Bhutan

text

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. <br><br>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.

text

Southern Asia, between China and India

text

27 30 N, 90 30 E

text

Asia

text

slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana

text

0 km (landlocked)

text

none (landlocked)

text

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

text

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

text

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

text

320 sq km (2012)

text

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

text

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

text

Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

text

Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)

text

Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)

text

0.93% (2025 est.)

text

15.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

text

5.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

text

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

text

203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)

text

47 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

text

1.75 children born/woman (2025 est.)

text

0.85 (2025 est.)

text

0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

text

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

text

6.4% (2016)

text

8.7% (2023 est.)

text

62% (2022 est.)

text

soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal

text

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

text

26.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

text

78 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

text

constitutional monarchy

text

20 districts (<em>dzongkhag</em>, 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

text

civil law based on Buddhist religious law

text

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

text

18 years of age; universal

note

<strong>note:</strong> the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters

text

Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT<br>Bhutan Tendrel Party or BTP<br>Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTT<br>People's Democratic Party or PDP<br>United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT

note

<strong>note:</strong> Bhutan and the United States do not have diplomatic relations, but the two countries established consular relations on 23 July 1986; the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Bhutan was established in New York with an officer from the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations holding dual accreditation as the Consul General with consular jurisdiction in the US; Phuntsho NORBU has served as the Consul General since October 2022 and is the Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN

text

<strong>note:</strong>  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

text

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)

text

17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)

text

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

text

<strong>description:</strong> 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<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> 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

text

mythical thunder dragon (<em>druk</em>)

text

orange, yellow

text

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

note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

note

<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

note

<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars

text

$3.019 billion (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices

note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

note

<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

text

rice, milk, potatoes, root vegetables, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, carrots/turnips (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

text

cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism

text

0% (2023 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

text

406,500 (2024 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment

note

<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

text

12.4% (2022 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line

note

<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality

note

<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population

note

<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities

note

<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

note

<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP

text

12.3% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

note

<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars

text

India 92%, Italy 4%, Indonesia 1%, China 1%, Singapore 0% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports

text

iron alloys, aircraft, dolomite, semi-finished iron, cement (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars

note

<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars

text

India 82%, Singapore 8%, China 5%, Thailand 2%, Indonesia 1% (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports

text

refined petroleum, gold, plastics, broadcasting equipment, iron reductions (2023)

note

<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars

note

<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

note

<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars

text

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)

text

.bt

text

A5

text

4 (2025)

text

8 (2025)

text

Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National Militia<br><br>Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2025)

text

estimated 7-8,000 active Royal Bhutan Army (2025)

text

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)

text

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)

text

180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

text

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)