The 1999 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

expenditures—dollar figure: $NA

      Military expenditures—percent of GDP: NA%

      Military—note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

      Transnational Issues

      Disputes—international: none

      ======================================================================

      @Bhutan———

      Geography

      Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

      Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E

      Map references: Asia

      Area:

       total: 47,000 sq km

       land: 47,000 sq km

       water: 0 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%

       permanent crops: 0%

       permanent pastures: 6%

       forests and woodland: 66%

       other: 26% (1993 est.)

      Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1993 est.)

      Natural hazards: violent storms coming down 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

      Population: 1,951,965 (July 1999 est.)

       note: other estimates range as low as 600,000

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 40% (male 405,745; female 376,738)

       15–64 years: 56% (male 561,754; female 530,420)

       65 years and over: 4% (male 39,251; female 38,057) (1999 est.)

      Population growth rate: 2.25% (1999 est.)

      Birth rate: 36.76 births/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Death rate: 14.26 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.)

      Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 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: 1.03 male(s)/female

       total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (1999 est.)

      Infant mortality rate: 109.33 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

      Life expectancy at birth: total population: 52.75 years male: 53.19 years female: 52.29 years (1999 est.)

      Total fertility rate: 5.16 children born/woman (1999 est.)

      Nationality:

       noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)

       adjective: Bhutanese

      Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or

       migrant tribes 15%

      Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism 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.)

      People—note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

      Government

      Country name:

       conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan

       conventional short form: Bhutan

      Data code: BT

      Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

      Capital: Thimphu

      Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and

       plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,

       Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar,

       Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

      Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)

      National holiday: National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen

       WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king)

      Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights

       note: Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the

       National Assembly

      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);

       note—the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government

       head of government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July

       1972); note—the monarch is both the chief of state and head of

       government

       cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) appointed by the

       monarch, approved by the National Assembly

       note: there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members

       nominated by the monarch

       elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

      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: the Supreme Court of Appeal