STATISTICS: BHUTAN

Bhutan Official name: Druk-Yul (Kingdom of Bhutan). Form of government: constitutional{1} monarchy with one legislative house (National Assembly ). Head of state and government: Monarch assisted by the Council of Ministers{1}. Capital: Thimphu. Official language: Dzongkha (a Tibetan dialect). Official religion: Mahayana Buddhism. Monetary unit: 1 ngultrum{3} (Nu) = 100 chetrum; valuation (Sept. 25, 1998) 1 U.S.$ = Nu 42.51; 1 = Nu 72.37. Demography Population (1998): 633,000{4}. Density (1998): persons per sq mi 34.9, persons per sq km 13.5. Urban-rural (1997): urban 7.0%; rural 93.0%. Sex distribution (1988): male 50.97%; female 49.03%. Age breakdown (1988): under 15, 40.3%; 15-29, 26.4%; 30-44, 16.5%; 45-59, 10.5%; 60-74, 5.2%; 75 and over, 1.1%. Population projection: (2000) 662,000; (2010) 821,000. Doubling time: 26 years. Ethnic composition (1993): Bhutia (Ngalops) 50.0%; Nepalese (Gurung) 35.0%; Sharchops 15.0%. Religious affiliation (1998): Buddhist 75.0%; Hindu 25.0%. Major cities (1993): Thimphu 30,340; Phuntsholing 10,000{5}. Vital statistics Birth rate per 1,000 population (1997): 41.3 (world avg. 25.0); legitimate, n.a.; illegitimate, n.a. Death rate per 1,000 population (1997): 13.9 (world avg. 9.3). Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1997): 27.4 (world avg. 15.7). Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman; 1997): 5.9. Marital status of population 15 years and over (1985): married 71.2%; single 19.7%; widowed 7.5%; divorced 1.6%. Divorce rate per 1,000 population: n.a. Life expectancy at birth (1997): male 51.0 years; female 53.0 years. Major causes of death (percentage distribution; 1989): respiratory tract infections 19.5%; diarrhea/dysentery 15.2%; skin infections 12.2%; parasitic worm infestations 10.0%; malaria 9.4%. National economy Budget (1996-97). Revenue: Nu 5,107,000,000 (internal revenue 38.8%, grants from UN and other international agencies 33.5%, grants from government of India 27.7%). Expenditures: Nu 5,663,000,000 (capital expenditures 61.2%, current expenditures 38.8%). Public debt (external, outstanding; 1996): U.S.$86,300,000. Production (metric tons except as noted). Agriculture, forestry, fishing (1996): oranges 58,000, rice 50,000, corn (maize) 39,000, potatoes 34,000, sugarcane 13,000, green peppers and chilies 8,500, millet 7,000, apples 5,500, wheat 5,000, barley 4,000, pulses 1,600; livestock (number of live animals) 435,000 cattle, 75,000 pigs, 59,000 sheep, 42,000 goats, 30,000 horses; roundwood (1995) 1,399,000 cu m; fish catch (1995) 340. Mining and quarrying (1995): limestone 267,000; dolomite 249,000; gypsum 52,000. Manufacturing (value in Nu '000,000; 1994): chemical products 419.0; cement 255.1; wood board products 230.6; distillery products 178.3; processed fruits 103.0. Construction (number of buildings completed; 1977-78): residential 10; nonresidential (guest house) 1. Energy production (consumption): electricity (kW-hr; 1994) 1,682,000,000 (230,000,000); coal (metric tons; 1994) 2,000 (20,000); crude petroleum, none (n.a.); petroleum products (metric tons; 1994) none (31,000); natural gas, none (n.a.). Household income and expenditure. Average household size (1980) 5.4{4}; income per household: n.a.; sources of income: n.a.; expenditure (1979): food 72.3%, clothing 21.2%, energy 3.7%, household durable goods 0.7%, personal effects and other 2.1%. Gross national product (at current market prices; 1996): U.S.$282,000,000 (U.S.$390 per capita). Population economically active (1984){4}: total 348,000; activity rate of total population 53.4% (participation rates: ages 15-64, 94.8%; female 55.0%; unemployed 6.5%). Land use (1994): forested 66.0%; meadows and pastures 5.8%; agricultural and under permanent cultivation 2.8%; other 25.4%. Tourism (1995): receipts from visitors U.S.$5,830,000; expenditures by nationals abroad, n.a. Foreign trade{6} Imports (1994-95): Nu 3,562,400,000 ({7}petroleum products 7.4%, rice 6.9%, motor vehicles and parts 5.1%, iron and steel products 2.0%, fabrics 1.2%, machinery parts 0.4%). Major import source: India 77.2%. Exports (1994-95): Nu 2,225,000,000 ({7}electricity 24.9%, cement 12.8%, timber and wood manufactures 11.5%, fruit and vegetables 9.5%). Major export destination: India 93.8%. Transport Transport. Railroads: none. Roads (1995): total length 1,998 mi, 3,216 km (paved 79%). Vehicles (1988): passenger cars 2,590; trucks and buses 1,367. Merchant marine: none. Air transport (1996): passenger-mi 29,000,000, passenger-km 46,000,000; metric ton-km cargo, n.a.; airports (1997) with scheduled flights 1. Education and health Educational attainment: n.a. Literacy (1995 est.): total population age 15 and over literate 42.2%; males literate 56.2%; females literate 28.1%. Health: physicians (1994) 100 (1 per 8,000 persons); hospital beds 970 (1 per 825 persons); infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (1997) 105. Food (1975-77): daily per capita caloric intake 2,058 (vegetable products 98%, animal products 2%); 89% of FAO recommended minimum requirement. Military Total active duty personnel (1993): about 7,000 (army 100%). {1} There is no formal constitution, but a form of constitutional monarchy is in place; reforms in July 1998 curtailed the powers of the monarchy. {2} Includes 45 nonelective seats occupied by representatives of the King and religious groups. {3} Indian currency is also accepted legal tender; the ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee. {4} Excludes nearly 100,000 Bhutanese of Nepalese origin declared stateless by the Bhutanese government in late 1990. {5} 1982. {6} Import figures are c.i.f. in balance of trade, commodities, and trading partners. {7} Trade data with India only.