Asia and Oceania
Bhutan
Last reviewed: 18 November 2008
Country information
Area: 47,000 sq km
Population: 672,425 (as per official census carried out in May 2005) although other estimates vary from between810,000 and 2,095,000 eg: 918.000 (World Bank est. 2005)
Capital City: Thimphu
People: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Language(s): Dzongkha (official), various Tibetan dialects, various Nepalese dialects
Religion(s): Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Currency: ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)
Major political parties:People’s Democratic Party, Bhutan National Party, and The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa Government: Constitutional MonarchyKing:Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck
Prime Minister: Jigme Thinley Membership of international groupings/organisations: ADB, CP,ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, Intelsat, IOC, IOM(observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO (observer)
HEALTH
Bhutan currently has an estimated population growth rate of 2.17% and the life expectancy of 63.5 years. The infant mortality rate is estimated at 67.4 per 1,000 live births. The level of HIV infection in adults is estimated at 0.1% (pop between 15-49 years) .
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