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3 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Bhutan \Bhutan\ n.
a principality in the Himalayas northeast of India.
[WordNet 1.5]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
Bhutan
n : a landlocked principality in the Himalayas northeast of
India [syn: {Kingdom of Bhutan}]
From CIA World Factbook 2002 [world02]:
Bhutan
Introduction Bhutan
-------------------
Background: In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed
the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which
Bhutan would receive an annual
subsidy in exchange for ceding some
border land. Under British
influence, a monarchy was set up 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. This role was assumed by
independent India after 1947. Two
years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese
accord returned the areas of Bhutan
annexed by the British, formalized
the annual subsidies the country
received, and defined India's
responsibilities in defense and
foreign relations. A refugee issue
of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal
remains unresolved; 90% of the
refugees are housed in seven United
Nations Office of the High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps. Maoist Assamese separatists
from India, who have established
themselves in the southeast portion
of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-
border incursions.
Geography Bhutan
----------------
Location: Southern Asia, between China and
India
Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E
Map references: Asia
Area: total: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
Area - comparative: about half the size of Indiana
Land boundaries: total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km,
India 605 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 extremes: lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium
carbide
Land use: arable land: 2.98%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.6% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 400 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: violent storms from the Himalayas
are the source of the country's name
which translates as Land of the
Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides
during the rainy season
Environment - current issues: soil erosion; limited access to
potable water
Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
agreements: Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the
Sea
Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location
between China and India; controls
several key Himalayan mountain
passes
People Bhutan
-------------
Population: 2,094,176
note: other estimates range as low
as 810,000 (July 2002 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.8% (male 431,883;
female 401,386)
15-64 years: 56.2% (male 606,184;
female 571,310)
65 years and over: 4% (male 42,193;
female 41,220) (2002 est.)
Population growth rate: 2.15% (2002 est.)
Birth rate: 35.26 births/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Death rate: 13.74 deaths/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002
est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/
female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/
female (2002 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 106.79 deaths/1,000 live births
(2002 est.)
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 53.19 years
female: 52.83 years (2002 est.)
male: 53.53 years
Total fertility rate: 5 children born/woman (2002 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ less than 100 (1999 est.)
AIDS:
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Bhutanese (singular and
plural)
adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%
(includes Lhotsampas--one of several
Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous
or migrant tribes 15%
Religions: Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and
Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak
various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese
speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
Government Bhutan
-----------------
Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of
Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
Government type: monarchy; special treaty
relationship with India
Capital: Thimphu
Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular
and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,
Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha,
Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel,
Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar,
Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu,
Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts
named Gasa and Yangtse
Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)
National holiday: National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became
first hereditary king), 17 December
(1907)
Constitution: no written constitution or bill of
rights; note - Bhutan uses 1953
Royal decree for the Constitution of
the National Assembly; on 7 July
1998, a Royal edict was ratified
giving the National Assembly
additional powers
Legal system: based on Indian law and English
common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-
level elections
Executive branch: chief of state: King Jigme Singye
WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
elections: none; the monarch is
hereditary, but democratic reforms
in July 1998 grant the National
Assembly authority to remove the
monarch with two-thirds vote
head of government: Chairman of the
Council of Ministers Lyonpo Khandu
WANGCHUK (since 8 August 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
(Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the
monarch, approved by the National
Assembly; members serve fixed, five-
year terms; note - there is also a
Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi
Tsokde), members nominated by the
monarch
Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly or
Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from
village constituencies, 10 represent
religious bodies, and 35 are
designated by the monarch to
represent government and other
secular interests; members serve
three-year terms)
elections: last held NA (next to be
held NA)
election results: NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeal (the
monarch); High Court (judges
appointed by the monarch)
Political parties and leaders: no legal parties
Political pressure groups and Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese
leaders: organizations leading militant
antigovernment campaign; Indian
merchant community; United Front for
Democracy (exiled)
International organization AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
participation: ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IOC, IOM
(observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW
(signatory), SAARC, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO
(observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US: none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent
Mission to the UN; address: 2 United
Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York,
NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-
1919; the Bhutanese mission to the
UN has consular jurisdiction in the
US
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the the US and Bhutan have no formal
US: diplomatic relations, although
informal contact is maintained
between the Bhutanese and US Embassy
in New Delhi (India)
Flag description: divided diagonally from the lower
hoist side corner; the upper
triangle is yellow and the lower
triangle is orange; centered along
the dividing line is a large black
and white dragon facing away from
the hoist side
Economy Bhutan
--------------
Economy - overview: The economy, one of the world's
smallest and least developed, is
based on agriculture and forestry,
providing the main livelihood for
more than 90% of the population.
Agriculture consists largely of
subsistence farming and animal
husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate
the terrain and make the building of
roads and other infrastructure
difficult and expensive. The economy
is closely aligned with India's
through strong trade and monetary
links. The industrial sector is
technologically backward, with most
production of the cottage industry
type. Most development projects,
such as road construction, rely on
Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's
hydropower potential and its
attraction for tourists are key
resources. The Bhutanese Government
has made some progress in expanding
the nation's productive base and
improving social welfare. Model
education, social, and environment
programs in Bhutan are underway with
support from multilateral
development organizations. Each
economic program takes into account
the government's desire to protect
the country's environment and
cultural traditions. Detailed
controls and uncertain policies in
areas like industrial licensing,
trade, labor, and finance continue
to hamper foreign investment. Major
hydroelectric projects will lead
expansion of GDP in 2002 by an
estimated 6%.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.5
billion (2001 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 6% (2000 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,200
(2001 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45%
industry: 20%
services: 35% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 7% (2000 est.)
Labor force: NA
note: massive lack of skilled labor
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%,
industry and commerce 2%
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget: revenues: $146 million
expenditures: $152 million,
including capital expenditures of
$NA (FY95/96 est.)
note: the government of India
finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures
Industries: cement, wood products, processed
fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium
carbide
Industrial production growth rate: 9.3% (1996 est.)
Electricity - production: 1.876 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.05%
hydro: 99.95%
other: 0% (2000)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 380.68 million kWh (2000)
Electricity - exports: 1.385 billion kWh (2000)
Electricity - imports: 21 million kWh (2000)
Agriculture - products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus,
foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
Exports: $154 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: electricity (to India), cardamom,
gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement,
fruit, precious stones, spices
Exports - partners: India 94%, Bangladesh
Imports: $196 million (c.i.f., 2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain,
machinery and parts, vehicles,
fabrics, rice
Imports - partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US
Debt - external: $245 million (1998)
Economic aid - recipient: substantial aid from India and other
nations
Currency: ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code: BTN; INR
Exchange rates: ngultrum per US dollar - 48.336
(January 2002), 47.186 (2001),
44.942 (2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259
(1998), 36.313 (1997); note - the
Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with
the Indian rupee which is also legal
tender
Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June
Communications Bhutan
---------------------
Telephones - main lines in use: 6,000 (1997)
Telephones - mobile cellular: NA
Telephone system: general assessment: NA
domestic: domestic telephone service
is very poor with few telephones in
use
international: international
telephone and telegraph service is
by landline through India; a
satellite earth station was planned
(1990)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)
Radios: 37,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)
Televisions: 11,000 (1997)
Internet country code: .bt
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): NA
Internet users: 500 (2000)
Transportation Bhutan
---------------------
Railways: 0 km
Highways: total: 3,285 km
paved: 1,994 km
unpaved: 1,291 km (1996)
Waterways: none
Ports and harbors: none
Airports: 2 (2001)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2001)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2001)
Military Bhutan
---------------
Military branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Royal Bodyguard,
National Militia, Royal Bhutan
Police, Forest Guards
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2002 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 517,470 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 276,303 (2002 est.)
service:
Military manpower - reaching males: 21,167 (2002 est.)
military age annually:
Military expenditures - dollar $9.3 million (FY01)
figure:
Military expenditures - percent of 1.9% (FY01)
GDP:
Transnational Issues Bhutan
---------------------------
Disputes - international: approximately 100,000 Bhutanese
refugees living in Nepal, 90% of
whom reside in seven UN Office of
the High Commissioner for Refugees
camps, place decades-long strains on
Nepal
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