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Asia and Oceania
Bhutan |
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Last reviewed: 27 October 2009 |
Country information
Area: 38,394 sq km (2008)
Population: 658,888 (UN sponsored census in May 2007). 33.1% of the population are under the age of 15yrs. 69.1% of the population live in rural areas and 30.9% in urban areas (2005)
Capital City: Thimphu
People: Three main ethnic groups: Tibeto-Mongoloid mainly in the North and West, Burmo-Mongoloid mainly in the East and Indo-Aryan (Nepalese) in the South.
Language(s): Dzongkha is the official language. There are some 14 other languages spoken including Nepalese dialects. English is very widely spoken and is the language of education.
Religion(s): Mahayana Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Currency: ngultrum (BTN). The Ngultrum is at par with the Indian Rupee.
Major political parties: People’s Democratic Party, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (National Harmony Party). Since the election in March 2008 the DPT forms the Government.
Government: Constitutional Monarchy with bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Council (25 members) and the National Assembly (47 members) elected by universal suffrage from 47 constituencies. Parliamentary elections are held every 5 years.
Head of State: H.M. Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, Fifth King of Bhutan.
Prime Minister: Jigme Yoeser Thinley
Members of international groupings/Organisations: UPU, UNCDF, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, ESCAP, UNICEF, WFP, IFAD, UNFPA, ARC, IMF, World Bank, IDA, FAO, WHO, UNESO, UNIDO, APPU, UNCTAD, ITU, ICAO, WIPO, UN-WTO, ADB, SAARC, ICIMOD, AITD, INTELSAT, IPPC, ABU, IFC, INTERPOL, SAFIR, ADRC, IOC, OCA, SASF, BIMST-EC.
Development Cooperation Partners with offices in Bhutan: Austria, Denmark, India, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland, SCF(USA), WWF
UN Agencies with offices in Bhutan: FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, WHO.
Health
Bhutan currently has an estimated population growth rate of 1.03% (est. 2008) and the life expectancy of 65.0 yrs (2006). The infant mortality rate (< 1 yr) is estimated at 63 per 1,000 live births (2006). The level of HIV infection in adults is estimated at less than 0.1% (pop between 15-49 years). 84.2% of the population have access to piped water (2007).
