AT GLIMPSE

    
  • Country Name:
Bhutan, locally known as Druk-Yul, meaning the Land of Thunder Dragon

 
  • Total Area:
46,500 square kms. 150 km. North to South and 300 km. East to West

 
  • Geographic Coordinates:
Longitude - 88 45 and 92 10 East,
Latitude - 26 45' and 28 15' North

Detail
  • Terrain:
Three major geographic regions from North to South; the high Himalayas of the North, the hills and valleys of the Central and the foothills and plains of the South

 
  • Altitude:
100 meters in the Southern plains to 7,500 meters in the Northern highlands

 
  • Climate:


Three distinct climatic zones; hot and humid in South, cool and temperate in Central and severe alpine climate in North. Significant localized variation in rainfall due to rain shadow effects. Monsoon season peaks from mid-June to September

 
  • Land Use:
 72.5% forest, 7.8% cultivation and 4% pasture

 
  • Population Estimate (2001):
698,950 (50.5% male, 49.5% female), growth estimated at 3.1% annum.

 
  • Density of Population:
14 persons per sq. km.

 
  • Settlement:
79% rural, 21% urban

 
  • People:
Ngalop (Tibetan-Mongoloid origin), Sharchop (Burmese-Mongoloid origin) and Lhotsam (Nepali origin)

Detail
  • Languages:
Dzongkha, Nepali, English, various local dialects

 
  • Religion:
Mahayana Buddhist (80%), Hindu (20%)

Detail
  • Economy:
Subsistence agriculture

Detail
  • GDP (2000):
 $713

 
  • Natural Resources:

Minerals (dolomite, limestone, gypsum, slate, coal, talc, marble, zinc, lead, copper, tungsten, quartzite); Crops (rice, maize, wheat, potato, millet, buckwheat, orange, apple, cardamom); Hydro Power (potential estimated at highest of 30,000 MW)

 
  • Currency:
Ngultrum, at par with Indian Rupee

 
  • Government:
Constitutional Monarchy

Detail
  • Capital:
Thimphu (30,000-40,000 inhabitants)

 
  • Infrastructure:
Health - 100% basic health coverage,
Education - 72% primary enrolment,
Motorable road - 3300kms,
Airport - 1

 

View Map of Bhutan