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more about bhutan
bhutan |
2 definitions found From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: Bhutan n : a principality in the Himalayas northeast of India [syn: {Bhutan}] From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]: Bhutan Bhutan:Geography Location: Southern Asia, between China and India Map references: Asia Area: total area: 47,000 sq km land area: 47,000 sq km comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana Land boundaries: total 1,075 km China 470 km India 605 km Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) Maritime claims: none; landlocked International disputes: none Climate: varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas Terrain: mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna Natural resources: timber, hydropower gypsum, calcium carbide Land use: arable land: 2% permanent crops: 0% meadows and pastures: 5% forest and woodland: 70% other: 23% Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1989 est.) Environment: current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water natural hazards: 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 international agreements: party to - Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes Bhutan:People Population: 1,780,638 (July 1995 est.) note: other estimates range as low as 600,000 Age structure: 0-14 years: 40% (female 342,276; male 368,916) 15-64 years: 56% (female 486,258; male 513,560) 65 years and over: 4% (female 34,215; male 35,413) (July 1995 est.) Population growth rate: 2.34% (1995 est.) Birth rate: 39.02 births/1,000 population (1995 est.) Death rate: 15.61 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.) Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.) Infant mortality rate: 118.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.) Life expectancy at birth: total population: 51.03 years male: 51.56 years female: 50.48 years (1995 est.) Total fertility rate: 5.39 children born/woman (1995 est.) Nationality: noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese Ethnic divisions: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35%, indigenous or migrant tribes 15% Religions: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects; Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects Literacy: NA% Labor force: NA by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2% note: massive lack of skilled labor Bhutan:Government Names: conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional short form: Bhutan Digraph: BT Type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India Capital: Thimphu Administrative divisions: 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 Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India) National holiday: National Day 17 December (1907) (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king) Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction Suffrage: each family has one vote in village-level elections Executive branch: Chief of State and Head of Government: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972) Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde): nominated by the king cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog); appointed by the king Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Tshogdu); no national elections Judicial branch: High Court Political parties and leaders: no legal parties Other political or pressure groups: Buddhist clergy; Indian merchant community; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign Member of: AsDB CP ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IMF, INTELSAT, IOC, ITU, NAM, SAARC UN UNCTAD UNESCO, UNIDO UPU, WHO WIPO Diplomatic representation in US: Bhutan has no embassy in the US but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN headed by Ugyen TSERING located at 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017, telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; note - the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US consulate(s) general: New York honorary consulate(s): San Francisco; Washington, DC US diplomatic representation: no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India) Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side Economy Overview: The economy, one of the world's 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. Much of the impetus for growth has come from large public-sector companies. Nevertheless, in recent years, Bhutan has shifted toward decentralized development planning and greater private initiative. The government privatized several large public-sector firms, is revamping its trade regime and liberalizing administerial procedures over industrial licensing. The government's industrial contribution to GDP decreased from 13% in 1988 to about 11% in 1993. National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $1.2 billion (1994 est.) National product real growth rate: 5% (1994 est.) National product per capita: $700 (1994 est.) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 10% (October 1994) Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $52 million expenditures: $150 million, including capital expenditures of $95 million (FY93/94 est.) note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures Exports: $66.8 million (f.o.b., FY93/94) commodities: cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices partners: India 87%, Bangladesh Imports: $97.6 million (c.i.f., FY93/94 est.) commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts vehicles, fabrics, rice partners: India 79%, Japan, UK Germany, US External debt: $141 million (October 1994) Industrial production: growth rate 7.6% (1992 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP; primarily cottage industry and home based handicrafts Electricity: capacity: 360,000 kW production: 1.7 billion kWh consumption per capita: 143 kWh (1993) note: Bhutan exports electricity to India Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide Agriculture: rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy products, foodgrains eggs Economic aid: recipient: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $115 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $11 million Currency: 1 ngultrum Nu = 100 chetrum; note - Indian currency is also legal tender Exchange rates: ngultrum Nu per US$1 - 31.374 (January 1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991), 17.504 (1990); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Bhutan:Transportation Railroads: 0 km Highways: total: 2,165 km paved: NA unpaved: gravel 1,703 km undifferentiated: 462 km Ports: none Airports: total: 2 with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 1 Bhutan:Communications Telephone system: NA telephones; domestic telephone service is very poor with very few telephones in use local: NA intercity: NA international: international telephone and telegraph service is by land line through India; an earth station was planned (1990) Radio: broadcast stations: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1990) radios: NA Television: broadcast stations: 0 (1990) televisions: NA Bhutan:Defense Forces Branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia, Royal Bhutan Police Manpower availability: males age 15-49 434,586; males fit for military service 232,121; males reach military age (18) annually 17,365 (1995 est.) Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP
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