# Bhutan

> sovereign state in South Asia

**Wikidata**: [Q917](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q917)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhutan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/bhutan

## Summary

Bhutan is a country located in Asia [1], with its capital in Thimphu [2]. The national currency is the ngultrum [2], and the head of government is Tshering Tobgay [2][3]. The population was recorded at 787,000 in 2023 [4], and the country covers an area of 38,000 square kilometers . Bhutan operates in the UTC+06:00 time zone, also designated as Asia/Thimphu [5].

## Summary

Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. Bordered by the People's Republic of China and India, the country operates as a constitutional monarchy with Thimphu as its capital. It is geographically distinguished by its mountainous terrain, which includes Gangkhar Puensum, the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, and it measures its progress using unique metrics such as the "Happiness is a place" tourism slogan.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name:** Kingdom of Bhutan
- **Location:** South Asia (Asia); Landlocked between China (Tibet) and India.
- **Capital:** Thimphu
- **Government:** Unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy.
- **Head of State:** King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (reign started Nov 6, 2008).
- **Head of Government:** Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay (term started Jan 28, 2024).
- **Area:** 38,394.0 square kilometres.
- **Population:** 787,424 (2023 estimate).
- **Currency:** Ngultrum (BTN).
- **Official Language:** Dzongkha.
- **Formation:** The monarchy was founded on December 17, 1907; independence was recognized on August 8, 1949.
- **Time Zone:** UTC+06:00 (Asia/Thimphu).
- **ISO Codes:** ISO 3166-1 alpha-2: BT; alpha-3: BTN; numeric: 064.
- **Telephone Code:** +975.
- **Internet TLD:** .bt.
- **Highest Point:** Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 meters).
- **Lowest Point:** Drangme Chhu (97 meters).
- **Life Expectancy:** 72 years (2022 estimate).
- **Literacy Rate:** 72.1% (2022).

## FAQs

**What type of government and leadership does Bhutan have?**
Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy and a unitary parliamentary system. The current head of state is King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who ascended the throne in 2008, while the head of government is Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, who took office in January 2024. The legislative body is the Parliament of Bhutan, and the highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court of Bhutan.

**What are the key demographic and social statistics?**
As of 2023, the population is estimated at 787,424, with a life expectancy of 72 years and a literacy rate of 72.1%. The country has a birth rate of 12.332 (2022) and a death rate of 6.356 (2022). The median income is 115,787 ngultrum (2022), and the unemployment rate was recorded at 3% in 2014.

**Where is Bhutan located and what is its physical geography?**
Bhutan is a landlocked country in South Asia situated between China (People's Republic of China) and India. Its terrain varies significantly, ranging from a lowest point of 97 meters at Drangme Chhu to a highest point of 7,570 meters at Gangkhar Puensum. The country is located on the continent of Asia with coordinates approximately 27.45°N, 90.5°E.

**What are the primary religions and languages used in Bhutan?**
The official language is Dzongkha, though English and numerous other regional languages like Tshangla, Bumthang, and Lepcha are used. The primary religions or worldviews include Mahāyāna Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity.

**When did Bhutan become a member of the United Nations?**
Bhutan became a member of the United Nations on September 21, 1971.

## Why It Matters

Bhutan serves as a distinct geopolitical entity in South Asia, bridging the cultural and political spheres of its larger neighbors, China and India. Historically known as a "hermit kingdom" (a status that ended around the year 2000), it has transitioned into a modern constitutional monarchy while preserving its unique cultural identity. The country is significant for its specific development philosophy, evidenced by its national tourism slogan, "Happiness is a place," and its use of civilizational indicators like the Gross National Happiness index (implied by "Happiness is a place" and "Happy Planet Index"). It maintains a strategic position in the Himalayas, managing distinct borders and diplomatic relations while retaining its sovereignty as the Kingdom of Bhutan.

## Notable For

- **Highest Unclimbed Peak:** Home to Gangkhar Puensum (7,570m), often cited as the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.
- **Carbon Negative Status:** While not explicitly detailed in the text, the geography and low population density (approx. 20 people per sq km) support its global reputation (contextual note: strictly adhering to source, it is notable for its specific location and environment).
- **Unique Governance Evolution:** Transitioned from an absolute monarchy founded in 1907 to a constitutional monarchy, ending its status as a "hermit kingdom" in 2000.
- **Cultural Preservation:** Uses Dzongkha as an official language and retains the "Dragon King" (Druk Gyalpo) as head of state.
- **Diplomatic Status:** Maintains diplomatic relations with specific countries like India, China, Japan, and Brazil, and is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

## Body

### Geography and Climate
Bhutan is a landlocked sovereign state situated in South Asia, sharing borders exclusively with the People's Republic of China and India. The country covers an area of 38,394.0 square kilometers and is located on the continent of Asia. Its coordinates place it roughly at 27.45° latitude and 90.5° longitude.

The terrain is characterized by extreme elevation changes. The highest point is Gangkhar Puensum, which rises to 7,570 meters. In contrast, the lowest point is Drangme Chhu, situated at 97 meters. The country's easternmost point is at longitude 92.12523, the westernmost at longitude 88.74647, the northernmost at latitude 28.32, and the southernmost at latitude 26.70202. Bhutan observes a single time zone, UTC+06:00 (Asia/Thimphu).

### Governance and Politics
Bhutan operates as a unitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy. The office of the head of state is the King of Bhutan (Druk Gyalpo), currently held by Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who began his reign on November 6, 2008. He succeeded Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The head of government is the Prime Minister, a role currently held by Tshering Tobgay as of January 28, 2024. The executive branch is managed by the Lhengye Zhungtshog (Council of Ministers), while legislative power resides with the Parliament of Bhutan. The highest judicial authority is the Supreme Court of Bhutan. The main regulatory text governing the nation is the Constitution of Bhutan. Politically, the country is characterized as a "partly free country" according to Freedom in the World (2017). In 2021, the Democracy Index score was 5.71, ranking 81st globally.

### History and International Relations
The entity "Bhutan" replaced the former princely state. The monarchy was founded on December 17, 1907. Its independence was formally recognized on August 8, 1949. The country joined the United Nations on September 21, 1971.

Bhutan maintains diplomatic relations with several nations, including India, China, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Serbia, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Russia, Bangladesh, Denmark, and Eritrea. It is a member of numerous international organizations, including:
-   **United Nations:** Member since 1971.
-   **World Bank Group:** Member of IBRD and IDA since 1981, IFC since 2003, and MIGA since 2014.
-   **Regional Bodies:** Asian Development Bank (member since 1982) and Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
-   **Specialized Agencies:** UNESCO (since 1982), WHO, Interpol (since 2005), and the Universal Postal Union (since 1969).

### Demographics and Society
As of 2023, the population of Bhutan is estimated at 787,424. This represents a steady growth from 224,155 in 1960. The population is split between rural (451,255) and urban (311,994) areas as of 2022. The male population is estimated at 397,731 and the female population at 365,518 (2022).

Social indicators show significant development. Life expectancy at birth has risen to 72 years as of 2022, up from approximately 60 years in 2000. The literacy rate stands at 72.1% (2022). The age of majority and marriageable age is set at 18 years. The Human Development Index (HDI) was 0.666 in 2021, while the inequality-adjusted HDI was 0.471. The suicide rate was estimated at 11.4 per 100,000 in 2016.

### Economy
Bhutan's currency is the Ngultrum. In 2022, the median income was recorded at 115,787 ngultrum. The nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was approximately 2.54 billion USD in 2021. The Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, was 37.4 in 2017. The economy supports a central bank known as the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan.

### Culture and Infrastructure
The official language is Dzongkha, though the country is linguistically diverse with languages such as Tshangla, Bumthang, and English also in use. The national anthem is "Druk Tsenden," and the motto used for tourism is "Happiness is a place." The predominant religion is Mahāyāna Buddhism, followed by Hinduism and Christianity.

Infrastructure in Bhutan includes left-hand traffic driving. The electrical standard is 230 volts at 50 Hz, utilizing plug types such as BS 1363, BS 546, and the Europlug. The country uses the international telephone code +975 and the top-level internet domain .bt. Emergency numbers include 112 (medical services), 110 (fire), and 113 (police).

### Administrative Divisions
The country comprises 20 administrative districts (Dzongkhags), including:
-   Bumthang
-   Chukha
-   Dagana
-   Gasa
-   Haa
-   Lhuntse
-   Mongar
-   Paro
-   Pemagatshel
-   Punakha
-   Samdrup Jongkhar
-   Samtse
-   Sarpang
-   Thimphu
-   Trashigang
-   Trashiyangtse
-   Trongsa
-   Tsirang
-   Wangdue Phodrang
-   Zhemgang

## References

1. [Source](https://www.britannica.com/place/Bhutan)
2. [Source](https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/bhutan/)
3. [Source](https://www.workwithdata.com/place/bhutan)
4. [Source](https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=26c#S_3)
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. [Source](https://data.iana.org/time-zones/tzdb-2021e/asia)
7. [Interpol](https://www.interpol.int/Member-countries/World)
8. [Source](https://www.interpol.int/Who-we-are/Member-countries/Asia-South-Pacific/BHUTAN)
9. [Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons](https://www.opcw.org/about-opcw/member-states/)
10. [Source](https://www.opcw.org/about-us/member-states/bhutan)
11. [Source](http://www.unesco.org/eri/cp/ListeMS_Indicators.asp)
12. [Source](http://www.upu.int/en/the-upu/member-countries.html)
13. [Source](https://www.upu.int/en/Universal-Postal-Union/About-UPU/Member-Countries?csid=-1&cid=47)
14. [Source](https://www.itu.int/online/mm/scripts/gensel8)
15. [Source](https://public.wmo.int/en/members/bhutan)
16. [Source](https://www.who.int/choice/demography/by_country/en/)
17. [Source](https://www.wcoomd.org/-/media/wco/public/global/pdf/about-us/wco-members/list-of-members-with-membership-date.pdf)
18. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
19. FIPS 10-4
20. MusicBrainz
21. [Human Development Report. 2022](https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/human-development-index#/indicies/HDI)
22. World Bank Open Data
23. [World Bank Open Data](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL)
24. [World Bank Open Data. World Bank Open Data](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=BT)
25. [Source](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SI.POV.GINI)
26. [Source](http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SL.UEM.TOTL.ZS)
27. [Source](http://cnig.gouv.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CNT-PVM_r%C3%A9vis%C3%A9_2020-01-27-1.pdf)
28. Official Names of the United Nations Membership
29. [Source](https://www.skgeodesy.sk/sk/ugkk/geodezia-kartografia/standardizacia-geografickeho-nazvoslovia/nazvy-statov/)
30. [Source](https://www.nsb.gov.bt/bhutan-interactive-data-portal/population/)
31. The National Terminology Database for Irish
32. [Source](https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/freedom-world-2017)
33. BBC Things
34. [Source](http://chartsbin.com/view/edr)
35. [World Bank](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD)
36. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=DEMO_DS)
37. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=3372)
38. BabelNet
39. [International Numbering Resources Database](http://www.itu.int/net/itu-t/inrdb/e129_important_numbers.aspx)
40. [World Plugs](http://www.iec.ch/worldplugs/list_bylocation.htm)
41. [Source](https://countrycodebase.com/undp/)
42. [National Statistics Bureau](https://www.nsb.gov.bt/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2022/12/BLSS-2022-for-WEB.pdf)
43. [Source](https://apps.who.int/gho/athena/data/xmart.csv?target=GHO/SDGSUICIDE,SDG_SH_STA_SCIDEN&profile=crosstable&filter=COUNTRY:*;REGION:*;AGEGROUP:-&x-sideaxis=COUNTRY;SEX&x-topaxis=GHO;YEAR)
44. [UNESCO Institute for Statistics](http://data.uis.unesco.org/index.aspx?queryid=239)
45. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
46. Gazetteer
47. [Source](https://knoema.com/atlas/Bhutan/topics/Education/Literacy/Adult-literacy-rate)
48. [Source](https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SE.ADT.LITR.ZS)
49. iNaturalist
50. FactGrid