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Bhutan
Bhutan
Population
791.5K
Rank #165Source: World Bank
Capital
Thimphu
Source: REST Countries
Region
Asia
South Asia
Source: REST Countries
GDP (Nominal)
$3.01B
Source: World Bank
Land Area
38.4K km²
Rank #134Source: REST Countries
Life Expectancy
72.975 yrs
Source: World Bank
Historical Trends
Population Trend (5-Year)
Source: World Bank
GDP Trend (5-Year, Nominal USD)
Source: World Bank
Geography
Area: 38,394 km²
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
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: mean elevation: 2,220 m lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m
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
Environmental Issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal
Land Use: agricultural land: 13.6% (2011 est.) forest: 85.5% (2011 est.) other: 0.9% (2011 est.)
Geography Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
Natural Resources
timberhydropowergypsumcalcium carbonate
People & Society
Fertility Rate
1.46
Population
791.5K
Ethnic Groups
Ngalop (also known as Bhote) (50%)ethnic Nepali (35%)indigenous or migrant tribes (15%)
Religions
Lamaistic Buddhist (75.3%)Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism (22.1%)other (2.6%)
Economy
GDP per Capita
$3,831.325
GDP per Capita PPP
16,215.152
(2023)
(2023)
GNI per Capita
3,730
(2023)
(2023)
Gini Index
28.5
(2022)
(2022)
Unemployment
3.282%
(2024)
(2024)
Inflation
2.761%
(2024)
(2024)
Public Debt
111.008%
(2020)
(2020)
Energy
Electricity Access
100%
(2023)
(2023)
Renewable Energy
82.5%
(2022)
(2022)
CO₂ Emissions
1.592 Mt
(2024)
(2024)
Energy Intensity
9.04 MJ/$
(2022)
(2022)
Renewable Electricity
100%
(2021)
(2021)
Environment
Forest Coverage
71.605% of land
(2023)
(2023)
Communications
Internet Users
88.426%
(2023)
(2023)
Mobile Penetration
95.626%
(2023)
(2023)
Broadband Subscribers
1.319%
(2023)
(2023)
Transportation
Air Transport Freight
0.502 M ton-km
(2023)
(2023)
Container Port Traffic
Not Available
Airports
3,752
Rail Lines
N/A
Roads Total
N/A
Military
Military Forces
Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard, plus militia); Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police note: Bhutan does not have an air force; India is responsible for military...
Personnel Strength
the Royal Bhutan Army has approximately 8,000 personnel
Equipment & Inventories
India has provided most of the Royal Bhutan Army's equipment, although the only recorded delivery of military equipment to Bhutan since 2010 was from France (2019 est.)
Service Age & Obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period
Education
Pre-Primary Enrollment
51.929%
(2021)
(2021)
Primary Enrollment
114.881%
(2024)
(2024)
Secondary Enrollment
86.181%
(2024)
(2024)
Tertiary Enrollment
13.011%
(2024)
(2024)
Education Spending
5.845% of GDP
(2023)
(2023)
Adult Literacy Rate
64.91%
(2022)
(2022)
Pupil-Teacher Ratio
34.669:1
(2018)
(2018)
Health
Physicians per 1,000
0.553
(2022)
(2022)
Safe Water Access
99.547%
(2024)
(2024)
Safe Drinking Water
65.594%
(2024)
(2024)
Under-5 Mortality
23.1 per 1,000
(2023)
(2023)
Maternal Mortality (World Bank)
20.86 per 100,000
(2021)
(2021)
Hospital Beds per 1,000
75.94
(2021)
(2021)
UHC Coverage Index
69
(2023)
(2023)
Measles Immunization
98%
(2024)
(2024)
Social Indicators
Extreme Poverty Rate
Not Available
Food Insecurity
Not Available
Youth NEET Rate
18.216%
(2024)
(2024)
Governance
Women in Government
4.255%
(2024)
(2024)
Voice & Accountability
0.20
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Political Stability
0.98
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Government Effectiveness
0.57
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Regulatory Quality
-0.40
(Below Average)
(2023)
(Below Average)
(2023)
Rule of Law
0.67
(Above Average)
(2023)
(Above Average)
(2023)
Control of Corruption
1.53
(Strong)
(2023)
(Strong)
(2023)
Government
Government Type
constitutional monarchy
Legal System
civil law based on Buddhist religious law
Executive Branch
chief of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the throne on 14 December 2006 to his son head of government: Prime Minister...
Legislative Branch
description: bicameral Parliament or Chi Tshog consists of:non-partisan National Council or Gyelyong Tshogde (25 seats; 20 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority...
Judicial Branch
highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices); note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters judge selection and term of...
National Symbols
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...
National Symbols
thunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow
National Anthem
name: "Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom) lyrics/music: Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI note: adopted 1953
Safety
Homicide Rate
2.468 per 100,000
(2020)
(2020)
Travel Information
Language(s): Dzongkha
Currency: BTN (Nu.), INR (₹)
Timezone(s): UTC+06:00
Landlocked: Yes
Independent: Yes
Driving Side: Left
Calling Code: +975
Car Sign: BHT
Week Starts: Monday
Photos
One of the highest mountain reliefs on Earth can be found in the tiny country of Bhutan. Sandwiched between eastern India and the Tibetan plateau, Bhutan hosts peaks that range between 5,000 and 7,000 m (16,000-23,000 ft) in height. These mountains are neighbors to Mount Everest, Earth's highest peak at 8,850 m (29,035 ft). The impressive Bhutan Himalayas are permanently capped with snow, which extends down valleys in long glacier tongues. Because of disparate weather patterns on either side of the Himalayas and differences in topography, the glaciers on each side of the mountain are distinctly different from one another and are likely to react very differently to climate change. Image courtesy of NASA.
One of the highest mountain reliefs on Earth can be found in the tiny country of Bhutan. Sandwiched between eastern India and the Tibetan plateau, Bhutan hosts peaks that range between 5,000 and 7,000 m (16,000-23,000 ft) in height. These mountains are neighbors to Mount Everest, Earth's highest peak at 8,850 m (29,035 ft). The impressive Bhutan Himalayas are permanently capped with snow, which extends down valleys in long glacier tongues. Because of disparate weather patterns on either side of the Himalayas and differences in topography, the glaciers on each side of the mountain are distinctly different from one another and are likely to react very differently to climate change. Image courtesy of NASA. • CIA World Factbook • 2020
Area comparison map
Area comparison map • CIA World Factbook • 2020
2 photos available
Data sources: World Bank, UN Data • Updated daily •Learn about our data