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Background:
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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. 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 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. In March 2005, King WANGCHUCK
unveiled the government's draft constitution - which
would introduce major democratic reforms - and pledged
to hold a national referendum for its approval. A
referendum date has yet to be named. |
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Location:
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Southern
Asia, between China and India |
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Geographic coordinates:
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27 30 N,
90 30 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total:
47,000 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about
half the size of Indiana |
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Land boundaries:
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total:
1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km
(landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none
(landlocked) |
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Climate:
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varies;
tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot
summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool
summers in Himalayas |
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Terrain:
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mostly
mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest
point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber,
hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate |
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Land use:
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arable
land: 3.09%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.48% (2001) |
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Irrigated land:
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400 sq km
(1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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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:
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soil
erosion; limited access to potable water |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party
to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous
Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
controls several key Himalayan mountain passes |
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Population:
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2,232,291
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000
(July 2005 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 39.1% (male 452,213/female 420,675)
15-64 years: 56.9% (male 654,109/female 615,431)
65 years and over: 4% (male 45,281/female 44,582)
(2005 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 20.27 years
male: 20.11 years
female: 20.44 years (2005 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.11% (2005 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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34.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Death rate:
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12.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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 (2005 est.)
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 100.44 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 98.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 102.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2005
est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 54.39 years
male: 54.65 years
female: 54.11 years (2005 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.81 children born/woman (2005 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 100 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese |
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Ethnic groups:
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Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas -
one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or
migrant tribes 15% |
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Religions:
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Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25% |
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Languages:
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Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan
dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.) |
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan |
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Government type:
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monarchy;
special treaty relationship with India |
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Capital:
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Thimphu
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Administrative divisions:
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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 |
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Independence:
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8 August
1949 (from India) |
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National holiday:
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National
Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17
December (1907) |
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Constitution:
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no
written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001
the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution,
and in March 2005 publicly unveiled it; now awaiting
referendum |
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Legal system:
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based on
Indian law and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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each
family has one vote in village-level elections; note -
in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election
law |
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Executive branch:
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chief
of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July
1972)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of
Ministers Sangay NGEDUP (since 5 September 2005)
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: none; the monarch is hereditary, but
democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National
Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds
vote |
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Legislative branch:
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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: local elections last held November
2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: NA |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme
Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges
appointed by the monarch) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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no legal
parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Buddhist
clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant
antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community;
United Front for Democracy (exiled) |
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International organization participation:
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AsDB, CP,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW,
SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer) |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none;
note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN;
address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York,
NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212)
826-2998; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular
jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US
and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although
informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and
US Embassy in New Delhi (India) |
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Flag description:
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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:
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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 90% 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. Bhutan's
hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are
key resources. 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 like industrial
licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper
foreign investment. |
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GDP (purchasing power parity):
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$2.9
billion (2003 est.) |
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GDP (official exchange rate):
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NA |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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5.3%
(2003 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2003 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 45%
industry: 10%
services: 45% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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NA
note: massive lack of skilled labor |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 93%, industry and commerce 2%, services 5%
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Unemployment rate:
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NA |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest
10%: NA
highest 10%: NA |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3% (2002
est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $146 million
expenditures: $152 million, including capital
expenditures of NA
note: the government of India finances nearly
three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96
est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice,
corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products,
eggs |
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Industries:
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cement,
wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,
calcium carbide |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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9.3%
(1996 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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1.882
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - consumption:
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250.3
million kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - exports:
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1.51
billion kWh (2003) |
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Electricity - imports:
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10
million kWh (2003) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day
(2003) |
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Oil - consumption:
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1,100
bbl/day (2003 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001)
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001)
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Exports:
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$154
million f.o.b. (2000 est.) |
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Exports - partners:
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India
85.6%, Bangladesh 6.7%, Japan 4.3% (2004) |
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Imports:
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$196
million c.i.f. (2000 est.) |
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Imports - partners:
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Germany
41.8%, India 35.5%, Japan 9.2%, Austria 4.3% (2004) |
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Debt - external:
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$245
million (2000) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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substantial aid from India and other nations |
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Currency (code):
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ngultrum
(BTN); Indian rupee (INR) |
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Exchange rates:
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ngultrum
per US dollar - NA (2005), 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003),
48.61 (2002), 47.186 (2001) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 July -
30 June |
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Telephones - main lines in use:
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25,200
(2003) |
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Telephones - mobile cellular:
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22,000
(2005) |
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Telephone system:
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general assessment: telecommunications facilities
are poor
domestic: very low tele-density; 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 (2005) |
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Radio broadcast stations:
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AM 0, FM
1, shortwave 1 (2004) |
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Television broadcast stations:
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1 (2005)
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Internet country code:
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.bt |
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Internet hosts:
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985
(2003) |
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Internet users:
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15,000
(2003) |
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Airports:
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2 (2004
est.) |
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Airports - with paved runways:
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total:
1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2005 est.) |
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Airports - with unpaved runways:
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total:
1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2005 est.) |
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Roadways:
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total:
8,050 km
paved: 4,991 km
unpaved: 3,059 km (2003) |
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Military branches:
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Royal
Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan
Police) (2005) |
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Military service age and obligation:
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18 years
of age for voluntary military service; no conscription
(2001) |
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Manpower available for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 483,860 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower fit for military service:
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males
age 18-49: 314,975 (2005 est.) |
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Manpower reaching military service age annually:
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males:
23,939 (2005 est.) |
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Military expenditures - dollar figure:
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$13.7
million (2004) |
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Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
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1.8%
(2004) |
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Disputes - international:
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approximately 104,000 Bhutanese refugees live in Nepal,
90% of whom reside in seven UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Refugees camps; Bhutan cooperates with
India to expel Indian separatists |
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