$Unique_ID{COW00389} $Pretitle{235A} $Title{Bhutan General Information} $Subtitle{} $Author{Central Statistical Office} $Affiliation{Royal Government of Bhutan} $Subject{bhutan statistical central government national assembly data king rainfall high} $Date{1990} $Log{} Country: Bhutan Book: Statistical Yearbook of Bhutan 1989 Author: Central Statistical Office Affiliation: Royal Government of Bhutan Date: 1990 General Information Explanaiton of Symbols n.a not available .. not applicable - nil or rounded to zero * sampling error too high for accurate estimation ( ) brackets signify negative numbers Explanatory Notes 1. In some cases, minor discrepancies may occur between sums of component items and totals because of rounding. 2. Dzongkhags given in some tables differ from those given in Annex I. This is because of recent changes in the Dzongkhags following the creation of Punakha and Chhukha Dzongkhags and the abolition of Gasa Dzongkhag. Preface This publication is the eighth in the series of annual statistical publications issued by the Central Statistical Office (CSO). The purpose of the publication is to provide a summary of the more important statistics in Bhutan. Statistics have been presented under a number of subject headings corresponding to the major areas of statistical interest. For each subject, a short introductory text has been given providing a brief description of the statistics, how they were obtained and any existing shortcomings. Some of the more interesting features of the statistics have also been highlighted. Much of the existing statistics in Bhutan are not yet considered to be fully reliable. In preparing the publication attempts have been made to assess the quality of each data source and where appropriate, tables have been footnoted to highlight any shortcomings in the data. In cases where it is considered the publication might mislead, data have been omitted altogether leaving some apparent gaps in the statistical presentation. Every effort has been made to ensure that the statistics given in the publication meet with acceptable statistical standards. However, it has been necessary to place reliance on existing data collections and it was not always possible to undertake as detailed an assessment of data sources as would have been preferred. This was due to the wide range of data sources used and because detailed background information on many data collections was not always available. Consequently, some shortcomings in the data presented are inevitable, though it is considered that these have been kept to a minimum. Throughout the compilation of the publication, the CSO has maintained close contact with all sectors. The Central Statistical Office has embarked on a program to upgrade the statistical service in Bhutan. Over the next few years, a number of new statistical collections will be introduced to fill existing statistical gaps. At the same time, existing statistical systems will be reviewed and improvements made as necessary. As a result, the range and quality of statistics available in Bhutan should improve over the next few years, and this will be reflected in further upgradings of this publication in the future. C. Dorji Deputy Minister, Planning Commission Royal Government of Bhutan Tashichhodzong March 1990 General Description of Bhutan Position and area - Bhutan comprises a land area of 46,500 square kilometers. The land lies between latitudes 26 45 'N and 28 10 'N and between longitudes 88 45 'E and 92 10 'E. The country is relatively compact with a maximum latitudinal distance of 170 kilometers and the maximum longitudinal distance of 300 kilometers. Bhutan is landlocked. It is bordered by India in the south, and by the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China in the north and northwest. Bhutan's borders are largely natural ones. The border with Tibet is traditional following the watershed of the Chumbi Valley in the north-west and the crest of the Himalayas in the north. The southern border with India was established by treaty with the British in the nineteenth century and basically follows the line made by the Himalayan foothills with plains. Landforms - Bhutan is almost entirely mountainous with flat land limited to the broader river valleys. The land rises from approximately 300 metres above sea level in the south to the towering Himalayan mountains in the north of over 7,000 metres high. The densely populated central valleys are separated from the south by a 2,000 metre high chain of mountains. Bhutan has three major landform features: the southern foothills, the inner Himalayas and the higher Himalayas. The southern foothills rise from the plains to heights of about 1,500 metres extending to the north by about 20 kilometres. Southern Bhutan consists of a heavy network of steep hills covered with large tracts of dense forest and jungles. Central Bhutan consisting of the inner Himalayas rises gradually to about 3,000 metres. This region contains the broader river valleys - Paro, Thimphu, Punakha, Wangdiphodrang, Bumthang and Tashigang which comprise the economic and cultural heartland of the country. An infinite variety of plants, flowers and trees including apples, peaches and plums grow in the fertile valleys. Rice is the principal crop and large tracts of forest including birch, pine, chestnut and oak cover Central Bhutan. The northern region comprises the main Himalayan range of high snow-capped mountains which separate Bhutan from Tibet. The Kula Gangri and the Gangkar Punsum (both over 7,500 metres) and the Jomolhari (7316 metres) are the highest peaks in the Bhutan Himalaya. The slopes of the mountains are covered with birch, magnolia and rhododendron while for many months of the year the summits are decked with snow. Population in this zone is sparse. Rivers - All but two of Bhutan's rivers rise in the higher Himalayas and journey south to join the Brahmaputra in India. Almost all the valleys have a swiftly flowing rivers or streams which merge ultimately into four major river systems as they flow south - the Ammochu, the Wongchu, the Sankosh and the Manas. The flows of the rivers are fed by the perennial snows or the summer monsoons and are highest in the monsoon months (June to September) and lowest in winter (December to March). Climate - The country can be divided into three district climatic zones corresponding broadly to the three main geographical divisions. The southern belt has a hot humid climate with temperatures remaining fairly even throughout the year between 15 C and 30 C with rainfall ranging between 2,500 mm to 5,000 mm in some areas. The central inner Himalayas has a cool temperate climate with annual rainfall averaging about 1,000 mm with the western region receiving comparatively higher rainfall. The higher and more northern region has a severe alpine climate with annual rainfall around 400 mm. Much of the rainfall is concentrated in the summer months with the south west monsoon accounting for 60-90 per cent of the total rainfall. There is substantial variation within these broad ranges and the climate and rainfall characteristics change dramatically from one valley to an adjacent one with consequent sharp changes in the composition of agricultural production. Widespread flood rainfall may occur during the summer monsoons and the waters of the valley rivers may swell dramatically, spreading across the plains and flooding fields, bridges and houses. Government The Monarchy - On December 17 1907, Ugyen Wangchuck was crowned the first hereditary monarch of Bhutan by the civil and monastic representatives. It was as a result of the influence of the strength and far-sightedness of Ugyen Wangchuck that for the first time Bhutan was united under a central authority which provided the country with stability and the opportunity for development. In 1926 Ugyen Wangchuck was succeeded by his son Jigme Wangchuck, who ruled until his death in 1952. The third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck began a campaign of modernisation and expansion of Bhutan's Government and society based on the accomplishments of his two predecessors in uniting the country under a strong central authority. Hence, the National Assembly consisting of representatives of the people, the monastic order and civil administration was re-established in 1953. The present Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck acceded to the throne in 1972 on the demise of his father. His Majesty the King is the Head of State and also the Head of Government. He is assisted by the Cabinet which consists of His Majesty's Representatives in various Ministries, Ministers and some senior civil servants. The National Assembly - The National Assembly has 150 members of which 100 members represent the people. These are elected for a three year term by consensus in each of the Dzongkhags. Ten monastic representatives are elected by the regional monk bodies while forty representatives of the Government are nominated by the King. They include members of the Council of Ministers and the Royal Advisory Council, Secretaries of various Governments Department and several Dzongkhag officers. The National Assembly meets twice a year. The Assembly enacts legislation and advises the Government on all matters of national importance. Decisions are passed by a simple majority. A secret ballot is taken on all matters of national importance. Any Bhutanese over 25 years of age can be a candidate for membership. The Royal Advisory Council - The Royal Advisory Council was formally established in 1965 to advise the King and Government Ministers and to supervise the implementation of programs and policies laid down by the National Assembly. It consists of 10 members. There are two members elected by the National Assembly and two members appointed by the King. The Chairman is nominated by the King from among the members. The Monk Body - The Monk Body which currently has a strength of about 5,000 is financed by an annual subsidy from the Government and is the sole arbiter on religious matters. The Je Khempo is the Head of the Body chosen from among high ranking gelongs (monks). He is assisted by four high ranking "Lopens" of the Central Monk Body which consists of 1,000 gelongs. Local Government - Local administration has been strengthened to meet the requirements of decentralised administration and development. There are 18 Dzongkhags or Districts each under the charge of a Dzongda responsible for civil administration and development activities. Each Dzongda is assisted by a Dzongda Wongmo or a Dzongrab who are responsible for planning and development and civil administration. The larger Dzongkhags are sub-divided into sub- divisions (Dungkhags) headed by a Dungpa. Groups of villages have a headman - the Gup (in the north) or Mandal (in the south). In each Dzongkhag, the Dzongda is assisted in his development functions by the Dzongkhag Yargye Thschokchung (or District Development Committee) which consists of people's representatives and officials. The Judiciary - Bhutan's legal code is based on that laid down by Ngawang Namgyal, the first Shabdung who arrived in Bhutan in 1616. Traditional Buddhist precepts are significantly maintained in the legal processes. The High Court consists of six judges. Four of the judges are appointed by the King and two public representatives elected by the National Assembly subject to ratification by the King. There are courts in each Dzongkhag headed by a Thrimpon and assisted by Ramjams but minor disputes are settled by village gups.