Bhutan

Full name of country: Kingdom of Bhutan

Region: South Asia

Official language: Dzongkha

Population: 884,546 (2024 est.)

Nationality: Bhutanese (singular and plural) (noun), Bhutanese (adjective)

Land area: 38,394 sq km (14,824 sq miles)

Capital: Thimphu

National anthem: "Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom), by Gyaldun Dasho Thinley Dorji/Aku Tongmi

National holiday: National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king), December 17 (1907)

Population growth: 0.95% (2024 est.)

Time zone: UTC +6

Flag: The flag of Bhutan features two opposing triangular color fields of yellow and orange. The color fields divide the flag diagonally. In the center of the flag is a large black-and-white drawing of a dragon. The yellow symbolizes Bhutan’s civic traditions while the orange represents the country’s roots in Buddhism. The dragon, or “druk,” is the official symbol of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

Independence: 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king)

Government type: constitutional monarchy

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal system: civil law based on Buddhist religious law

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked, mountainous country in the eastern Himalayas. Located between India and China on the Asian continent, Bhutan also borders Tibet. The country's name means "land of the thunder dragon," a reference to the often brutal Himalayan storms experienced there. People who live in Bhutan are known as Bhutanese.

Note: unless otherwise indicated, statistical data in this article is sourced from the CIA World Factbook, as cited in the bibliography.

People and Culture

Population: Major ethnic groups in Bhutan include the Ngalop (or Bhote; 50 percent), ethnic Nepali (35 percent), and indigenous or migrant tribes (15 percent). The Ngalop reside mainly in the eastern and northern regions of the country, where the Nepalese are forbidden from settling.

The official language is Dzongkha, though it is spoken by only around 24 percent of the population. Other Tibetan and Nepalese dialects are also common, and the English language is used in schools as well as on some road signs and government documents. In all, there are nearly twenty other living languages spoken in Bhutan, including Sharchhopka (spoken by about 28 percent of the population), Lhotshamkha (spoken by 22 percent), Brokkat, Brokpa, and Chali (2005 estimates).

The majority of Bhutanese people reside in rural communities, with 44.4 percent living in urban areas in 2023, though urbanization is slowly increasing. Roads are difficult to build in the mountainous terrain, and some communities can only be reached by walking.

Religion is a major part of life in Bhutan and also shapes government policy. The primary religions practiced are Lamaistic Buddhism (75.3 percent of the population according to 2005 estimates) and Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism (22.1 percent), although there are also some followers of animism, Christianity, and Islam. There are thousands of Buddhist monks in Bhutan, and monasteries, shrines, and prayer flags can be seen throughout the country.

The form of Buddhism officially practiced in Bhutan is Drukpa Kagyupa, which stems from Mahayana Buddhism. Hindu forms practiced in Bhutan include the Shaivite, Vaishnavite, Shakta, Puranic, and Vedic schools. Religious freedom is minimal.

Indigenous People: Archaeologists speculate that the original inhabitants of Bhutan first settled there in 2000 BCE. During the ninth century, the Ngalop moved from Tibet to Bhutan, where they came into contact with the native Tephu tribe.

In modern Bhutan, the Sharchop, who live in eastern Bhutan, are considered the Indigenous population of the region. The Ngalop live in the western part of the country, while Nepalis are primarily settled in the south.

The Nepalis are the most recent inhabitants of Bhutan and the largest minority group. Although the "Nepali Bhutanese" became citizens of Bhutan in 1958, many were suddenly cast out of society when the law changed in the late 1980s and declared them to be unlawful residents. More than one hundred thousand Nepalis were forced out of the country by the Bhutanese government in 1990 and eventually settled in refugee camps in Nepal. This aggressive move caused a great deal of anger among Nepalese both in and outside of Bhutan and spurred political activism. The Bhutan People's Party, operating out of Nepal, became an important public voice in these matters.

Education: Schools in Bhutan were originally run by Buddhist monasteries. Since the 1950s, secular and government-funded schools have become more widespread.

In 2021 Bhutan spent 7 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on education. Schooling is publicly funded for the first ten years of a student's formal education. Primary school starts at age six and lasts for seven years, followed by six years of secondary school, divided into lower and higher secondary.

Schools must adhere to a national core curriculum that includes English, Dzongkha, and mathematics. Literature, social studies, history, geography, general science, biology, chemistry, physics, and religion are some of the other subjects studied. Agricultural and animal husbandry courses are also taught where such instruction is practical.

An estimated 70.9 percent of adults fifteen and over are literate, according to 2021 estimates. By 2018, students in Bhutan received an average of thirteen years of education.

The Royal University of Bhutan administers the country’s postsecondary institutions. Among them are the Paro College of Education and the Samtse College of Education, which serve as teacher-training schools.

Health Care: Bhutanese receive free but rudimentary medical care, primarily dispensed from the general hospital in the capital, Thimphu. The health-care system is supported by domestic funds as well as foreign donors (India is a major contributor).

Efforts have been made to improve access to important drugs and vaccines in the more remote villages of the country. The country has a strong track record of vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DTP), and measles. In 2021, the nation was able to vaccinate 90 percent of its population against COVID-19.

Bhutan ranked 125 out of 191 countries on the 2022 UN Human Development Index (HDI), which measures quality-of-life indicators. However, some argue that this figure misrepresents the individual quality of life in Bhutan, which scores highly on metrics such as happiness and psychological well-being.

Food: Like that of its neighbors, India and Nepal, Bhutanese food is very spicy. Courses are generally served buffet style. Tibetan red rice and noodles are common staples. Some favorite dishes include momos (Tibetan dumplings), emdatsi (chili peppers in cheese sauce or with potatoes), and pakshee paa (sliced pork, chilies, and radishes).

In Bumthang, the central valley region of the country, buckwheat pancakes and noodles are more readily available than rice. Beverages take the form of sweet teas or fruit juices. Alcoholic drinks include chang and temka, as well as the stronger arra, made from rice, barley, or wheat.

Arts & Entertainment: Bhutanese culture, including art, music, dance, and clothing, is strongly influenced by the Buddhist religion. Dancers often wear elaborately decorated masks, and mask making is a flourishing art form in the country. Other examples of fine arts in Bhutan include wood carvings, thangkas (cloth scrolls decorated with religious figures or symbolism), and fabric weavings.

Religious festivals called tsechus usually take place around the tenth of each month and are held all over the country in different districts. Tsechus celebrate the deeds of the Guru Padmasambhava, who is also known as Guru Rimpoche, a Mahayana Buddhist saint and a central figure in Bhutanese religious history. The dances at these festivals portray dramas featuring heroes, demons, animals, and gods, as well as caricatures of ordinary people. Each dance has distinct religious significance and is only performed once or twice a year.

Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, enforces strict controls and guidelines regarding the architecture and development of the city. This means that buildings cannot surpass certain heights or be built in nontraditional styles. The last world capital without traffic lights, Thimphu is located in a wooded valley in the central region of Bhutan. The three major monasteries near Thimphu are Dechenphu, Tango, and Cheri. The residence of the king, called Dechenchoeling Pala, is north of the city. With a few museums and a weekend market, Thimphu has recently succumbed to certain modern influences, such as televisions and computers, but these are not used widely outside of the capital.

Holidays: Public holidays in Bhutan are almost all religious in nature, with prayers offered to bless the day. Holidays include the winter solstice (around January 1), the traditional day of offerings (late January), the lunar new year (January or February), the beginning of monsoon season (September 22), National Day (December 17), and other Buddhist and Hindu celebrations, as well as the birthday and the anniversary of the coronation of the Druk Gyalpo (dragon king), the head of state.

Environment and Geography

Topography: Bhutan is a completely landlocked country with extremely high elevations. There are no major bodies of water, which can make access to potable water problematic. Regardless, in 2020, an estimated 99.8 percent of the population had access to drinking water from improved sources such as protected wells or pipes.

The country is extremely mountainous. The Great Himalayan range features some of the tallest mountains in the world. The highest point in Bhutan is Gangkar Punsum (7,570 meters/24,836 feet), on the border with Tibet. The country's lowest point is at the Drangme Chhu basin (97 meters/318 feet).

Bhutan consists of three major regions: the sparsely-populated north, which features the Tibetan border region and the Great Himalayan range; the middle Himalayan zone, which has more fertile valleys and is more temperate; and the southern portion of the country, which is semi-tropical.

Major rivers in Bhutan include the Brahmaputra, Ama, Raidak, Sankosh, Ai, Tongsa, Bumtang, Kuru, and Dangma. Most rivers flow into the Brahmaputra River in India.

Natural Resources: Bhutan's natural resources include timber, gypsum, and calcium carbide. Most of the land (85.5 percent) in Bhutan is forested (2018 estimate).

One of Bhutan's major potential resources is hydropower. That industry expanded with the construction of hydropower plants and the development of closer ties to the Indian market.

Thanks to Bhutan's widespread forests, wood fuel is the major source of energy used for cooking and heating, but it may also cause pollution. Plant and soil erosion is one of the most difficult environmental problems in Bhutan. The country's mountainous terrain makes it prone to landslides, which contribute to the erosion problem.

Plants & Animals: Bhutan has gone to great lengths to conserve its wildlife. The country is known for its biodiversity, with abundant plant life and an estimated 670 species of birds.

National policy regarding conservation is in accordance with Buddhist teachings. The Bhutanese believe that all forms of life should be treated as sacred. Some have attributed the successful survival of many rare wild animals and the increased protection of important habitats to this policy. The Bhutanese Duar Plains, in the southern portion of the country, are known for the diversity of wildlife found there.

There are many rare and exotic mammals in Bhutan. Some of these include the takin, snow leopard, cheetah, goral, sambar, rhinoceros, golden langur, blue sheep, water buffalo, and elephant. Different species of deer, including the barking deer, are found at higher elevations.

Some of the trees commonly found in Bhutan include the beech, ash, birch, maple, cypress, and yew. There are also oak, rhododendron, firs, and pines at higher elevations. Plants, such as priumlas, poppies, magnolias, and orchids are also common.

Bhutan is home to many species of endangered mammals, including many birds. It is also home to many endangered plants and reptiles.

Climate: The weather in Bhutan ranges from extremely harsh in the north to semitropical in the southern plains. In the mountainous areas of northern Bhutan, conditions are very cold and wet. With frequent snow in the winter and rain in the summer, there is also considerable danger of landslides. In these areas, travel becomes impossible during the winter when the numerous mountain passes are blocked by snow.

In the central regions, conditions can vary considerably depending on the elevation, but essentially it is cold in the winter and hot in the summer. In the south, at the foothills of the Himalayas, the climate is semi-tropical.

Economy

Bhutan's gross domestic product (GDP; purchasing power parity) in 2022 was estimated at US$10.981 billion (US$14,000 per capita). The nation has a somewhat mixed economy that saw considerable growth in the early twenty-first century, contributing to sharp declines in poverty. In 2022 services contributed the greatest portion of the GDP (51.2 percent), followed closely by industry (31.8 percent). The unemployment rate was estimated at 5.65 percent in 2023, though it stood at 29.2 percent for those age fifteen to twenty-five.

Industry: In Bhutan, industry is limited and often out of the technological mainstream. However, there has been significant growth in the hydropower industry in the twenty-first century. Other major industries include cement, wood products, calcium carbide, processed fruits, and alcoholic beverages. Exports in 2023 were valued at approximately US$815.05 million. Most of Bhutan's exports go to India, and include electricity, iron alloys, dolomite, aircraft, cement, and gypsum.

Agriculture: Agriculture remains an important economic activity in Bhutan. In 2015, about 58 percent of the work force was engaged in farming-related occupations, primarily subsistence farming and animal husbandry.

Only 2.6 percent of the country's total area is arable land. Due to the mountainous terrain, most land cannot be farmed. Nonetheless, Bhutanese farmers provide practically all of the country's food supply. Major crops include rice, corn, root crops, citrus, dairy products, and eggs. Rice and corn are the most abundant crops.

Tourism: Isolated from much of the outside world for many years, Bhutan only opened its borders to tourists in the 1970s. The government still has strict policies regarding the entrance of foreign visitors, but the tourist industry has steadily become an important economic sector. While tourism dropped sharply in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as in most countries, the industry began to recover in the following years.

Tourists (particularly ecotourists) are drawn to Bhutan to for the abundant wildlife and extensive trekking terrain offered by the country's pristine landscape. The elaborate religious festivals are another major attraction.

Government

Bhutan is officially a constitutional monarchy, but executive power lies with the Lhengye Zhungtshog (Council of Ministers) and the bicameral Chi Tshog (Parliament), whose members can take power away from the king with a two-thirds vote. Members of the Lhengye Zhungtshog are nominated by the monarch and serve five-year terms. The Chi Tshog consists of the twenty-five-seat Gyelyong Tshogde (National Council) and the forty-seven-seat Tshogdu (National Assembly). All members of the Tshogdu and twenty members of the Gyelyong Tshogde are directly elected to five-year terms; the five remaining members are appointed by the king.

Bhutan is separated into twenty different administrative districts, or dzongkhags, each one run by a Dzongkhag Tshodu (District Council) that is responsible for upholding the law and addressing socioeconomic concerns in its territory. Each dzongkhag is further divided into units called gewogs; some have intermediate units called dungkhags (subdistricts), which are made up of several gewogs.

Interesting Facts

• Bhutan was the first country in the world to ban tobacco sales and smoking in public.
• Bhutan created the principle of gross national happiness as an alternative method to gross domestic product as a measure of progress in the country.

Bibliography

"Bhutan." The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, 15 Jan. 2025, www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bhutan/. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

"Bhutan." World Health Organization, www.who.int/countries/btn/en/. Accessed 8 Nov. 2023.

Hershey, Karla R. "Bhutan: the Vaccination Nation." United Nations Sustainable Development Group, 12 July 2021, unsdg.un.org/latest/blog/bhutan-vaccination-nation. Accessed 31 May 2022.

"Human Development Insights." Human Development Reports, UNDP, 13 Mar. 2024, hdr.undp.org/data-center/country-insights#/ranks. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025