Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/28.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 11KB | 295 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Bhutan.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Bhutan"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Bhutan, click {z,"88.079755,25.527857,93.207646,29.481418",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Southern Asia, between China and India

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 47,000 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 47,000 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly more than half the size of Indiana

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1,075 km
{3}border countries:{4} China 470 km, India 605 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 0 km (landlocked)

{2}Maritime claims:{4} none (landlocked)

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys;
severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

{2}Terrain:{4} mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna
{3}lowest point:{4} Dangme Chu 97 m
{3}highest point:{4} Khula Kangri I 7,553 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 2%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 5%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 70%
{3}other:{4} 23%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 340 sq km (1989 est.)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} soil erosion; limited access to potable water

{2}natural hazards:{4} violent storms coming down from the Himalayas are the source of the country's
name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy
season

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but
not ratified - Law of the Sea

{2}Geographic note:{4} landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key
Himalayan mountain passes


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 1,822,625 (July 1996 est.)
{3}note:{4} other estimates range as low as 600,000

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 40% (male 378,407; female 351,146)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 56% (male 524,972; female 496,715)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 4% (male 36,304; female 35,081) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 2.32% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 38.48 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 15.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.08 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.06 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1.06 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 116.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 51.46 years
{3}male:{4} 51.96 years
{3}female:{4} 50.93 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 5.33 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Bhutanese (singular and plural)
{3}adjective:{4} Bhutanese

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

{2}Religions:{4} Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

{2}Languages:{4} Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various
Nepalese dialects

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 42.2%
{3}male:{4} 56.2%
{3}female:{4} 28.1%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Kingdom of Bhutan
{3}conventional short form:{4} Bhutan

{2}Type of government:{4} monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

{2}Capital:{4} Thimphu

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha,
Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi,
Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

{2}Independence:{4} 8 August 1949 (from India)

{2}National holiday:{4} National Day, 17 December (1907) (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary
king)

{2}Constitution:{4} no written constitution or bill of rights
{3}note:{4} Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly

{2}Legal system:{4} based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} each family has one vote in village-level elections

{2}Executive branch:{4}
Chief of State and Head of Government (Druk Gyalpo): King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since
24 July 1972) is a hereditary monarch
Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde): was nominated by the king
{3}cabinet:{4} Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) was appointed by the king

{2}Legislative branch:{4} unicameral
National Assembly (Tshogdu): members serve for three years; seats - (150 total, 105 elected from
village constituencies, 12 represent religious bodies, and 33 designated by the king to represent
government and other secular interests)

{2}Judicial branch:{4} the Supreme Court of Appeal is the king; High Court, judges appointed by the king

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} no legal parties

{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese
organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign

{2}International organization participation:{4} AsDB, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD,
IMF, Intelsat, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4} none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed
by Ugyen TSERING; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017;
telephone [1] [phone]; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} New York
honorary consulate(s): San Francisco; Washington, DC

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4} the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although
informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)

{2}Flag:{4} divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower
triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away
from the hoist side


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on
agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account
for about half of GDP. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry.
Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure
difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and
monetary links. The industrial sector is small and technologically backward, with most production
of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian
migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources;
however, the government limits the number of tourists to 4,000 per year to minimize foreign
influence. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's
productive base and improving social welfare but growth continues to be constrained by the
government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Growth picked up
in 1995 and the country's balance of payments remained strong with comfortable reserves. The
cautious fiscal stance planned for FY95/96 suggests continued economic stability in 1996.
However, excessive controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor,
and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $1.3 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 6% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $730 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} NA%
{3}industry:{4} NA%
{3}services:{4} NA%

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 8.6% (FY94/95 est.)

{2}Labor force:{4} NA
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2%
{3}note:{4} massive lack of skilled labor

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} NA%

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $52 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $150 million, including capital expenditures of $95 million (FY93/94 est.)
{3}note:{4} the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures

{2}Industries:{4} cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 7.6% (1992 est.)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 360,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 1.7 billion kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 143 kWh (1993)
{3}note:{4} Bhutan exports electricity to India

{2}Agriculture:{4} rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs

{2}Exports:{4} $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY94/95 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious
stones, spices
{3}partners:{4} India 94%, Bangladesh

{2}Imports:{4} $113.6 million (c.i.f., FY94/95 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice
{3}partners:{4} India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US

{2}External debt:{4} $141 million (October 1994)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} $NA

{2}Currency:{4} 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is also legal tender

{2}Exchange rates:{4} ngultrum (Nu) per US$1 - 35.766 (January 1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994),
30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the
Indian rupee

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 1 July - 30 June


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4} 0 km

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 1,296 km
{3}paved:{4} 416 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 880 km (1988 est.)

{2}Ports:{4} none

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 1 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 4,620 (1991 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4}
{3}domestic:{4} domestic telephone service is very poor with very few telephones in use
{3}international:{4} international telephone and telegraph service is by landline through India; a satellite
earth station was planned (1990)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1990)

{2}Radios:{4} 23,000 (1989 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 0 (1990 est.)

{2}Televisions:{4} 200 (1985 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 444,875
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 237,529
{3}males reach military age (18) annually:{4} 17,634 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} $NA, NA% of GDP