Bhutan

Kingdom of Bhutan

South Asia Thimphu

Population

892.9K

Area

38,394 km²

GDP

$3.02B

GDP Per Capita

$14,600

Pop. Density

23/km²

Quick Facts

Currency

Nu.Bhutanese ngultrum(BTN)

Calling Code

+975

Timezone

UTC+06:00

Languages

Dzongkha

Driving Side

left

Demonym

Bhutanese

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.

Historical Trends

GDP (USD)

↑219.5% since 2006

$943M (2006)$3B (2023)

Population

↑18.0% since 2006

670,799 (2006)791,524 (2024)

Life Expectancy at Birth

Latest: 73.0 years

2006: 66.5 years2023: 73.0 years

Data source: World Bank Open Data

Geography16

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references

Asia

Area

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

Area - comparative

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

Land boundaries

total: 1,136 km
border countries: China 477 km; India 659 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

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

Terrain

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Elevation

highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m
lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m
mean elevation: 2,220 m

Natural resources

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Land use

agricultural land

13.8% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: arable land

arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent crops

permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)

agricultural land: permanent pasture

permanent pasture: 10.8% (2023 est.)

forest

70.6% (2023 est.)

other

15.6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

320 sq km (2012)

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 - note

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

People & Society33

Population

total: 892,877 (2025 est.)
male: 461,679
female: 431,198

Nationality

noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese

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.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 23.1% (male 104,771/female 99,981)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 322,497/female 298,324)
65 years and over: 6.7% (2024 est.) (male 30,397/female 28,576)

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 42.1 (2025 est.)
youth dependency ratio: 32.4 (2025 est.)
elderly dependency ratio: 9.7 (2025 est.)
potential support ratio: 10.3 (2025 est.)

Median age

total: 31.2 years (2025 est.)
male: 31.1 years
female: 30.3 years

Population growth rate

0.93% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

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

Death rate

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

Net migration rate

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

Urbanization

urban population: 44.4% of total population (2023)
rate of urbanization: 2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

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

Infant mortality rate

total: 23 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)
male: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 73.7 years (2024 est.)
male: 72.5 years
female: 75 years

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.85 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source

improved: urban

urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure

Health expenditure (as % of GDP): 3.8% of GDP (2021)
Health expenditure (as % of national budget): 6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

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

Sanitation facility access

improved: urban

urban: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)

improved: rural

rural: 85.5% of population (2022 est.)

improved: total

total: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: urban

urban: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: rural

rural: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)

unimproved: total

total: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita

total: 0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
beer: 0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
wine: 0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
spirits: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use

total: 18.5% (2025 est.)
male: 26.1% (2025 est.)
female: 9.8% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.7% (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62% (2022 est.)

Education expenditure

Education expenditure (% GDP): 5.8% of GDP (2023 est.)
Education expenditure (% national budget): 22.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy

total population: 64.9% (2022 est.)
male: 73.4% (2022 est.)
female: 57% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 13 years (2022 est.)
male: 12 years (2022 est.)
female: 14 years (2022 est.)

Government24

Country name

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
local long form: Druk Gyalkhap
local short form: Druk Yul
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 type

constitutional monarchy

Capital

name: Thimphu
geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 38 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
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

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

Legal system

civil law based on Buddhist religious law

Constitution

history: previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008
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

International law organization participation

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

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no
citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Bhutan
dual citizenship recognized: no
residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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)
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
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

Legislative branch

legislature name: Parliament (Chi Tshog)
legislative structure: bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber

chamber name

National Assembly (Tshogdu)

number of seats

47 (all directly elected)

electoral system

plurality/majority

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

5 years

most recent election date

1/9/2024

parties elected and seats per party

People's Democratic Party (PDP) (30); Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) (17)

percentage of women in chamber

4.3%

expected date of next election

January 2029

Legislative branch - upper chamber

chamber name

National Council (Gyelyong Tshogde)

number of seats

25 (20 directly elected; 5 appointed)

electoral system

plurality/majority

scope of elections

full renewal

term in office

0 years

most recent election date

4/20/2023

parties elected and seats per party

N/A; note - the National Council is not party-based

percentage of women in chamber

12%

expected date of next election

April 2028

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices)
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
subordinate courts: High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts

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

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:
[email protected]

https://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/

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

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)

Independence

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

National holiday

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

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

National symbol(s)

mythical thunder dragon (druk)

National color(s)

orange, yellow

National anthem(s)

title: "Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)
lyrics/music: Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI
history: adopted 1953

Economy31

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)

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

Real GDP growth rate

Real GDP growth rate 2023: 4.9% (2023 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2022: 5.2% (2022 est.)
Real GDP growth rate 2021: 4.4% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita

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

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.019 billion (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024: 2.8% (2024 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023: 4.2% (2023 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022: 5.6% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 15% (2023 est.)
industry: 29.6% (2023 est.)
services: 52.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption

59.4% (2023 est.)

government consumption

20.3% (2023 est.)

investment in fixed capital

44.5% (2023 est.)

investment in inventories

0.7% (2023 est.)

exports of goods and services

28.3% (2023 est.)

imports of goods and services

-53.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

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

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2023 est.)

Labor force

406,500 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate

Unemployment rate 2024: 2.9% (2024 est.)
Unemployment rate 2023: 3.2% (2023 est.)
Unemployment rate 2022: 6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)

total: 13.8% (2024 est.)
male: 11.2% (2024 est.)
female: 16.5% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.4% (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022: 28.5 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.6% (2022 est.)
highest 10%: 22.7% (2022 est.)

Remittances

Remittances 2023: 3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)
Remittances 2022: 3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)
Remittances 2021: 2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget

revenues: $740.328 million (2020 est.)
expenditures: $802.177 million (2020 est.)

Public debt

Public debt 2020: 111% of GDP (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

12.3% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Current account balance

Current account balance 2024: -$669.766 million (2024 est.)
Current account balance 2023: -$963.122 million (2023 est.)
Current account balance 2022: -$805.723 million (2022 est.)

Exports

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

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024: $941.018 million (2024 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023: $654.481 million (2023 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022: $825.755 million (2022 est.)

Debt - external

Debt - external 2023: $2.827 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates

Currency

ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -

Exchange rates 2024

83.669 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates 2023

82.599 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates 2022

78.604 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates 2021

73.918 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates 2020

74.1 (2020 est.)

Energy6

Electricity access

electrification - total population: 100% (2022 est.)

Electricity

installed generating capacity: 2.344 million kW (2023 est.)
consumption: 11.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)
exports: 6 billion kWh (2020 est.)
imports: 834.7 million kWh (2023 est.)
transmission/distribution losses: 86.681 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources

hydroelectricity: 100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal

production: 4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
consumption: 105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
exports: 54 metric tons (2023 est.)
imports: 122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum

refined petroleum consumption: 4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita

Total energy consumption per capita 2023: 64.082 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Communications6

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 0 (2024 est.) no service
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 0 (2024 est.) no service

Telephones - mobile cellular

total subscriptions: 790,000 (2024 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 100 (2024 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.bt

Internet users

percent of population: 88% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

total: 10,000 (2023 est.)
subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 1 (2023 est.)

Transportation3

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

Airports

4 (2025)

Heliports

8 (2025)

Military & Security6

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 service personnel strengths

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

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 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)

Military deployments

180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

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)

Transnational Issues1

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs: 138 (2024 est.)

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