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Bhutan Index
Consolidation and Defeat of Tibetan Invasions, 1616-51
In the seventeenth century, a theocratic government
independent
of Tibetan political influence was established, and
premodern
Bhutan emerged. The theocratic government was founded by
an
expatriate Drukpa monk, Ngawang Namgyal, who arrived in
Bhutan in
1616 seeking freedom from the domination of the Gelugpa
subsect led
by the Dalai Lama (Ocean Lama) in Lhasa. After a series of
victories over rival subsect leaders and Tibetan invaders,
Ngawang
Namgyal took the title shabdrung (At Whose Feet One
Submits,
or, in many Western sources, dharma raja), becoming
the
temporal and spiritual leader of Bhutan. Considered the
first great
historical figure of Bhutan, he united the leaders of
powerful
Bhutanese families in a land called Drukyul. He
promulgated a code
of law and built a network of impregnable dzong, a
system
that helped bring local lords under centralized control
and
strengthened the country against Tibetan invasions. Many
dzong were extant in the late twentieth century.
Tibetan armies invaded Bhutan around 1629, in 1631, and
again
in 1639, hoping to throttle Ngawang Namgyal's popularity
before it
spread too far. The invasions were thwarted, and the
Drukpa subsect
developed a strong presence in western and central Bhutan,
leaving
Ngawang Namgyal supreme. In recognition of the power he
accrued,
goodwill missions were sent to Bhutan from Cooch Behar in
the Duars
(present-day northeastern West Bengal), Nepal to the west,
and
Ladakh in western Tibet. The ruler of Ladakh even gave a
number of
villages in his kingdom to Ngawang Namgyal. During the
first war
with Tibet, two Portuguese Jesuits--the first recorded
Europeans to
visit--passed through Bhutan on their way to Tibet. They
met with
Ngawang Namgyal, presented him with firearms, gunpowder,
and a
telescope, and offered him their services in the war
against Tibet,
but the shabdrung declined the offer.
Bhutan's troubles were not over, however. In 1643 a
joint
Mongol-Tibetan force sought to destroy Nyingmapa refugees
who had
fled to Bhutan, Sikkim, and Nepal. The Mongols had seized
control
of religious and civil power in Tibet in the 1630s and
established
Gelugpa as the state religion. Bhutanese rivals of Ngawang
Namgyal
encouraged the Mongol intrusion, but the Mongol force was
easily
defeated in the humid lowlands of southern Bhutan. Another
Tibetan
invasion in 1647 also failed.
During Ngawang Namgyal's rule, administration comprised
a state
monastic body with an elected head, the Je Khenpo (lord
abbot), and
a theocratic civil government headed by the druk
desi
(regent of Bhutan, also known as deb raja in
Western
sources). The druk desi was either a monk or a
member of the
laity--by the nineteenth century, usually the latter; he
was
elected for a three-year term, initially by a monastic
council and
later by the State Council (Lhengye Tshokdu). The State
Council was
a central administrative organ that included regional
rulers, the
shabdrung's chamberlains, and the druk desi.
In time,
the druk desi came under the political control of
the State
Council's most powerful faction of regional
administrators. The
shabdrung was the head of state and the ultimate
authority
in religious and civil matters. The seat of government was
at
Thimphu, the site of a thirteenth-century dzong, in
the
spring, summer, and fall. The winter capital was at
Punakha, a
dzong established northeast of Thimphu in 1527. The
kingdom
was divided into three regions (east, central, and west),
each with
an appointed ponlop, or governor, holding a seat in
a major
dzong. Districts were headed by dzongpon, or
district
officers, who had their headquarters in lesser
dzong. The
ponlop were combination tax collectors, judges,
military
commanders, and procurement agents for the central
government.
Their major revenues came from the trade between Tibet and
India
and from land taxes.
Ngawang Namgyal's regime was bound by a legal code
called the
Tsa Yig, which described the spiritual and civil regime
and
provided laws for government administration and for social
and
moral conduct. The duties and virtues inherent in the
Buddhist
dharma (religious law) played a large role in the new
legal code,
which remained in force until the 1960s.
Data as of September 1991
- Bhutan-Entering the Outside World, 1972-86
- Bhutan-Festivals
- Bhutan-Banking and Credit
- Bhutan-Foreign Relations
- Bhutan-Climate
- Bhutan-Local Government
- Bhutan-Strategic Location NATIONAL SECURITY, BHUTAN
- Bhutan-River Systems
- Bhutan-Paramilitary
- Bhutan-Mining
- Bhutan-SOCIETY
- Bhutan-Forestry
- Bhutan-Political Developments
- Bhutan-Judiciary
- Bhutan-GEOGRAPHY
- Bhutan-Establishment of the Hereditary Monarchy, 1907
- Bhutan-Marriage and Family Life
- Bhutan-Legal System
- Bhutan-Table B - Bhutan: Chronology of Important Events
- Bhutan-Education
- Bhutan -COUNTRY PROFILE: BHUTAN
- Bhutan-Monetary System
- Bhutan-Administrative Integration and Conflict with Tibet, 1651- 1728
- Bhutan-Labor Force
- Bhutan-Participation in International Organizations
- Bhutan-Glaciers
- Bhutan-British Intrusion, 1772-1907
- Bhutan-Theocratic Government, 1616-1907
- Bhutan-Other Countries
- Bhutan-Preface
- Bhutan-Forest Guards
- Bhutan-Civil Service
- Bhutan-The Media
- Bhutan-Structure of the Government
- Bhutan-Population
- Bhutan-Forward
- Bhutan-Budgets
- Bhutan-Transportation and Communications
- Bhutan-Civil Aviation
- Bhutan-The Monarchy GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS, BHUTAN
- Bhutan-India
- Bhutan-The Land
- Bhutan-Energy
- Bhutan-China
- Bhutan-Health
- Bhutan-GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
- Bhutan-INTRODUCTION
- Bhutan-Civil Conflict, 1728-72
- Bhutan-NATIONAL SECURITY
- Bhutan-Trade
- Bhutan-Fisheries
- Bhutan-Foreign Economic Relations
- Bhutan-Bon
- Bhutan-Foreign Debt
- Bhutan-Irrigation and Fertilization
- Bhutan-Arrival of Buddhism
- Bhutan-Legal Basis
- Bhutan
- Bhutan-Rivalry among the Sects
- Bhutan-Languages
- Bhutan-Religious Tradition
- Bhutan-Tourism
- Bhutan-Legislature
- Bhutan-Agriculture
- Bhutan-Commerce
- Bhutan-Government-Owned Corporations
- Bhutan
- Bhutan-Origins and Early Settlement, A.D - 600-1600 HISTORICAL SETTING, BHUTAN
- Bhutan-Bhutan
- Bhutan-Modernization under Jigme Dorji, 1952-72
- Bhutan-The Economic Context THE ECONOMY, BHUTAN
- Bhutan-Acknowledgments
- Bhutan-CHAPTER 6 - BHUTAN
- Bhutan-Police Force
- Bhutan-Housing
- Bhutan-Role of the Government
- Bhutan-ECONOMY
- Bhutan-Hinduism and Islam
- Bhutan-Farming
- Bhutan-Animal Husbandry
- Bhutan-Role of Women
- Bhutan-Executive
- Bhutan-Development of Centralized Government, 1926-52
- Bhutan-Posts and Telecommunications
- Bhutan-Penal Code
- Bhutan-Geography THE SOCIETY AND ITS ENVIRONMENT, BHUTAN
- Bhutan-Social System
- Bhutan-Industry, Mining, Energy, and Commerce
- Bhutan-Armed Forces
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 to British India. 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 over 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. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which would introduce major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. In December 2006, the King abdicated the throne to his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK, in order to give him experience as head of state before the democratic transition. In early 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty to allow Bhutan greater autonomy in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate policy decisions in this area with New Delhi. In July 2007, seven ministers of Bhutan's ten-member cabinet resigned to join the political process, and the cabinet acted as a caretaker regime until democratic elections for seats to the country's first parliament were completed in March 2008. The king ratified the country's first constitution in July 2008.
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Location | | Southern Asia, between China and India
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Area(sq km) | | total: 38,394 sq km land: 38,394 sq km water: 0 sq km
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Geographic coordinates | | 27 30 N, 90 30 E
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Land boundaries(km) | | total: 1,075 km border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km
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Coastline(km) | | 0 km (landlocked)
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Climate | | varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas
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Elevation extremes(m) | | lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m
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Natural resources | | timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate
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Land use(%) | | arable land: 2.3% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 97.27% (2005)
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Irrigated land(sq km) | | 400 sq km (2003)
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Total renewable water resources(cu km) | | 95 cu km (1987)
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Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) | | total: 0.43 cu km/yr (5%/1%/94%) per capita: 199 cu m/yr (2000)
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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
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Environment - current issues | | soil erosion; limited access to potable water
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Environment - international agreements | | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
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Geography - note | | landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes
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Population | | 691,141 note: the Factbook population estimate is consistent with the first modern census of Bhutan, conducted in 2005; previous Factbook population estimates for this country, which were on the order of three times the total population reported here, were based on Bhutanese government publications that did not include the census (July 2009 est.)
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Age structure(%) | | 0-14 years: 30.2% (male 106,410/female 102,164) 15-64 years: 64.3% (male 235,988/female 208,484) 65 years and over: 5.5% (male 20,169/female 17,926) (2009 est.)
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Median age(years) | | total: 23.9 years male: 24.5 years female: 23.3 years (2009 est.)
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Population growth rate(%) | | 1.267% (2009 est.)
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Birth rate(births/1,000 population) | | 20.07 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
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Death rate(deaths/1,000 population) | | 7.39 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
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Net migration rate(migrant(s)/1,000 population) | | NA
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Urbanization(%) | | urban population: 35% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 4.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
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Sex ratio(male(s)/female) | | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
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Infant mortality rate(deaths/1,000 live births) | | total: 49.36 deaths/1,000 live births male: 50.38 deaths/1,000 live births female: 48.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
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Life expectancy at birth(years) | | total population: 66.13 years male: 65.33 years female: 66.97 years (2009 est.)
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Total fertility rate(children born/woman) | | 2.38 children born/woman (2009 est.)
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Nationality | | noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese
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Ethnic groups(%) | | Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
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Religions(%) | | Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
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Languages(%) | | Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
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Country name | | conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan local long form: Druk Gyalkhap local short form: Druk Yul
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Government type | | constitutional monarchy
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Capital | | name: Thimphu geographic coordinates: 27 29 N, 89 36 E time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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Administrative divisions | | 20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Gasa, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Tashi Yangtse, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
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Constitution | | ratified 18 July 2008
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Legal system | | based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
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Suffrage | | 18 years of age; universal
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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 and his son immediately succeeded him; the nearly two-year delay between the former King's abdication and his son's coronation on 6 November 2008 was to ensure an astrologically auspicious coronation date and to give the new King-who had limited experience-deeper administrative expertise under the guidance of this father head of government: Prime Minister Jigme THINLEY (since 9 April 2008) 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 elections: the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote; election of a new National Assembly occurred in March 2008; the leader of the majority party is nominated as the prime minister
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Legislative branch | | bicameral Parliament consists of the non-partisan National Council (25 seats; 20 members elected by each of the 20 electoral districts (dzongkhags) for four-year terms and 5 members nominated by the King); and the National Assembly (47 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote for five-year terms) elections: National Council elections last held on 31 December 2007 and 29 January 2008 (next to be held by December 2012); National Assembly elections last held on 24 March 2008 (next to be held by March 2013) election results: National Council - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - DPT 67%, PDP 33%; seats by party - DPT 45, PDP 2
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Judicial branch | | Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch); note - the draft constitution establishes a Supreme Court that will serve as chief court of appeal
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Political pressure groups and leaders | | United Front for Democracy (exiled); Druk National Congress (exiled) other: Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community
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International organization participation | | ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
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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
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Economy - overview | | The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% 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 and dependence on India's financial assistance. 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. Model education, social, and environment programs 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. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Hydropower exports to India have boosted Bhutan's overall growth, even though GDP fell in 2008 as a result of a slowdown in India, its predominant export market. New hydropower projects will be the driving force behind Bhutan's ability to create employment and sustain growth in the coming years.
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GDP (purchasing power parity) | | $3.533 billion (2008 est.) $2.91 billion (2007 est.) $2.738 billion (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP (official exchange rate) | | $1.389 billion (2008 est.)
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GDP - real growth rate(%) | | 21.4% (2008 est.) 6.3% (2007 est.) 6.5% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per capita (PPP) | | $5,200 (2008 est.) $4,300 (2007 est.) $4,100 (2006 est.) note: data are in 2008 US dollars
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GDP - composition by sector(%) | | agriculture: 22.3% industry: 37.9% services: 39.8% (2006)
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Labor force | | NA note: major shortage of skilled labor
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Labor force - by occupation(%) | | agriculture: 63% industry: 6% services: 31% (2004 est.)
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Unemployment rate(%) | | 2.5% (2004)
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Population below poverty line(%) | | 31.7% (2003)
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Household income or consumption by percentage share(%) | | lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%
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Budget | | revenues: $272 million expenditures: $350 million note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (2005)
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Inflation rate (consumer prices)(%) | | 4.9% (2007 est.)
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Stock of money | | $NA (31 December 2008) $381.1 million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of quasi money | | $NA (31 December 2008) $220.3 million (31 December 2007)
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Stock of domestic credit | | $NA (31 December 2008) $169.9 million (31 December 2007)
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Market value of publicly traded shares | | $NA
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Economic aid - recipient | | $941.2 million; note - substantial aid from India (2006)
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Public debt(% of GDP) | | 81.4% of GDP (2004) 81.4% of GDP (2004)
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Agriculture - products | | rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs
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Industries | | cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism
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Industrial production growth rate(%) | | NA
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Current account balance | | $116 million (2007 est.)
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Exports | | $350 million (2006)
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Exports - commodities(%) | | electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
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Exports - partners(%) | | India 89%, Bangladesh 6.5%, Italy 1.2% (2008)
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Imports | | $320 million (2006)
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Imports - commodities(%) | | fuel and lubricants, grain, aircraft, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
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Imports - partners(%) | | India 59.5%, Japan 13.4%, China 5.6% (2008)
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Debt - external | | $713.3 million (2006)
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Exchange rates | | ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar - 41.487 (2007), 45.279 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003) note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee
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Currency (code) | | ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
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Telephones - main lines in use | | 27,500 (2008)
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Telephones - mobile cellular | | 251,000 (2008)
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Telephone system | | general assessment: urban towns and district headquarters have telecommunications services domestic: low teledensity; domestic service is very poor especially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003 international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (2008)
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Internet country code | | .bt
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Internet users | | 40,000 (2008)
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Airports | | 2 (2009)
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Roadways(km) | | total: 8,050 km paved: 4,991 km unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)
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Military branches | | Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police) (2009)
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Military service age and obligation(years of age) | | 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2008)
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Manpower available for military service | | males age 16-49: 190,104 females age 16-49: 167,289 (2008 est.)
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Manpower fit for military service | | males age 16-49: 150,210 females age 16-49: 135,991 (2009 est.)
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Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually | | male: 7,668 female: 7,379 (2009 est.)
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Military expenditures(% of GDP) | | 1% of GDP (2005 est.)
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Disputes - international | | Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian Nagaland separatists; lacking any treaty describing the boundary, Bhutan and China continue negotiations to establish a common boundary alignment to resolve territorial disputes arising from substantial cartographic discrepancies, the largest of which lie in Bhutan's northwest and along the Chumbi salient
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Electricity - production(kWh) | | 4.475 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - production by source(%) | | fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (2001)
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Electricity - consumption(kWh) | | 528.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - exports(kWh) | | 3.644 billion kWh (2007 est.)
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Electricity - imports(kWh) | | 11 million kWh (2007 est.)
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Oil - production(bbl/day) | | 0 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - consumption(bbl/day) | | 1,000 bbl/day (2008 est.)
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Oil - exports(bbl/day) | | 0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - imports(bbl/day) | | 1,168 bbl/day (2007 est.)
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Oil - proved reserves(bbl) | | 0 bbl (1 January 2009 est.)
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Natural gas - production(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - consumption(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008 est.)
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Natural gas - exports(cu m) | | 0 cu m (2008)
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Natural gas - proved reserves(cu m) | | 0 cu m (1 January 2009 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate(%) | | less than 0.1% (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS | | fewer than 100 (2007 est.)
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HIV/AIDS - deaths | | NA
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Major infectious diseases | | degree of risk: intermediate food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria water contact disease: leptospirosis (2009)
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Literacy(%) | | definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 47% male: 60% female: 34% (2003 est.)
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School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)(years) | | total: 10 years male: 11 years female: 10 years (2006)
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Education expenditures(% of GDP) | | 7% of GDP (2005)
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