Bhutan

After Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK -- who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century -- was named king in 1907. Three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders. <br><br>In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution -- which introduced major democratic reforms -- and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. In 2024, of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali -- predominantly Lhotshampa -- refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.

Southern Asia, between China and India

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Asia

slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

320 sq km (2012)

violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)

Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)

0.93% (2025 est.)

15.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

5.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)

47 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

1.75 children born/woman (2025 est.)

0.85 (2025 est.)

0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

6.4% (2016)

8.7% (2023 est.)

62% (2022 est.)

soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal

varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

26.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

78 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

constitutional monarchy

20 districts (<em>dzongkhag</em>, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang

civil law based on Buddhist religious law

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT<br>Bhutan Tendrel Party or BTP<br>Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTT<br>People's Democratic Party or PDP<br>United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT

<strong>note:</strong>  Although Bhutan and the United States have never established formal diplomatic relations, the two countries maintain informal relations via the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, and Bhutan’s Mission to the United Nations in New York

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

<strong>description:</strong> divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner; the upper triangle is yellow, and the lower triangle is dark orange; centered along the dividing line is a large, stylized black-and-white dragon facing to the right; the dragon is called the Druk (Thunder Dragon) and is the national emblem<br><br><strong>meaning:</strong> white stands for purity, and the jewels in the dragon's claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent the spiritual and secular powers in Bhutan, with orange standing for Buddhism and yellow for the ruling dynasty

mythical thunder dragon (<em>druk</em>)

orange, yellow

hydropower investments spurring economic development; Gross National Happiness economy; sharp poverty declines; low inflation; strong monetary and fiscal policies; stable currency; fairly resilient response to COVID-19; key economic and strategic relations with India; climate vulnerabilities

$3.019 billion (2023 est.)

rice, milk, potatoes, root vegetables, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, carrots/turnips (2023)

cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism

0% (2023 est.)

406,500 (2024 est.)

12.4% (2022 est.)

12.3% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

India 92%, Italy 4%, Indonesia 1%, China 1%, Singapore 0% (2023)

iron alloys, aircraft, dolomite, semi-finished iron, cement (2023)

India 82%, Singapore 8%, China 5%, Thailand 2%, Indonesia 1% (2023)

refined petroleum, gold, plastics, broadcasting equipment, iron reductions (2023)

state-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012)

.bt

A5

4 (2025)

8 (2025)

Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National Militia<br><br>Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2025)

estimated 7-8,000 active Royal Bhutan Army (2025)

the Royal Bhutan Army is lightly armed; it has a small amount of heavy equipment, such as armored cars and helicopters, originating from the former Soviet Union, India, and Thailand (2025)

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; militia training is compulsory for men aged 20-25 over a 3-year period (2025)

180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

the Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan's closest security partner is India; under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, both countries agreed to cooperate closely on issues relating to their national interests (2025)