The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

      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: 96.59% (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 agreements:

       party to: Biodiversity, Climate 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: 2,139,549 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2003 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 39.6% (male 438,784; female 407,919)

       15–64 years: 56.4% (male 621,666; female 585,550)

       65 years and over: 4% (male 43,262; female 42,368) (2003 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 20.1 years

       male: 19.9 years

       female: 20.3 years (2002)

      Population growth rate:

       2.14% (2003 est.)

      Birth rate:

       34.82 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Death rate:

       13.47 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 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 (2003 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 104.68 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 106.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)

       male: 102.49 deaths/1,000 live births

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 53.58 years

       male: 53.9 years

       female: 53.25 years (2003 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       4.94 children born/woman (2003 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

       less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

      HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

       less than 100 (1999 est.)

      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 - the King

       commissioned a committee to draft a constitution in 2001, but has

       yet to be approved

      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

       Jigme Y. THINLEY (since 30 August 2003)

       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