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$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 stabil