2010 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2015
$1.271 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2016
$1.161 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2017
$1.253 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2018
$1.306 billion (2018 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2019
$1.222 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2020
$1.076 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2021
$1.340 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$1.581 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$1.77 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$1.513 billion (2024 est.)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
0% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2015
4.55% (2015 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016
3.22% (2016 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017
4.96% (2017 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2018
2.72% (2018 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2019
2.73% (2019 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2020
5.63% (2020 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
7.35% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
5.64% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
4.23% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.76% (2024 est.)
Economy: Labor force
406,500 (2024 est.)
Economy: Population below poverty line
12.40% (2022 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2013
88.95% (2013 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2014
85.00% (2014 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2016
92.29% (2016 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2017
95.78% (2017 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2018
95.85% (2018 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2019
90.36% (2019 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2020
111.01% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2014
$6.835 billion (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2015
$7.565 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2016
$8.431 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2017
$8.809 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019
$9.873 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020
$9.606 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021
$10.437 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$10.981 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$11.517 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2015
6.66% (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2016
8.48% (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2017
2.09% (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2018
3.50% (2018 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2019
5.76% (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2020
-10.22% (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2021
4.42% (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.21% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
4.63% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2014
$9,323 (2014 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2015
$10,214 (2015 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2016
$11,273 (2016 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2017
$11,677 (2017 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2019
$12,909 (2019 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2020
$12,475 (2020 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2021
$13,459 (2021 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$15,064 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$16,215 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2013
$11.8 million (2013 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2014
$14.3 million (2014 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2015
$19.7 million (2015 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2020
$83.4 million (2020 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2021
2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
$109.6 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2015
$1.103 billion (2015 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2016
$1.127 billion (2016 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2017
$1.206 billion (2017 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2018
$987.2 million (2018 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2019
$1.238 billion (2019 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2020
$1.427 billion (2020 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$1.050 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$825.755 million (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$654.481 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$941.018 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
12.3% (of GDP) (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2019
2.72% (2019 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2020
5.03% (2020 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2021
4.80% (2021 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
5.95% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
3.13% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
3.28% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
16.5% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
11.2% (2024 est.)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
13.8% (2024 est.)
Energy: Coal: consumption
105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
54 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
100% (2022 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
11.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
6 billion kWh (2020 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
834.7 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
2.344 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
86.681 million kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
64.082 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
241,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
492,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
Environment: Environmental issues
soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Law of the Sea
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
13.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
70.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: other
15.6% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
26.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
78 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
318 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
17 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
42.56% (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
111,300 tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
1.7% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana
Geography: Area: land
38,394 sq km
Geography: Area: water
0 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Drangeme Chhu 97 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
2,220 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
27 30 N, 90 30 E
Geography: Geography - note
landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Geography: Irrigated land
320 sq km (2012)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
China 477 km; India 659 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
1,136 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
13.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 10.8% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
70.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
15.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Map references
Asia
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season
Geography: Terrain
mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
Government: Administrative divisions
20 districts ( dzongkhag , singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang
Government: Capital: etymology
the origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means "dissolve" and phu means "rock," in reference to a local deity who dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
27 28 N, 89 38 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
no
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
the father must be a citizen of Bhutan
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
10 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king
Government: Constitution: history
previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Bhutan
Government: Country name: etymology
name may derive from the Sanskrit words bhoṭa , the name for Tibet, and anta , meaning "end" -- a reference to Bhutan's location at the southernmost end of Tibet; the local Dzongkha name Druk Yul means "Land of the Dragon"
Government: Country name: local long form
Druk Gyalkhap
Government: Country name: local short form
Druk Yul
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US
note: Although Bhutan and the United States have never established formal diplomatic relations, the two countries maintain informal relations via the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, and Bhutan’s Mission to the United Nations in New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
343 East, 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 682-2371 FAX: [1] (212) 661-0551 email address and website: consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bt https://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006)
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024)
Government: Flag
description: divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner; the upper triangle is yellow, and the lower triangle is dark orange; centered along the dividing line is a large, stylized black-and-white dragon facing to the right; the dragon is called the Druk (Thunder Dragon) and is the national emblem meaning: white stands for purity, and the jewels in the dragon's claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent the spiritual and secular powers in Bhutan, with orange standing for Buddhism and yellow for the ruling dynasty
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts
Government: Legal system
civil law based on Buddhist religious law
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
National Assembly (Tshogdu)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
January 2029
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
1/9/2024
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
47 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
People's Democratic Party (PDP) (30); Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) (17)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
4.3%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
National Council (Gyelyong Tshogde)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: electoral system
plurality/majority
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
April 2028
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
4/20/2023
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
25 (20 directly elected; 5 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: parties elected and seats per party
N/A; note - the National Council is not party-based
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
12%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
0 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Parliament (Chi Tshog)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 1953
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI
Government: National color(s)
orange, yellow
Government: National holiday
National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)
Government: National symbol(s)
mythical thunder dragon ( druk )
Government: Political parties
Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT Bhutan Tendrel Party or BTP Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTT People's Democratic Party or PDP United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
After 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.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan's closest security partner is India; under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, both countries agreed to cooperate closely on issues relating to their national interests (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National Militia Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
estimated 7-8,000 active Royal Bhutan Army (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Royal Bhutan Army is lightly armed; it has a small amount of heavy equipment, such as armored cars and helicopters, originating from the former Soviet Union, India, and Thailand (2025)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; militia training is compulsory for men aged 20-25 over a 3-year period (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
23.1% (male 104,771/female 99,981)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
70.2% (male 322,497/female 298,324)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
6.7% (2024 est.) (male 30,397/female 28,576)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
15.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
8.7% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
4.42% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
62% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
5.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
9.7 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
10.3 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
42.1 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
32.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
5.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
22.2% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditures
5.85% (2023 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.85 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
3.8% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.20% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
2.2 beds/1,000 population (2023 est.)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
23.9 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
23 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
75.3 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
71.6 years (2024 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: female
57% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: male
73.4% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
64.91% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
47 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)
People and Society: Median age: female
30.3 years
People and Society: Median age: male
31.1 years
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Bhutanese
People and Society: Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
6.4% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)
People and Society: Population
791,524 (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population growth rate
0.65% (2024 est.)
People and Society: Population: female
431,198
People and Society: Population: male
461,679
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 85.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
total: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
14 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
12 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
13 years (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
1.08 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
9.8% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
26.1% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
18.5% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.45 children born/woman (2024 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
42.56% (2024 est.)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
138 (2024 est.)
Transportation: Airports
4 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
A5
Transportation: Heliports
8 (2025)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.