Bhutan

World Book Index

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. In 1907, Bhutan became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king. In 1949, the Treaty of Friendship with India established Bhutanese independence.

Geography

Area
total : 38,394 sq km
land: 38,394 sq km
water: 0 sq km

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

Natural resources
timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

People and Society

Population
total: 884,546 (2024 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.)

Population growth rate
0.95% (2024 est.)

Government

Government type
constitutional monarchy

Capital
name: Thimphu

Executive branch
chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024)

Economy

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity)
$11.517 billion (2023 est.)
$10.981 billion (2022 est.)
$10.437 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita
$14,600 (2023 est.)
$14,100 (2022 est.)
$13,500 (2021 est.)

Exports
$944.391 million (2024 est.)
$867.871 million (2023 est.)
$791.342 million (2022 est.)

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

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

Imports
$1.513 billion (2024 est.)
$1.77 billion (2023 est.)
$1.581 billion (2022 est.)

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

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

Human Development Index

The country's Human Development Index (HDI) is 0.698, ranking it 125th out of 193 countries tested. (more information)

World Happiness Report

The World Happiness Report ranked the country 102nd out of 158 countries tested with a score of 5.082. (more information)