The 2004 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

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.

      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: 3.09% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.48% (2001)

      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, Climate Change-Kyoto

       Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes

       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: 2,185,569 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2004 est.)

      Age structure:

       0–14 years: 39.3% (male 445,548; female 414,338)

       15–64 years: 56.6% (male 637,637; female 600,253)

       65 years and over: 4% (male 44,298; female 43,495) (2004 est.)

      Median age:

       total: 20.2 years

       male: 20 years

       female: 20.3 years (2004 est.)

      Population growth rate:

       2.12% (2004 est.)

      Birth rate:

       34.41 births/1,000 population (2004 est.)

      Death rate:

       13.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)

      Net migration rate:

       0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004 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 (2004 est.)

      Infant mortality rate:

       total: 102.56 deaths/1,000 live births

       female: 104.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)

       male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births

      Life expectancy at birth:

       total population: 53.99 years

       male: 54.27 years

       female: 53.68 years (2004 est.)

      Total fertility rate:

       4.87 children born/woman (2004 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 - in 2001 the King

       commissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in