Bhutan

Bhutan,officially theKingdom of Bhutan,(Dzongkha: འབྲུག་རྒྱལ་ཁབ;Wylie:'Druk gyal khab) is alandlocked countryinSouth Asia, situated in theEastern HimalayasbetweenChinain the north andIndiain the south, with theIndianstate ofSikkimseparating it from neighbouringNepal. With a population of over 727,145and a territory of 38,394 square kilometres (14,824 sq mi), Bhutan ranks133rdin land area and160thin population. Bhutan is ademocraticconstitutional monarchywith aKingas thehead of stateand aprime ministeras thehead of government. TheJe Khenpois the head of thestate religion,VajrayanaBuddhism.
TheHimalayan mountainsin the north rise from the country's lushsubtropicalplains in the south.In theBhutanese Himalayas, there are peaks higher than7,000 metres (23,000 ft)abovesea level.Gangkhar Puensumis Bhutan's highest peak and is the highest unclimbed mountain in the world. Thewildlife of Bhutanis notable for its diversity,including the Himalayantakinandgolden langur. The capital and largest city isThimphu, with close to 15% of the population.
Bhutan and neighbouringTibetexperienced thespread of Buddhism, which originated in theIndian subcontinentduring the lifetime ofthe Buddha. In the first millennium, the Vajrayana school of Buddhism spread to Bhutan from the southernPala Empireof Bengal. During the 16th century,Ngawang Namgyalunified thevalleys of Bhutaninto a single state. Namgyal defeated three Tibetan invasions, subjugated rival religious schools, codified theTsa Yiglegal system, and established a government of theocratic and civil administrators. Namgyal became the firstZhabdrung Rinpocheand his successors acted as the spiritual leaders of Bhutan, like theDalai Lamain Tibet. During the 17th century, Bhutan controlled large parts ofnortheast India,SikkimandNepal; it also wielded significant influence inCooch Behar State.
Although having pursued closer ties with theBritainin the past, Bhutan has never been colonised.Bhutan ceded theBengal DuarstoBritish Indiaduring theDuar Warin the 19th century. TheWangchuck dynastyemerged as the monarchy and pursued closer ties with Britain in the subcontinent. In 1910, theTreaty of Punakhaguaranteed British advice inforeign policyin exchange for internal autonomy in Bhutan. The arrangement continued under a new treaty with India in 1949 (signed at Darjeeling) in which both countriesrecognisedeach other's sovereignty.
Bhutan joined theUnited Nationsin 1971. It has since expanded relations with 55 countries. While dependent on theIndian military, Bhutan maintains its ownmilitary units.
The2008 Constitutionestablished a parliamentary government with an electedNational Assemblyand aNational Council. Bhutan is a founding member of theSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC). In 2020, Bhutan ranked third in South Asia afterSri Lankaand theMaldivesin theHuman Development Index, and 21st on theGlobal Peace Indexas the most peaceful country in South Asia as of 2024, as well as the only South Asian country in the list's first quartile.Bhutan is also a member of theClimate Vulnerable Forum, theNon-Aligned Movement,BIMSTEC, theIMF, theWorld Bank,UNESCOand theWorld Health Organization(WHO). Bhutan ranked first in SAARC ineconomic freedom,ease of doing business,peaceandlack of corruptionin 2016. Bhutan has one of the largest water reserves forhydropowerin the world.Meltingglacierscaused byclimate changeare a growing concern in Bhutan.
The precise etymology of "Bhutan" is unknown, although it is likely to derive from theTibetanendonym"Böd" forTibet. Traditionally, it is taken to be a transcription of theSanskritBhoṭa-anta(भोट-अन्त) "end ofTibet", a reference to Bhutan's position as the southern extremity of the Tibetan plateau and culture.
Since the 17th century, Bhutan's official name has beenDruk yul(literally, "country of theDrukpa Lineage" or "the Land of the Thunder Dragon," a reference to the country's dominant Buddhist sect); "Bhutan" appears only in English-language official correspondence.The terms for the Kings of BhutanDruk Gyalpo("Dragon King"), and the BhutaneseendonymDrukpa, "Dragon people," are similarly derived.
Names similar to Bhutan—including Bohtan, Buhtan, Bottanthis, Bottan and Bottanter—began to appear in Europe around the 1580s.Jean-Baptiste Tavernier's 1676Six Voyagesis the first to record the nameBoutan. However, these names seem to have referred not to modern Bhutan but to theKingdom of Tibet. The modern distinction between the two did not begin until well into the Scottish explorerGeorge Bogle's 1774 expedition. Realising the differences between the two regions, cultures, and states, his final report to theEast India Companyformally proposed calling theDruk Desi's kingdom "Boutan" and thePanchen Lama's kingdom "Tibet". The EIC's surveyor generalJames Rennellfirstanglicisedthe French name as "Bootan" and then popularised the distinction between it andGreater Tibet.
The first time a separate Kingdom of Bhutan appeared on a western map, it did so under its local name "Broukpa".Others includeLho Mon("Dark Southland"),Lho Tsendenjong("Southland of theCypress"),Lhomen Khazhi("Southland of the Four Approaches") andLho Menjong("Southland of theHerbs").
Stone tools, weapons, elephants, and remnants of large stone structures provide evidence that Bhutan was inhabited as early as 2000 BC, although there are no existing records from that time. Historians have theorised that the state ofLhomon(lit.'southern darkness'), orMonyul("Dark Land", a reference to theMonpa, an ethnic group in Bhutan andArunachal Pradesh, India), may have existed between 500 BC and AD 600. The namesLhomon Tsendenjong(SandalwoodCountry) andLhomon Khashior Southern Mon (country of four approaches), have been found in ancient Bhutanese and Tibetan chronicles.
Buddhismwas first introduced to Bhutan in the mid of7th centuryAD. The Tibetan kingSongtsen Gampo(reigned 627–649), a Buddhist convert, extended the Tibetan Empire into Sikkim and Bhutan.He ordered the construction of two Buddhist temples,Jambay LhakhanginBumthangin central Bhutan andKyichu LhakhanginParo Valley.Buddhism was propagated in earnestin 746under King Sindhu Rāja (alsoKünjom;Sendha Gyab; Chakhar Gyalpo), an exiledIndianking who had established a government in Bumthang at Chakhar Gutho Palace.
Much of early Bhutanese history is unclear because most of the records were destroyed when fire ravaged the ancient capital,Punakha, in 1827. By the 10th century, Bhutan's religious history had a significant impact on its political development. Various subsects of Buddhism emerged that were patronised by the variousMongolwarlords.
Bhutan may have been influenced by theYuan dynastywith which it shares various cultural and religious similarities.
After the decline of theYuan dynastyin the 14th century, these subsects vied with each other for supremacy in the political and religious landscape, eventually leading to the ascendancy of theDrukpa Lineageby the 16th century.
Locally, Bhutan has been known by many names. The earliest Western record of Bhutan, the 1627Relaçãoof thePortugueseJesuitsEstêvão CacellaandJoão Cabral,records its name variously asCambirasi(among theKoch Biharis),Potente, andMon(an endonym for southern Tibet).Until the early 17th century, Bhutan existed as a patchwork of minor warringfiefdoms, when the area was unified by the Tibetan lama and military leaderNgawang Namgyal, who had fled religious persecution in Tibet. To defend the country against intermittent Tibetan forays, Namgyal built a network of impregnabledzongsor fortresses, andpromulgatedtheTsa Yig, a code of law that helped to bring local lords under centralised control. Many suchdzongstill exist and are active centres of religion and district administration.PortugueseJesuitsEstêvão CacellaandJoão Cabralwere the first recorded Europeans to visit Bhutan in 1627,on their way to Tibet. They met Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, presented him with firearms, gunpowder and a telescope, and offered him their services in the war against Tibet, but the Zhabdrung declined the offer. After a stay of nearly eight months Cacella wrote a long letter from theChagri Monasteryreporting on his travels. This is a rare extant report of the Zhabdrung.
When Ngawang Namgyal died in 1651, his passing was kept secret for 54 years. After a period of consolidation, Bhutan lapsed into internal conflict. In 1711, Bhutan went to war against theRajaof the kingdom ofKoch Biharin the south. During the chaos that followed, the Tibetans unsuccessfully attacked Bhutan in 1714.
In the 18th century, the Bhutanese invaded and occupied the kingdom of Koch Bihar. In 1772, theMaharajaof Koch Bihar appealed to the BritishEast India Companywhich assisted by ousting the Bhutanese and later attacking Bhutan itself in 1774. A peace treaty was signed in which Bhutan agreed to retreat to its pre-1730 borders. However, the peace was tenuous, and border skirmishes with theBritishwere to continue for the next hundred years. The skirmishes eventually led to theDuar War(1864–65), a confrontation to control of theBengalDuars. After Bhutan lost the war, theTreaty of Sinchulawas signed betweenBritish Indiaand Bhutan. As part of thewar reparations, the Duars were ceded to theUnited Kingdomin exchange for a rent of₹50,000. The treaty ended all hostilities between British India and Bhutan.
During the 1870s, power struggles between the rival valleys ofParoandTongsaled to civil war in Bhutan, eventually leading to the ascendancy ofUgyen Wangchuck, thepenlop(governor) ofTrongsa. From his power base in central Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck defeated his political enemies and united the country following several civil wars and rebellions during 1882–85.
In 1907, an epochal year for the country, Ugyen Wangchuck was unanimously chosen as the hereditary king of the country by the Lhengye Tshog of leading Buddhist monks, government officials, and heads of important families, with the firm petition made byGongzimUgyen Dorji.John Claude White, British Political Agent in Bhutan, took photographs of the ceremony.The British government promptly recognized the new monarchy. In 1910, Bhutan signed theTreaty of Punakha, asubsidiary alliancethat gave the British control of Bhutan's foreign affairs and meant that Bhutan was treated as an Indianprincely state. This had little real effect, given Bhutan's historical reticence, and also did not appear to affect Bhutan's traditional relations with Tibet. After the newUnion of Indiagainedindependencefrom the United Kingdom on 15 August 1947, Bhutan became one of the first countries to recognise India's independence. On 8 August 1949, a treaty similar to that of 1910, in which Britain had gained power over Bhutan's foreign relations, was signed with the newly independent India.
In 1953, KingJigme Dorji Wangchuckestablished the country's legislature—a 130-memberNational Assembly—to promote a more democratic form of governance. In 1965, he set up a Royal Advisory Council, and in 1968 he formed a Cabinet. In 1971, Bhutan was admitted to theUnited Nations, having held observer status for three years. In July 1972,Jigme Singye Wangchuckascended to the throne at the age of sixteen after the death of his father, Dorji Wangchuck.
Bhutan's sixth Five-Year Plan (1987–92) included a policy of 'one nation, one people' and introduced a code of traditional Drukpa dress and etiquette calledDriglam Namzhag. The dress element of this code required all citizens to wear thegho(a knee-length robe for men) and thekira(an ankle-length dress for women).A central plank of the Bhutanese government's policy since the late 1960s has been to modernise the use ofDzongkhalanguage. This began with abandoning the use ofHindi, a language that was adopted to help start formal secular education in the country, in 1964.As a result, at the beginning of the school year in March 1990, the teaching of Nepali language (which share similarities with Hindi) spoken by ethnicLhotshampasin southern Bhutan was discontinued and all Nepali curricular materials were discontinued from Bhutanese schools.
In 1988, Bhutan conducted a census in southern Bhutan to guard against illegal immigration, a constant issue in the south where borders with India are porous.Each family was required to present census workers with a tax receipt from the year 1958—no earlier, no later—or with a certificate of origin, which had to be obtained from one's place of birth, to prove that they were indeed Bhutanese citizens. Previously issued citizenship cards were no longer accepted as proof of citizenship. Alarmed by these measures, many began to protest for civil and cultural rights and demanded a total change to be brought to the political system that existed since 1907. As protests and related violence swept across southern Bhutan, the government in turn increased its resistance. People present at protests were labeled "anti-national terrorists".After the demonstrations, the Bhutanese army and police began the task of identifying participants and supporters engaged in the violence against the state and people. They were arrested and held for months without trial.Soon the Bhutanese government arbitrarily reported that its census operations had detected the presence in southern Bhutan of over 100,000 "illegal immigrants" although this number is often debated. The census operations, thus, were used as a tool for the identification, eviction and banishment of dissidents who were involved in the uprising against the state. Military and other security forces were deployed for forceful deportations of between 80,000 and 100,000Lhotshampasand were accused of using widespread violence, torture, rape and killing.The evictedLhotshampasbecame refugees in camps in southern Nepal. Since 2008, many Western countries, such as Canada, Norway, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, have allowed resettlement of the majority of theLhotshamparefugees.
Bhutan's political system has recently changed from anabsolute monarchyto aconstitutional monarchy. KingJigme Singye Wangchucktransferred most of his administrative powers to the Council of Cabinet Ministers and allowed forimpeachmentof the King by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly.
In 1999, the government lifted a ban on television and internet, making Bhutan one of the last countries to introduce television. In his speech, the King said that television was a critical step to the modernisation of Bhutan as well as a major contributor to the country'sgross national happiness,but warned that the "misuse" of this new technology could erode traditional Bhutanese values.
A new constitution was presented in early 2005. In December 2005, Wangchuck announced that he would abdicate the throne in his son's favour in 2008. On 9 December 2006, he announced that he would abdicate immediately. This was followed by the first nationalparliamentary electionsinDecember 2007andMarch 2008.
On 6 November 2008, 28-year-oldJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuckwas crowned king.
In July 2021 during theCOVID-19 pandemic, Bhutan became the first world-leading nation in its role of vaccinating 470,000 out of 770,000 people with a two-dose shot ofAstraZenecavaccines.
On 13 December 2023, Bhutan was officially delisted as aleast developed country.
Bhutan is on the southern slopes of the easternHimalayas, landlocked between theTibet Autonomous Regionof China to the north and the Indian states ofSikkim,West Bengal,Assamto the west and south, and the Indian state ofArunachal Pradeshto the east.It lies between latitudes26°Nand29°N, and longitudes88°Eand93°E. The land consists mostly of steep and highmountainscrisscrossed by a network of swift rivers that form deep valleys before draining into the Indian plains. In fact, 98.8% of Bhutan is covered by mountains, which makes it the most mountainous country in the world.Elevation rises from 200 m (660 ft) in the southern foothills to more than 7,000 m (23,000 ft). This great geographical diversity combined with equally diverse climate conditions contributes to Bhutan's outstanding range of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Bhutan's northern region consists of an arc ofEastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadowsreaching up to glaciated mountain peaks with an extremely cold climate at the highest elevations. Most peaks in the north are over 7,000 m (23,000 ft) above sea level; the highest point is 7,570-metre (24,840 ft)-tallGangkhar Puensum, which has the distinction of being thehighest unclimbed mountainin the world.The lowest point, at 98 m (322 ft), is in the valley ofDrangme Chhu, where the river crosses the border with India.Watered by snow-fed rivers, alpine valleys in this region provide pasture for livestock, tended by a sparse population of migratory shepherds.
TheBlack Mountainsin Bhutan's central region form a watershed between two major river systems: theMo Chhuand the Drangme Chhu. Peaks in the Black Mountains range between 1,500 and 4,925 m (4,921 and 16,158 ft) above sea level, and fast-flowing rivers have carved out deep gorges in the lower mountain areas. The forests of the central Bhutan mountains consist ofEastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forestsin higher elevations andEastern Himalayan broadleaf forestsin lower elevations. The Woodlands of the central region provide most of Bhutan's forest production. TheTorsa,Raidāk,Sankosh, andManasare Bhutan's main rivers, flowing through this region. Most of the population lives in the central highlands.
In the south, theSivalik Hillsare covered with denseHimalayan subtropical broadleaf forests, alluvial lowland river valleys, and mountains up to around 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level. The foothills descend into the subtropicalDuarsPlain, which is the eponymous gateway to strategic mountain passes (also known as dwars or dooars; literally, "doors" inAssamese,Bengali,Maithili,Bhojpuri, andMagahilanguages).Most of the Duars is in India, but a 10 to 15 km (6.2 to 9.3 mi)-wide strip extends into Bhutan. The Bhutan Duars is divided into two parts, the northern and southern Duars.
The northern Duars, which abut the Himalayan foothills, have rugged, sloping terrain and dry, porous soil with dense vegetation and abundant wildlife. The southern Duars have moderately fertile soil, heavysavannagrass, dense, mixed jungle, and freshwater springs. Mountain rivers, fed by melting snow or monsoon rains, empty into theBrahmaputra Riverin India. Data released by the Ministry of Agriculture showed that the country had a forest cover of 64% as of October 2005.
Bhutan's climate varies with elevation, from subtropical in the south totemperatein the highlands andpolar-typeclimate with year-round snow in the north. Bhutan experiences five distinct seasons: summer,monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. Western Bhutan has the heavier monsoon rains; southern Bhutan has hot humid summers and cool winters; central and eastern Bhutan are temperate and drier than the west with warm summers and cool winters.
Bhutan signed the RioConvention on Biological Diversityon 11 June 1992, and became a party to the convention on 25 August 1995.It has subsequently produced aNational Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, with two revisions, the most recent of which was received by the convention on 4 February 2010.
Bhutan has a rich primate life, with rare species such as thegolden langur.A variant Assamese macaque has also been recorded, which is regarded by some authorities as a new species,Macaca munzala.
TheBengal tiger,clouded leopard,hispid hareand thesloth bearlive in the tropical lowland and hardwood forests in the south. In the temperate zone,grey langur, tiger,goralandseroware found in mixed conifer, broadleaf and pine forests. Fruit-bearing trees and bamboo provide habitat for theHimalayan black bear,red panda,squirrel,sambar,wild pigandbarking deer. The alpine habitats of the great Himalayan range in the north are home to thesnow leopard,blue sheep,Himalayan marmot,Tibetan wolf,antelope,Himalayan musk deerand theBhutan takin, Bhutan'snational animal. The endangered wild water buffalo occurs in southern Bhutan, although in small numbers.
More than 770 species of bird have been recorded in Bhutan. The globally endangeredwhite-winged duckhas been added recently in 2006 to Bhutan's bird list.
The 2010 BBC documentaryLost Land of the Tigerfollows an expedition to Bhutan. The expedition is notable for claiming to obtain the first footage of tigers living at 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) in the high Himalayas. The BBC footage shows a female tiger lactating and scent-marking, followed a few days later by a male tiger responding, suggesting that the cats could be breeding at this elevation. Camera traps also recorded footage of other rarely seen forest creatures, includingdhole(or Indian wild dog), Asian elephants, leopards and leopard cats.
In Bhutanforest coveris around 71% of the total land area, equivalent to 2,725,080 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, up from 2,506,720 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 2,704,260 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 20,820 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 15% was reported to beprimary forest(consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 41% of the forest area was found within protected areas. For the year 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be underpublic ownership.
More than 5,400 species of plants are found in Bhutan,includingPedicularis cacuminidenta. Fungi form a key part of Bhutanese ecosystems, withmycorrhizalspecies providing forest trees with mineral nutrients necessary for growth, and with wood decay and litter decomposing species playing an important role in natural recycling.
The EasternHimalayashas been identified as a globalbiodiversityhotspot and counted among the 234 globally outstandingecoregionsof the world in a comprehensive analysis of global biodiversity undertaken byWWFbetween 1995 and 1997.
According to the Swiss-basedInternational Union for Conservation of Nature, Bhutan is viewed as a model for proactiveconservationinitiatives. The Kingdom has received international acclaim for its commitment to the maintenance of its biodiversity.This is reflected in the decision to maintain at least sixty per cent of the land area underforestcover, to designate more than 40%of its territory as national parks, reserves and other protected areas, and most recently to identify a further nine per cent of land area as biodiversity corridors linking the protected areas. All of Bhutan's protected land is connected to one another through a vast network of biological corridors, allowing animals to migrate freely throughout the country.Environmental conservation has been placed at the core of the nation's development strategy, the middle path. It is not treated as a sector but rather as a set of concerns that must be mainstreamed in Bhutan's overall approach to development planning and to be buttressed by the force of law. The country's constitution mentions environmental standards in multiple sections.
Although Bhutan's natural heritage is still largely intact, the government has said that it cannot be taken for granted and that conservation of the natural environment must be considered one of the challenges that will need to be addressed in the years ahead.Nearly 56.3% of all Bhutanese are involved with agriculture, forestry or conservation.The government aims to promote conservation as part of its plan to target Gross National Happiness. It currently has net negativegreenhouse gas emissions because the small amount of pollution it creates is absorbed by the forests that cover most of the country.While the entire country collectively produces 2,200,000 metric tons (2,200,000 long tons; 2,400,000 short tons) of carbon dioxide a year, the immense forest covering 72% of the country acts as acarbon sink, absorbing more than four million tons of carbon dioxide every year.Bhutan had a 2018Forest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 8.85/10, ranking it 16th globally out of 172 countries.
Bhutan has a number of progressive environmental policies that have caused the head of theUNFCCCto call it an "inspiration and role model for the world on how economies and different countries can address climate change while at the same time improving the life of the citizen."For example, electric cars have been pushed in the country and as of 2014make up a tenth of all cars. Because the country gets most of its energy fromhydroelectric power, it does not emit significant greenhouse gases for energy production.
In practice, the overlap of these extensive protected lands with populated areas has led to mutual habitat encroachment. Protected wildlife has entered agricultural areas, trampling crops and killing livestock. In response, Bhutan has implemented an insurance scheme, begun constructing solar powered alarm fences, watch towers, and search lights, and has provided fodder and salt licks outside human settlement areas to encourage animals to stay away.
The huge market value of theOphiocordyceps sinensisfungus crop collected from the wild has also resulted in unsustainable exploitation which is proving very difficult to regulate.
Bhutan has enforced a plastic ban rule from 1 April 2019, where plastic bags were replaced by alternative bags made of jute and other biodegradable material.
Bhutan is aconstitutional monarchywith aparliamentaryform of government. The reigning monarch isJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The currentPrime Minister of BhutanisTshering Tobgay, leader of thePeople's Democratic Party. Bhutan's democratic transition in 2008 is seen as an evolution of its social contract with the monarchy since 1907.In 2019, Bhutan was classified in theDemocracy Indexas ahybrid regimealongside regional neighboursNepalandBangladesh. Minorities have been increasingly represented in Bhutan's government since 2008, including in the cabinet, parliament, and local government.
TheDruk Gyalpo(Dragon King) is thehead of state.The political system grantsuniversal suffrage. It consists of theNational Council, an upper house with 25 elected members; and theNational Assemblywith 47 elected lawmakers frompolitical parties.
Executive power is exercised by theCouncil of Ministersled by the Prime Minister. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National Assembly. Judicial power is vested in the courts. The legal system originates from the semi-theocraticTsa Yigcode, and was influenced byEnglish common lawduring the 20th century. Thechief justiceis the administrative head of the judiciary.
The firstgeneral electionsfor theNational Assemblywere held on 24 March 2008. The chief contestants were theBhutan Peace and Prosperity Party(DPT) led byJigme Thinleyand thePeople's Democratic Party(PDP) led bySangay Ngedup. The DPT won the elections, taking 45 out of 47 seats.Jigme Thinleyserved asPrime Ministerfrom 2008 to 2013.
ThePeople's Democratic Partycame to power in the2013 elections. It won 32 seats and 54.88% of the vote. PDP leaderTshering Tobgayserved as Prime Minister from 2013 to 2018.
Druk Nyamrup Tshogpawon the largest number of seats in the2018 National Assembly election, bringingLotay Tsheringto the premiership and Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa into the government for the first time.
Tshering Tobgayreturned to power as Prime Minister after the2024 election, with the PDP gaining 30 seats; he assumed office on 28 January 2024.
In the early 20th century, Bhutan became ade factoprotectorate of theBritish Empireunder theTreaty of Punakhain 1910. British protection guarded Bhutan fromTibetandQing China. In the aftermath of theChinese Communist Revolution, Bhutan signed a friendship treaty with the newly independentDominion of Indiain 1949. Its concerns were exacerbated after theannexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China.
Relations withNepalremained strained due toBhutanese refugees. Bhutan joined theUnited Nationsin 1971. It was the first country to recognise Bangladesh'sindependencein 1971. It became a founding member of theSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) in 1985.The country is a member of 150 international organisations,including theBay of Bengal Initiative,BBIN,World Bank, theInternational Monetary Fundand theGroup of 77.
Bhutan maintains strong economic, strategic, and military relations withIndia.In February 2007, the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty was substantially revised, clarifying Bhutan's full control of its foreign relations, as well as its independence and sovereignty. Whereas the Treaty of 1949, Article 2 stated: "The Government of India undertakes to exercise no interference in the internal administration of Bhutan. On its part the Government of Bhutan agrees to be guided by the advice of the Government of India in regard to its external relations," the revised treaty now states "In keeping with the abiding ties of close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the Republic of India shall cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other." The revised treaty also includes this preamble: "Reaffirming their respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity", an element absent in the earlier version. By long-standing agreement, Indian and Bhutanese citizens may travel to each other's countries without apassportor visa, but must still have their national identity cards. Bhutanese citizens may also work in India without legal restrictions.
Bhutan does not have formal diplomatic ties with China, but exchanges of visits at various levels between them have significantly increased in recent times. The first bilateral agreement between China and Bhutan was signed in 1998 and Bhutan has also set up honorary consulates in theSpecial Administrative RegionsofHong KongandMacau.
Bhutan's border with China is not mutually demarcated in some areas because China lays claims to those places. In 2021, after more than 35 years of border negotiations, China signed a memorandum of understanding with Bhutan to expedite those talks.Approximately 269 square kilometres (104 sq mi) remain under discussion between China and Bhutan.On 13 November 2005, Chinese soldiers crossed into the disputed territories between China and Bhutan and began building roads and bridges.Bhutanese Foreign MinisterKhandu Wangchuktook up the matter with Chinese authorities after the issue was raised in the Bhutanese parliament. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesmanQin Gangof the People's Republic of China said that the border remains in dispute and that the two sides are continuing to work for a peaceful and cordial resolution of the dispute, denying that the presence of soldiers in the area was an attempt to forcibly occupy it.An Indian intelligence officer said that a Chinese delegation in Bhutan told the Bhutanese they were "overreacting". The Bhutanese newspaperKuenselsaid that China might use the roads to further Chinese claims along the border.
Bhutan has very warm relations withJapan, which provides significant development assistance. The Bhutanese royals were hosted by the Japanese imperial family during astate visitin 2011. Japan is also helping Bhutan cope with glacial floods by developing an early warning system. Bhutan enjoys strong political and diplomatic relations with Bangladesh. The Bhutanese king was the guest of honour during celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence.A 2014 joint statement by the prime ministers of both countries announced cooperation in areas of hydropower, river management and climate change mitigation.Bangladesh and Bhutan signed a preferential trade agreement in 2020 with provisions forfree trade.
Bhutan has diplomatic relations with 53 countries and the European Union and has missions in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Kuwait, and Belgium. It has two UN missions, one in New York and one inGeneva. Only India, Bangladesh, and Kuwait have residential embassies in Bhutan. Other countries maintain informal diplomatic contact via their embassies inNew DelhiandDhaka. Bhutan maintains formaldiplomatic relationswith several Asian and European nations, Canada, and Brazil. Other countries,such as the United Statesand the United Kingdom, have no formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan but maintain informal contact through their respective embassies in New Delhi and with the United States through Bhutan's permanent mission to the United Nations. The United Kingdom has an honorary consul resident in Thimphu. The latest country Bhutan has established diplomatic relations with is Israel, on12 December 2020.
Bhutan opposed the Russian annexation of Crimea inUnited Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262.
TheRoyal Bhutan Armyis Bhutan's military service and is the weakest armed force in the world, in terms of Power Index, according to the Global Firepower survey.It includes theroyal bodyguardand theRoyal Bhutan Police. Membership is voluntary and the minimum age for recruitment is 18.
The standing army numbers about 16,000 and is trained by theIndian Army.It has an annual budget of about US$13.7 million (1.8 per cent ofGDP). As alandlocked country, Bhutan has no navy. It also has no air force or army aviation corps. The Army relies on theEastern Air Commandof theIndian Air Forcefor air assistance.
Bhutan is ranked as "Partly Free" byFreedom House.Bhutan's parliament decriminalised homosexuality in 2020.
Women in Bhutan tend to be less active in politics than men due to customs and aspects of Bhutan's culture that dictate a woman's role in the household.This leads to a limitation of their voices in government. Bhutan has made steps toward gender equality by enrolling more girls in school as well as creating the "National Commission for Women and Children" (NCWC) in 2004.This programme was created to promote and protect women's and children's rights. Bhutan also elected its first femaleDzongda, equivalent to a District Attorney, in 2012, and its first female minister in 2013.Minister Dorji Choden, chair for the National Commission for Women and Children, believes that the aforementioned programme can be used to "promote women into more leadership roles" which can then lead women to take on more active roles in their society.Overall there has also been a gradual increase in women in power with a 68% increase in women representation from 2011 to 2016.
Starting in the 1980s, a part of Bhutan's minority population groups ofNepalispeakers ("Lhotshampa"), in Southern Bhutan, fell victim to perceived political persecution by the Bhutanese government as part of what the Nepali-speaking population viewed as Bhutanisation (termed One Nation, One People) policy which was aimed to nationalise the country.In 1977 followed by in 1985, Bhutan's government enacted legislations which impacted the Lhotshampa ethnic minority. The review of the national citizenship criteria and provisions for denationalisation of illegally present population in the country ensued.The government enforced uniformity in dress, culture, tradition, language and literature to create a national identity which was aligned with the majorityDrukpaculture of the country.The Lhotshampas started demonstrations in protest of such discriminatory laws, voicing for a change to be brought to the existing political system toward a preferred multi-party democracy and to gain political autonomy for the Nepali Ethnic minority, most probably incited by the similar political uprising against the established monarchy in the neighbouring country of Nepal.These demonstrations turned into violence when some ethnic Nepalese representatives were attacked by the government officials (armed forces) when schools in the southern districts were burned by the demonstrators.Consequently, Bhutanese armed forces were mobilised; the members of Bhutanese police and army forces allegedly imprisoned some Nepali descendant ethnic minority who were suspected to be politically active in these demonstrations, under a command of then kingJigme Singye Wangchuckand home minister Dago Tshering to keep peace and open a line of communication.Bhutan Armed forces were alleged to have targeted the Nepali ethnic southerners by burning down the houses, livestocks, and forced hundreds and thousands to be expelled from the country with their property being confiscated where no compensation were reported to be granted to anyone, however, claims to these were neither proved nor documented.
This escalated up until the early 1990s, and was followed by the forceful expulsion ofNepaliethnic minority citizens from the southern part of Bhutan. The main purpose of this was the fear that revolt mirrored images of theGorkhaland movementstirring up in the neighbouring state of West Bengal, and fueled fears of a fate similar to theKingdom of Sikkimwhere the immigrant Nepalis population had overwhelmed the small native population of the kingdom, leading to its demise as an independent nation.The Bhutanese security forces were accused of human rights violations including torture and rape of political demonstrators, and some Lhotshampas were accused of staging a violent revolt against the state.According to theUNHCR, an estimate of 107,000Bhutanese refugeesliving in seven camps in eastern Nepal have been documented as of 2008.After many years in refugee camps, many inhabitants moved to other host nations such as Canada, Norway, the UK, Australia, and the US as refugees. The US admitted 60,773 refugees from fiscal years 2008 to 2012.
TheNepalese governmentrefused to assimilate the Bhutanese refugees (Lhotshampas) and did not allow a legal path to citizenship, so they were leftstateless.Careful scrutiny has been used to review the status of the refugee's relatives in the country, and citizenship identity cards and voting rights for these reviewed people are restricted.Bhutan does not recognise political parties associated with these refugees and see them as a threat to the well-being of the country.Human rights groups'rhetoric that the government interfered with individual rights by requiring all citizens, including ethnic minority members, to wear the traditional dress of the ethnic majority in public places was used as a political tool for the demonstrations. The Bhutanese government since then enforced the law of national attire to be worn in Buddhist religious buildings, government offices, schools, official functions, and public ceremonies aimed toward preserving and promoting the national identity of Bhutan.
The kingdom has been accused ofbanning religious proselytising,which critics deem as a violation offreedom of religionand a policy of ethnic cleansing.Starting in the 1980s, Bhutan adopted a policy of "One Nation One People" to create a unified sense of national identity. This was interpreted as cultural (in language, dress and religion) and political dominance of the majorityDrukpapeople by the Nepali-speaking people.Inspired by theGorkhaland Movementand fuelled by a sense of injustice, some Lhotshampas began organising demonstrations against the Bhutanese state. Furthermore, the removal ofNepalilanguage in school curriculum to adopt a more centralised language inDzongkhacoupled with the denial of citizenship to those who were not able to prove officially issued land holding title prior to 1950was perceived as specifically targeting Lhotshampa population estimated to be one-third of the population at the time.This resulted in widespread unrest and political demonstrations.In response to this threat, in 1988, the Bhutanese authorities carried out a special censusin southern Bhutan to review the status of legal residents from illegal immigrants. This region with high Lhotshampa population had to be legally verified, and the following census led to the deportation these Lhotshampas, estimated to be one-sixth of the total population at the time.People who had been granted citizenship by the Bhutanese1958 Nationality Lawwere also stripped of their citizenship. The state intervened after violence was instigated by some Nepali-speaking citizens attacking government officials and burning public buildings.Members of Bhutanese police and army were accused of burning Lhotshampa houses, land confiscation and other widespread human rights abuses including arrest, torture and rape of Lhotshampas involved in political protests and violence.Following forcible deportation from Bhutan, Lhotshampas spent almost two decades in refugee camps inNepaland were resettled in various western countries such as the United States between 2007 and 2012.
Bhutan is divided into twentyDzongkhag(districts), administered by a body called the Dzongkhag Tshogdu. In certainthromdes(urban municipalities), a further municipal administration is directly subordinate to the Dzongkhag administration. In the vast majority of constituencies, ruralgewog(village blocks) are administered by bodies called the Gewog Tshogde.
Thromdes (municipalities) elect Thrompons to lead administration, who in turn represent the Thromde in the Dzongkhag Tshogdu. Likewise,geogelect headmen calledgups, vice-headmen calledmangmis, who also sit on the Dzongkhag Tshogdu, as well as other members of the Gewog Tshogde. The basis of electoral constituencies in Bhutan is thechiwog, a subdivision of gewogs delineated by the Election Commission.
Bhutan's currency is thengultrum, whose value isfixedto theIndian rupee. The Indian rupee is also accepted aslegal tenderin the country.
Though Bhutan's economy is one of the world's smallest,it has grown rapidly in recent years, by eight per cent in 2005 and 14 per cent in 2006. In 2007, Bhutan had the second-fastest-growing economy in the world, with an annual economic growth rate of 22.4 per cent. This was mainly due to the commissioning of the giganticTala Hydroelectric Power Station. As of 2012, Bhutan'sper capita incomewas US$2,420.
Bhutan's economy is based on agriculture, forestry, tourism and the sale ofhydroelectric powerto India. Agriculture provides the main livelihood for 55.4 per cent of the population.Agrarian practices consist largely ofsubsistence farmingandanimal husbandry. Handicrafts, particularly weaving and the manufacture of religious art for home altars, are a smallcottage industry. A landscape that varies from hilly to ruggedly mountainous has made the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive.
This, and a lack of access to the sea, has meant that Bhutan has not been able to benefit from significant trading of its produce. Bhutan has norailways, thoughIndian Railwaysplans to link southern Bhutan to its vast network under an agreement signed in January 2005.Bhutan and India signed a 'free trade' accord in 2008, which additionally allowed Bhutanese imports and exports from third markets to transit India without tariffs.Bhutan had trade relations with theTibet Autonomous Regionof China until 1960, when it closed its border with China after an influx of refugees.
Access tobiocapacityin Bhutan is much higher than the world average. In 2016, Bhutan had 5.0 global hectaresof biocapacity per person within its territory, much more than the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person.In 2016 Bhutan used 4.5 global hectares of biocapacity per person—theirecological footprintof consumption. This means they use less biocapacity than Bhutan contains. As a result, Bhutan is running a biocapacity reserve.
The industrial sector is currently in a nascent stage. Although most production comes from cottage industry, larger industries are being encouraged and some industries such as cement, steel, andferroalloyhave been set up. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely oncontract labourfrom neighbouring India. Agricultural produce includes rice, chilies, dairy (some yak, mostly cow) products, buckwheat, barley, root crops, apples, and citrus and maize at lower elevations. Industries include cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages andcalcium carbide.
Bhutan has seen recent growth in the technology sector, in areas such as green tech and consumer Internet/e-commerce.In May 2012, "Thimphu TechPark" was launched in the capital. It incubatesstartupsvia the "Bhutan Innovation and Technology Centre" (BITC).
Incomes of overNu100,000 per year are taxed, but as Bhutan is currently one of the world's least developed countries, very few wage and salary earners qualify. Bhutan's inflation rate was estimated at three per cent in 2003. Bhutan has agross domestic productof around US$5.855 billion (adjusted topurchasing power parity), making it the 158th-largest economy in the world. Per capita income (PPP) is around $7,641,ranked 144th. Government revenues total $407.1 million, though expenditures amount to $614 million. Twenty-five per cent of the budget expenditure, however, is financed by India's Ministry of External Affairs.
Bhutan's exports, principally electricity,cardamom,gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones and spices, total €128 million (2000 est.). Imports, however, amount to €164 million, leading to atrade deficit. Main items imported include fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery, vehicles, fabrics and rice. Bhutan's main export partner is India, accounting for 58.6 per cent of its export goods. Hong Kong (30.1 per cent) and Bangladesh (7.3 per cent) are the other two top export partners.As its border with Tibet Autonomous Region is closed, trade between Bhutan and China is now almost non-existent. Bhutan's import partners include India (74.5 per cent), Japan (7.4 per cent) and Sweden (3.2 per cent).
The share of the agricultural sector in GDP declined from approximately 55% in 1985 to 33% in 2003. In 2013 the government announced the aspiration that Bhutan will become the first country in the world with 100 per centorganic farming.A decade later however this goal has proved elusive with just 1% of agricultural land having achieved organic status.
Bhutanese red riceis the country's most widely known agricultural export, enjoying a market in North America and Europe. Bangladesh is the largest market of Bhutaneseapplesandoranges.
Fishing in Bhutanis mainly centred ontroutandcarp.
The Thunder Dragon Kingdom became one of a handful of countries to hold over US$1 billion worth ofBitcoinas of November 15, 2024, with around 12,206 BTC. The Himalayan nation has been able to leverage its abundant hydroelectric resources tomine Bitcoin,with the chief executive officer of Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), Ujjwal Deep Dahal, stating, "we hold assets in the form of Bitcoin and we started mining those assets in 2019 with our green hydropower." Bhutan aims to expand its Bitcoin mining capacity to 600 megawatts by 2025 in partnership with Bitdeer, a leading Nasdaq-listed technology company. According to a World Bank report, Bhutan has invested US$539 million in cryptocurrency mining operations over the last two fiscal years, from July 2021 to June 2023.
The industrial sector accounts for 22% of the economy. The key manufacturing sectors in Bhutan include production offerroalloy, cement, metal poles, iron and nonalloy steel products, processedgraphite,copper conductors, alcoholic and carbonatedbeverages, processed fruits, carpets, wood products and furniture.The production of ferrosilicon was pioneered byDamchae Dem, CEO of Pelden Group.
Bhutan has deposits of numerous minerals. Commercial production includescoal,dolomite,gypsum, andlimestone. The country has proven reserves ofberyl,copper, graphite,lead,mica,pyrite,tin,tungsten, andzinc. However, the country's mineral deposits remain untapped, as it prefers to conserve the environment.
Bhutan's largest export is hydroelectricity. As of 2015, it generates about 2,000MWof hydropower from dams in Himalayan river valleys.The country has a potential to generate 30,000 MW of hydropower.Power is supplied to various states in India. Future projects are being planned with Bangladesh.Hydropower has been the primary focus for the country'sfive-year plans. As of 2015, theTala Hydroelectric Power Stationis its largest power plant, with an installed capacity of 1,020 MW. It has received assistance from India, Austria and theAsian Development Bankin developing hydroelectric projects.
Besides hydropower, it is also endowed with significant renewable energy resources such as solar, wind and bioenergy. Technically viable solar energy generation capacity is around 12,000 MW and wind around 760 MW. More than 70% of its land is under forest cover, which is an immense source of bioenergy in the country.
There are five commercial banks in the country and the two largest banks are theBank of Bhutanand theBhutan National Bankwhich are based in Thimphu. Other commercial banks are Bhutan Development Bank, T-Bank andDruk Punjab National Bank. The country's financial sector is also supported by other non-banking Financial Institutions. They areRoyal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan, National Pension and Provident Fund (NPPF), and Bhutan Insurance Limited (BIL). The central bank of the country is theRoyal Monetary Authority of Bhutan(RMA). TheRoyal Securities Exchange of Bhutanis the mainstock exchange.
TheSAARCDevelopment Fund is based in Thimphu.
In 2014, Bhutan received 133,480 foreign visitors.Bhutan is a high-value destination. It imposes a daily sustainable development fee of US$100 a day on all nationals except Indians, Maldivians, and Bangladeshis.Indians can apply for a permit to enter Bhutan which costs 1,200 INR per day (about US$14 in 2024). The industry employs 21,000 people and accounts for 1.8% of GDP.
The country currently has noUNESCO World Heritage Sites, but it has eight declared tentative sites for UNESCO inclusion since 2012. These sites include: Ancient Ruin ofDrukgyel Dzong,Bumdelling Wildlife Sanctuary,Dzongs: the centre of temporal and religious authorities (Punakha Dzong,Wangdue Phodrang Dzong,Paro Dzong,Trongsa DzongandDagana Dzong),Jigme Dorji National Park(JDNP),Royal Manas National Park(RMNP),Sacred Sites associated withPhajo Drugom Zhigpoand his descendants,Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary(SWS),andTamzhing Monastery.Bhutan also has numerous tourist sites that are not included in its UNESCO tentative list. Bhutan has one element, theMask dance of the drums from Drametse, registered in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
Paro Airportis the only international airport in Bhutan. National carrierDrukairoperates flights between Paro Airport andBathpalathang AirportinJakar(Bumthang Dzongkhag), central Bhutan,Gelephu AirportinGelephu(Sarpang Dzongkhag) in the south andYongphulla Airportin the east (Trashigang Dzongkhag)  on a weekly basis.
TheLateral Roadis Bhutan's primary east–west corridor, connecting the towns ofPhuentsholingin the southwest toTrashigangin the east. Notable settlements that the Lateral Road runs through directly areWangdue PhodrangandTrongsa. The Lateral Road also has spurs connecting to the capitalThimphuand otherpopulation centressuch asParoandPunakha. As with other roads in Bhutan, the Lateral Road presents serious safety concerns due to pavement conditions, sheer drops, hairpin turns, weather, and landslides.
Since 2014, road widening has been a priority across Bhutan, in particular for the north-east–west highway from Trashigang to Dochula. The widening project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017 and will make road travel across the country substantially faster and more efficient. In addition, it is projected that the improved road conditions will encourage more tourism in the more inaccessible eastern region of Bhutan.Currently, the road conditions appear to be deterring tourists from visiting Bhutan due to the increased instances of road blocks, landslides, and dust disruption caused by the widening project.
Bhutan does not have a railway network primarily due to its rugged and mountainous terrain. The country is nestled in the Eastern Himalayas, which are characterized by steep cliffs, deep gorges, and imposing mountains. Constructing railways in such challenging topography would be extremely difficult and costly. Although Bhutan currently has no railways, it has entered into an agreement with India to link southern Bhutan to India's vast network by constructing an 18-kilometre-long (11 mi),5 ft 6 in(1,676 mm)broad gaugerail link betweenHasimarainWest BengalandGelephuin Bhutan. The construction of the railway via Satali, Bharna Bari and Dalsingpara byIndian Railwayswill be funded by India.Bhutan's nearest railway station is Hasimara. The planned Gelephu Green city will be linked by railway, connecting Indian state of Assam.
Bhutan had a population of 777,486 people in 2021.Bhutan has a median age of 24.8 years.There are 1,070 males to every 1,000 females. The literacy rate in Bhutan is around 66%.
Bhutanese people primarily consist of theNgalopsandSharchops, called the Western Bhutanese and Eastern Bhutanese, respectively. Although theSharchopsare slightly larger in demographic size, the Ngalops dominate the political sphere, as the King and the political elite belong to this group.Ngalops culture is closely related to that of Tibet. Much the same could be said of the Sharchops, the largest group, who traditionally follow theNyingmaparather than the officialDrukpa Kagyuform ofTibetan Buddhism. In modern times, with improved transportation infrastructure, there has been much intermarriage between these groups.
TheLhotshampa, meaning "southerner Bhutanese", are a heterogeneous group of mostlyNepaleseancestry who have sought political and cultural recognition including equality in rights to abode, language, and dress. Unofficial estimates claimed that they constituted 45% of the population in the 1988 census.Starting in the 1980s, Bhutan adopted a policy of "One Nation One People" in order to propagate the cultural (e.g. language, dress and religion) and political dominance of the majority Drukpa people.This policy manifested with a ban on the teaching ofNepalilanguage in schools and the denial of citizenship to those who were unable to prove officially issued land holding title prior to 1950.These actions specifically targeted ethnic Nepali-speaking minority groups, representing one-third of the population at the time,resulting in widespread unrest and political demonstrations.In 1988, the Bhutanese authorities carried out a special censusin southern Bhutan, a region of high Lhotshampa population, resulting in mass denationalisation, followed by the forcible deportation of 107,000 Lhotshampas, approximately one-sixth of the total population at the time.Deportees were stripped of their citizenship, which had been granted by the1958 Nationality Law. Members of the Bhutanese police and army were involved in the burning of homes, land confiscation and other widespread human rights abuses including the arrest, torture and rape of Lhotshampas involved in political protests.Following their forcible deportation from Bhutan, the Lhotshampas spent almost two decades in refugee camps inNepal. Large-scale resettlement to various western countries such as the United States took place between 2007 and 2012.
It is estimated that between two-thirds and three-quarters of the Bhutanese population followVajrayana Buddhism, which is also thestate religion.Hinduismaccounts for less than 12% of the population.The current legal framework in principle guaranteesfreedom of religion;proselytism, however, is forbidden by a royal government decisionand by judicial interpretation of theConstitution.
Buddhism was introduced to Bhutan in 746 AD, when GuruPadmasambhavavisitedBumthang District. Tibetan kingSongtsän Gampo(reigned 627–649), a convert to Buddhism, ordered the construction of two Buddhist temples,Jambay LhakhangatBumthangin central Bhutan andKyichu Lhakhang(nearParo) in theParo Valley.
The national language isDzongkha(Bhutanese), one of 53 languages in theTibetan languagefamily. The script, locally calledChhokey(literally, "Dharma language"), is identical to classical Tibetan. In Bhutan's education system, English is the medium of instruction, while Dzongkha is taught as the national language.Ethnologuelists 24 languages currently spoken in Bhutan, all of them in theTibeto-Burmanfamily, exceptNepali, anIndo-Aryan language.
Until the 1980s, the government sponsored the teaching of Nepali in schools in southern Bhutan. With the adoption of theDriglam Namzhag(Bhutanese code of etiquette) and its expansion into the idea of strengthening the role of Dzongkha, Nepali was dropped from the curriculum. The languages of Bhutan are still not well characterized, and several have yet to be recorded in an in-depth academic grammar. Before the 1980s, theLhotshampa(Nepali-speaking community), mainly based in southern Bhutan, constituted approximately 30% of the population.However, after a purge of Lhotshampas from 1990 to 1992 this number might not accurately reflect the current population.
Dzongkha is partially intelligible withSikkimeseand spoken natively by 25% of the population.Tshangla, the language of the Sharchop and the principal pre-Tibetan language of Bhutan, is spoken by a greater number of people. It is not easily classified and may constitute an independent branch of Tibeto-Burman.Nepalispeakers constituted some 40% of the population as of 2006. The larger minority languages areDzala(11%),Limbu(10%),Kheng(8%), andRai(8%). There are no reliable sources for the ethnic or linguistic composition of Bhutan, so these numbers do not add up to 100%.
Bhutan has alife expectancyof 70.2 years (69.9 for males and 70.5 for females) according to the latest data for 2016 from theWorld Bank.
Basic healthcare in Bhutan is free, as provided by the Constitution of Bhutan.
Historically, education in Bhutan wasmonastic, withsecularschool education for the general population introduced in the 1960s.The mountainous landscape poses barriers to integrated educational services.
Today, Bhutan has two decentralised universities with eleven constituent colleges spread across the kingdom. These are theRoyal University of Bhutanand theKhesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan, respectively. The firstfive-year planprovided for a central education authority—in the form of a director of education appointed in 1961—and an organised, modern school system with free and universal primary education.
Education programmeswere given a boost in 1990, when theAsian Development Bank(see Glossary) granted a US$7.13 million loan for staff training and development, specialist services, equipment and furniture purchases, salaries and other recurrent costs, and facility rehabilitation and construction atRoyal Bhutan Polytechnic.
Since the beginning of modern education in Bhutan, teachers from India—especiallyKerala—have served in some of the most remote villages of Bhutan. Thus, 43 retired teachers who had served for the longest length of time were personally invited toThimphu, Bhutan during the Teachers' Day celebrations in 2018, where they were honoured and individually thanked by His MajestyJigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. To celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and India, Bhutan's Education Minister,Jai Bir Rai, honoured 80 retired teachers who served in Bhutan at a special ceremony organised atKolkata, India, on 6 January 2019.Currently, there are 121 teachers from India placed in schools across Bhutan.
Bhutan has a rich and unique cultural heritage that has largely remained intact because of its isolation from the rest of the world until the mid-20th century. One of the main attractions for tourists is the country's culture and traditions. Bhutanese tradition is deeply steeped in its Buddhist heritage.Hinduismis the second most dominant religion in Bhutan, being most prevalent in the southern regions.The government is increasingly making efforts to preserve and sustain the current culture and traditions of the country. Because of its largely unspoiled natural environment and cultural heritage, Bhutan has been referred to asThe LastShangri-La.
While Bhutanese citizens are free to travel abroad, Bhutan is viewed as inaccessible by many foreigners. Another reason for it being an unpopular destination is the cost, which is high for tourists on tighter budgets. Entry is free for citizens of India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, but all other foreigners are required to sign up with a Bhutanese tour operator and pay around US$250 per day that they stay in the country, though this fee covers most travel, lodging and meal expenses.Bhutan received 37,482 visitor arrivals in 2011, of which 25% were for meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions.
Bhutan was thefirst nation in the worldto bantobacco. It was illegal to smoke in public or sell tobacco, according toTobacco Control Act of Bhutan 2010. Violators are fined the equivalent of $232—a month's salary in Bhutan. In 2021, this was reversed with the new Tobacco Control Act 2021 to allow for the import and sale of tobacco products to stamp out cross-border smuggling of tobacco products during the pandemic.
The national dress for Bhutanese men is thegho, a knee-length robe tied at the waist by a cloth belt known as thekera. Women wear an ankle-length dress, thekira, which is clipped at the shoulders with two identical brooches called thekomaand tied at the waist with kera. An accompaniment to the kira is a long-sleeved blouse, the "wonju", which is worn underneath the kira. A long-sleeved, jacket-like garment called the "toego" is worn over the kira. The sleeves of the wonju and the tego are folded together at the cuffs, inside out. Social status and class determine the textures, colours, and decorations that embellish the garments.
Jewelleryis commonly worn by women, especially during religious festivals ("tsechus") and public gatherings. To strengthen Bhutan's identity as an independent country, Bhutanese law requires all Bhutanese government employees to wear the national dress at work and all citizens to wear the national dress while visiting schools and other government offices, though many citizens, particularly adults, choose to wear the customary dress as formal attire.
Varicoloured scarves, known asrachufor women andkabneyfor men, are important indicators of social standing, as Bhutan has traditionally been afeudalsociety; in particular, red is the most common colour worn by women. The "Bura Maap" (Red Scarf) is one of highest honours a Bhutanese civilian can receive. It, as well as the title ofDasho, comes from the throne in recognition of an individual's outstanding service to the nation.On previous occasions, the King himself conferred Bura Maaps to outstanding individuals such as the Director General of Department Hydropower and Power System, Yeshi Wangdi, the Deputy Chairperson of National Council, Dasho Dr. Sonam Kinga, and former National Assembly Speaker, Dasho Ugyen Dorji.
Bhutanese architecture remains distinctively traditional, employingrammed earthandwattle and daubconstruction methods, stone masonry, and intricate woodwork around windows and roofs. Traditional architecture uses no nails or iron bars in construction.Characteristic of the region is a type of castle fortress known as thedzong. Since ancient times, the dzongs have served as the religious and secularadministrative centresfor their respective districts.TheUniversity of Texas at El Pasoin the United States has adopted Bhutanese architecture for its buildings on campus, as have the nearby Hilton Garden Inn and other buildings in the city of El Paso.
Bhutan hasnumerous public holidays, most of which coincide with traditional, seasonal, secular or religious festivals. They include the winter solstice (around 1 January, depending on thelunar calendar),Lunar New Year (February or March),the King's birthday and the anniversary of his coronation, the official end ofmonsoonseason (22 September),National Day (17 December),and variousBuddhistandHinducelebrations.
Dance dramas and masked dances such as theCham danceare common traditional features at festivals, usually accompanied by traditional music. At these events, dancers depict heroes, demons,dæmons, death heads, animals, gods, and caricatures of common people by wearing colourful wooden or composition face masks and stylised costumes. The dancers enjoy royal patronage, and preserve ancient folk and religious customs and perpetuate the ancient lore and art of mask-making.
Themusic of Bhutancan generally be divided into traditional and modern varieties; traditional music comprises religious and folk genres, the latter includingzhungdraandboedra.The modernrigsaris played on a mix of traditional instruments and electronic keyboards, and dates back to the early 1990s; it shows the influence of Indian popular music, a hybrid form of traditional and Western popular influences.
In Bhutanese families, inheritance generally passesmatrilineallythrough the female rather than the male line. Daughters will inherit their parents' house. A man is expected to make his own way in the world and often moves to his wife's home.Love marriagesare more common in urban areas, but the tradition ofarranged marriagesamong acquainted families is still prevalent in most of the rural areas. Although uncommon,polygamyis accepted, often being a device to keep property in a contained family unit rather than dispersing it.The previous king,Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who abdicated in 2006, had four queens, all of whom are sisters. The current king,Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, wedJetsun Pema, then 21, a commoner and daughter of a pilot, on 13 October 2011.
Rice(red rice),buckwheat, and increasinglymaize, are the staples ofBhutanese cuisine. The local diet also includes pork, beef,yakmeat, chicken, and lamb. Soups and stews of meat and dried vegetables spiced with chilies and cheese are prepared.Ema datshi, made very spicy with cheese and chilies, might be called the national dish for its ubiquity and the pride that Bhutanese have for it. Dairy foods, particularly butter and cheese from yaks and cows, are also popular, and indeed almost all milk is turned into butter and cheese. Popular beverages includebutter tea, black tea, locally brewedara(rice wine), and beer.
Bhutan's national and most popular sport isarchery.Competitions are held regularly in most villages. It differs fromOlympicstandards in technical details such as the placement of the targets and atmosphere. Two targets are placed over 100 metres (330 ft) apart, and teams shoot from one end of the field to the other. Each member of the team shoots two arrows per round. Traditional Bhutanese archery is a social event, and competitions are organised between villages, towns, and amateur teams. There is usually plenty of food and drink complete with singing and dancing. Attempts to distract an opponent include standing around the target and making fun of the shooter's ability.Darts(khuru) is an equally popular outdoor team sport, in which heavy wooden darts pointed with a 10 cm (3.9 in) nail are thrown at a paperback-sized target 10 to 20 metres (33 to 66 ft) away.
Another traditional sport is theDigor, which resembles theshot putandhorseshoe throwing.
Another popular sport isfootball.In 2002, Bhutan'snational football teamplayedMontserrat, in what was billed asThe Other Final; the match took place on the same day Brazil played Germany in theWorld Cup final, but at the time Bhutan and Montserrat were the world's two lowest ranked teams. The match was held in Thimphu'sChanglimithang National Stadium, and Bhutan won 4–0. A documentary of the match was made by the Dutch filmmaker Johan Kramer. In 2015, Bhutan won its first two FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches, beatingSri Lanka1–0 in Sri Lanka and 2–1 in Bhutan.Crickethas also gained popularity in Bhutan, particularly since the introduction of television channels from India. TheBhutan national cricket teamis one of the most successful affiliate nations in the region.
Women have begun to participate more in the work force and their participation is one of the highest in the region.However, the unemployment rates among women are still higher than those of men and women are in more unsecure work fields, such as agriculture.Most of the work that women do outside of the home is in family-based agriculture which is insecure and is one of the reasons why women are falling behind men when it comes to income.Women also, in general, work lower-quality jobs than men and only earn 75% of men's earnings.
Rooted deep in Bhutan culture is the idea of selflessness and the women of Bhutan take on this role in the context of the household.Nearly 1/4 of all women have reported experiencing some form of violence from their husband or partner.Some Bhutanese communities have what is referred to as matrilineal communities, where the eldest daughter receives the largest share of the land.This is due to the belief that she will stay and take care of her parents while the son will move out and work to get his own land and for his own family.Importantly, land ownership does not necessarily equate to economic benefits – despite the eldest daughter having control of the house, it is the husband that is in charge of making decisions.However, the younger generation has stepped away from this belief, in splitting the land evenly between the children instead of the eldest daughter inheriting the most land.
Throughout Bhutan, there has been an improvement in reproductive health services that has led to a drastic drop in maternal mortality rate, dropping from 1,000 in 1990 to 180 in 2010.There has also been an increase in contraceptive use from less than 1/3 in 2003 to 2/3 in 2010.
27°25′01″N90°26′06″E﻿ / ﻿27.417°N 90.435°E﻿ /27.417; 90.435