{
  "Introduction": {
    "Background": {
      "text": "<p>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.</p> <p>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.</p>"
    }
  },
  "Geography": {
    "Location": {
      "text": "Southern Asia, between China and India"
    },
    "Geographic coordinates": {
      "text": "27 30 N, 90 30 E"
    },
    "Map references": {
      "text": "Asia"
    },
    "Area": {
      "total ": {
        "text": "38,394 sq km"
      },
      "land": {
        "text": "38,394 sq km"
      },
      "water": {
        "text": "0 sq km"
      }
    },
    "Area - comparative": {
      "text": "slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana"
    },
    "Land boundaries": {
      "total": {
        "text": "1,136 km"
      },
      "border countries": {
        "text": "China 477 km; India 659 km"
      }
    },
    "Coastline": {
      "text": "0 km (landlocked)"
    },
    "Maritime claims": {
      "text": "none (landlocked)"
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas"
    },
    "Terrain": {
      "text": "mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna"
    },
    "Elevation": {
      "highest point": {
        "text": "Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m"
      },
      "lowest point": {
        "text": "Drangeme Chhu 97 m"
      },
      "mean elevation": {
        "text": "2,220 m"
      }
    },
    "Natural resources": {
      "text": "timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "13.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "85.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "0.9% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Irrigated land": {
      "text": "320 sq km (2012)"
    },
    "Natural hazards": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Geography - note": {
      "text": "landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes"
    }
  },
  "People and Society": {
    "Population": {
      "total": {
        "text": "884,546"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "457,665"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "426,881 (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Nationality": {
      "noun": {
        "text": "Bhutanese (singular and plural)"
      },
      "adjective": {
        "text": "Bhutanese"
      }
    },
    "Ethnic groups": {
      "text": "Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%"
    },
    "Languages": {
      "text": "Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)"
    },
    "Religions": {
      "text": "Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)"
    },
    "Age structure": {
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "23.1% (male 104,771/female 99,981)"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "70.2% (male 322,497/female 298,324)"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "6.7% (2024 est.) (male 30,397/female 28,576)"
      }
    },
    "Dependency ratios": {
      "total dependency ratio": {
        "text": "40.7"
      },
      "youth dependency ratio": {
        "text": "32.1"
      },
      "elderly dependency ratio": {
        "text": "8.6"
      },
      "potential support ratio": {
        "text": "11.1 (2021 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Median age": {
      "total": {
        "text": "30.7 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "31.1 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "30.3 years"
      }
    },
    "Population growth rate": {
      "text": "0.95% (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Birth rate": {
      "text": "15.3 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Death rate": {
      "text": "5.9 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Net migration rate": {
      "text": "0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "44.4% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Major urban areas - population": {
      "text": "203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)"
    },
    "Sex ratio": {
      "at birth": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "0-14 years": {
        "text": "1.05 male(s)/female"
      },
      "15-64 years": {
        "text": "1.08 male(s)/female"
      },
      "65 years and over": {
        "text": "1.06 male(s)/female"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Maternal mortality ratio": {
      "text": "60 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)"
    },
    "Infant mortality rate": {
      "total": {
        "text": "24.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "24.6 deaths/1,000 live births"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "23.9 deaths/1,000 live births"
      }
    },
    "Life expectancy at birth": {
      "total population": {
        "text": "73.7 years (2024 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "72.5 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "75 years"
      }
    },
    "Total fertility rate": {
      "text": "1.76 children born/woman (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Gross reproduction rate": {
      "text": "0.86 (2024 est.)"
    },
    "Contraceptive prevalence rate": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Drinking water source": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 99.5% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 100% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 99.8% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 0.5% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 0% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 0.2% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Current health expenditure": {
      "text": "4.4% of GDP (2020)"
    },
    "Physician density": {
      "text": "0.5 physicians/1,000 population (2020)"
    },
    "Hospital bed density": {
      "text": "1.7 beds/1,000 population (2012)"
    },
    "Sanitation facility access": {
      "improved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 90.8% of population"
      },
      "improved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 83.1% of population"
      },
      "improved: total": {
        "text": "total: 86.4% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: urban": {
        "text": "urban: 9.2% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: rural": {
        "text": "rural: 16.9% of population"
      },
      "unimproved: total": {
        "text": "total: 13.6% of population (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": {
      "text": "6.4% (2016)"
    },
    "Alcohol consumption per capita": {
      "total": {
        "text": "0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "beer": {
        "text": "0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "wine": {
        "text": "0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "spirits": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      },
      "other alcohols": {
        "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": {
      "text": "NA"
    },
    "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": {
      "text": "62.8% (2023 est.)"
    },
    "Education expenditures": {
      "text": "7% of GDP (2021 est.)"
    },
    "Literacy": {
      "definition": {
        "text": "age 15 and over can read and write"
      },
      "total population": {
        "text": "70.9%"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "77.9%"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "62.8% (2021)"
      }
    },
    "School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "13 years"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "13 years (2018)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Environment": {
    "Environment - current issues": {
      "text": "soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal"
    },
    "Environment - international agreements": {
      "party to": {
        "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands"
      },
      "signed, but not ratified": {
        "text": "Law of the Sea"
      }
    },
    "Climate": {
      "text": "varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas"
    },
    "Land use": {
      "agricultural land": {
        "text": "13.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: arable land": {
        "text": "arable land: 2.6% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent crops": {
        "text": "permanent crops: 0.3% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural land: permanent pasture": {
        "text": "permanent pasture: 10.7% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "forest": {
        "text": "85.5% (2018 est.)"
      },
      "other": {
        "text": "0.9% (2018 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Urbanization": {
      "urban population": {
        "text": "44.4% of total population (2023)"
      },
      "rate of urbanization": {
        "text": "2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Revenue from forest resources": {
      "text": "1.89% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Revenue from coal": {
      "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)"
    },
    "Air pollutants": {
      "particulate matter emissions": {
        "text": "26.1 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)"
      },
      "carbon dioxide emissions": {
        "text": "1.26 megatons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "methane emissions": {
        "text": "1.11 megatons (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Waste and recycling": {
      "municipal solid waste generated annually": {
        "text": "111,314 tons (2007 est.)"
      },
      "municipal solid waste recycled annually": {
        "text": "957 tons (2016 est.)"
      },
      "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": {
        "text": "0.9% (2016 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total water withdrawal": {
      "municipal": {
        "text": "20 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      },
      "industrial": {
        "text": "3 million cubic meters (2019 est.)"
      },
      "agricultural": {
        "text": "320 million cubic meters (2020 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Total renewable water resources": {
      "text": "78 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)"
    }
  },
  "Government": {
    "Country name": {
      "conventional long form": {
        "text": "Kingdom of Bhutan"
      },
      "conventional short form": {
        "text": "Bhutan"
      },
      "local long form": {
        "text": "Druk Gyalkhap"
      },
      "local short form": {
        "text": "Druk Yul"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "named after the Bhotia, the ethnic Tibetans who migrated from Tibet to Bhutan; \"Bod\" is the Tibetan name for their land; the Bhutanese name \"Druk Yul\" means \"Land of the Thunder Dragon\""
      }
    },
    "Government type": {
      "text": "constitutional monarchy"
    },
    "Capital": {
      "name": {
        "text": "Thimphu"
      },
      "geographic coordinates": {
        "text": "27 28 N, 89 38 E"
      },
      "time difference": {
        "text": "UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)"
      },
      "etymology": {
        "text": "the origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that <em>thim </em>means \"dissolve\" and <em>phu</em> denotes \"high ground\" to express the meaning of \"dissolving high ground,\" in reference to a local deity that dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands"
      }
    },
    "Administrative divisions": {
      "text": "20 districts (dzongkhag, 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"
    },
    "Independence": {
      "text": "17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)"
    },
    "National holiday": {
      "text": "National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)"
    },
    "Legal system": {
      "text": "civil law based on Buddhist religious law"
    },
    "Constitution": {
      "history": {
        "text": "previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008"
      },
      "amendments": {
        "text": "proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king"
      }
    },
    "International law organization participation": {
      "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt"
    },
    "Citizenship": {
      "citizenship by birth": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "citizenship by descent only": {
        "text": "the father must be a citizen of Bhutan"
      },
      "dual citizenship recognized": {
        "text": "no"
      },
      "residency requirement for naturalization": {
        "text": "10 years"
      }
    },
    "Suffrage": {
      "text": "18 years of age; universal"
    },
    "Executive branch": {
      "chief of state": {
        "text": "King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006)"
      },
      "head of government": {
        "text": "Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024)"
      },
      "cabinet": {
        "text": "Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms"
      },
      "elections/appointments": {
        "text": "the monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch": {
      "legislature name": {
        "text": "Parliament (Chi Tshog)"
      },
      "legislative structure": {
        "text": "bicameral"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - lower chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "National Assembly (Tshogdu)"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "47 (all directly elected)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "plurality/majority"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "1/9/2024"
      },
      "parties elected and seats per party": {
        "text": "People's Democratic Party (PDP) (30); Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) (17)"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "4.3%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "January 2029"
      }
    },
    "Legislative branch - upper chamber": {
      "chamber name": {
        "text": "National Council (Gyelyong Tshogde)"
      },
      "number of seats": {
        "text": "25 (20 directly elected; 5 appointed)"
      },
      "electoral system": {
        "text": "plurality/majority"
      },
      "scope of elections": {
        "text": "full renewal"
      },
      "term in office": {
        "text": "5 years"
      },
      "most recent election date": {
        "text": "4/20/2023"
      },
      "percentage of women in chamber": {
        "text": "12%"
      },
      "expected date of next election": {
        "text": "April 2028"
      }
    },
    "Judicial branch": {
      "highest court(s)": {
        "text": "Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate&nbsp;justices); note - the Supreme Court has sole jurisdiction in constitutional matters"
      },
      "judge selection and term of office": {
        "text": "Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch upon the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier"
      },
      "subordinate courts": {
        "text": "High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts"
      }
    },
    "Political parties": {
      "text": "<p>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</p>"
    },
    "International organization participation": {
      "text": "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)"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation in the US": {
      "chief of mission": {
        "text": "Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations (vacant); Charg&eacute; d'Affaires Phuntsho NORBU (since October 2022); note - also serving as the Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN"
      },
      "telephone": {
        "text": "[1] (212) 682-2371"
      },
      "FAX": {
        "text": "[1] (212) 661-0551"
      },
      "email address and website": {
        "text": "<br>consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bt<br><br>https://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/"
      },
      "consulate(s) general": {
        "text": "343 East, 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note</strong> - although Bhutan and the United States do not have diplomatic relations, the two countries established consular relations on 23 July 1986; the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Bhutan was established in New York with an officer from the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the United Nations holding dual accreditation as the Consul General with consular jurisdiction in the US"
    },
    "Diplomatic representation from the US": {
      "embassy": {
        "text": "none; frequent informal contact is maintained via the US embassy in New Delhi (India) and Bhutan's Permanent Mission to the UN"
      }
    },
    "Flag description": {
      "text": "divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side; the dragon, called the Druk (Thunder Dragon), is the emblem of the nation; its white color stands for purity and the jewels in its claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent spiritual and secular powers within Bhutan: the orange is associated with Buddhism, while the yellow denotes the ruling dynasty"
    },
    "National symbol(s)": {
      "text": "thunder dragon known as Druk Gyalpo; national colors: orange, yellow"
    },
    "National anthem": {
      "name": {
        "text": "\"Druk tsendhen\" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)"
      },
      "lyrics/music": {
        "text": "Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI"
      },
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> adopted 1953"
    }
  },
  "Economy": {
    "Economic overview": {
      "text": "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"
    },
    "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": {
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022": {
        "text": "$10.981 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": {
        "text": "$10.437 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": {
        "text": "$9.995 billion (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "Real GDP growth rate": {
      "Real GDP growth rate 2022": {
        "text": "5.21% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2021": {
        "text": "4.42% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP growth rate 2020": {
        "text": "-10.22% (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Real GDP per capita": {
      "Real GDP per capita 2022": {
        "text": "$14,100 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2021": {
        "text": "$13,500 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Real GDP per capita 2020": {
        "text": "$13,000 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in 2021 dollars"
    },
    "GDP (official exchange rate)": {
      "text": "$2.898 billion (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> data in current dollars at official exchange rate"
    },
    "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": {
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023": {
        "text": "4.23% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022": {
        "text": "5.64% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021": {
        "text": "7.35% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change based on consumer prices"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": {
      "agriculture": {
        "text": "14.7% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "industry": {
        "text": "31.8% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "services": {
        "text": "51.2% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data"
    },
    "GDP - composition, by end use": {
      "household consumption": {
        "text": "57.8% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "government consumption": {
        "text": "21% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "investment in fixed capital": {
        "text": "55.1% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "investment in inventories": {
        "text": "0.7% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports of goods and services": {
        "text": "25.5% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports of goods and services": {
        "text": "-60.1% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection"
    },
    "Agricultural products": {
      "text": "milk, rice, root vegetables, potatoes, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chilies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, bison milk (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top ten agricultural products based on tonnage"
    },
    "Industries": {
      "text": "cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism"
    },
    "Industrial production growth rate": {
      "text": "5.6% (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency"
    },
    "Labor force": {
      "text": "429,000 (2023 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work"
    },
    "Unemployment rate": {
      "Unemployment rate 2023": {
        "text": "5.65% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2022": {
        "text": "5.95% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Unemployment rate 2021": {
        "text": "4.8% (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force seeking employment"
    },
    "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": {
      "total": {
        "text": "29.2% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "male": {
        "text": "25.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "female": {
        "text": "33.1% (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment"
    },
    "Population below poverty line": {
      "text": "12.4% (2022 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % of population with income below national poverty line"
    },
    "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": {
      "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022": {
        "text": "28.5 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> index (0-100) of income distribution; higher values represent greater inequality"
    },
    "Household income or consumption by percentage share": {
      "lowest 10%": {
        "text": "3.6% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "highest 10%": {
        "text": "22.7% (2022 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> % share of income accruing to lowest and highest 10% of population"
    },
    "Remittances": {
      "Remittances 2022": {
        "text": "3.31% of GDP (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2021": {
        "text": "2.65% of GDP (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Remittances 2020": {
        "text": "3.39% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> personal transfers and compensation between resident and non-resident individuals/households/entities"
    },
    "Budget": {
      "revenues": {
        "text": "$740.333 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "expenditures": {
        "text": "$591.697 million (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government revenues and expenses (excluding grants/extrabudgetary units/social security funds) converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated"
    },
    "Public debt": {
      "Public debt 2020": {
        "text": "111.01% of GDP (2020 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government debt as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Taxes and other revenues": {
      "text": "12.28% (of GDP) (2020 est.)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> central government tax revenue as a % of GDP"
    },
    "Current account balance": {
      "Current account balance 2023": {
        "text": "-$999.999 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2022": {
        "text": "-$805.723 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Current account balance 2021": {
        "text": "-$319.279 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports": {
      "Exports 2023": {
        "text": "$815.05 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2022": {
        "text": "$791.342 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exports 2021": {
        "text": "$739.514 million (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Exports - partners": {
      "text": "India 88%, Italy 5%, Nepal 2%, Colombia 2%, Singapore 1% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export partners based on percentage share of exports"
    },
    "Exports - commodities": {
      "text": "iron alloys, dolomite, gypsum, cement, electricity (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five export commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Imports": {
      "Imports 2023": {
        "text": "$1.754 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2022": {
        "text": "$1.581 billion (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Imports 2021": {
        "text": "$1.027 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars"
    },
    "Imports - partners": {
      "text": "India 75%, China 12%, Indonesia 5%, Thailand 2%, Singapore 1% (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import partners based on percentage share of imports"
    },
    "Imports - commodities": {
      "text": "computers, refined petroleum, electrical machinery, coke, wood charcoal (2022)",
      "note": "<b>note:</b> top five import commodities based on value in dollars"
    },
    "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold": {
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023": {
        "text": "$654.481 million (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022": {
        "text": "$825.755 million (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021": {
        "text": "$1.05 billion (2021 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars"
    },
    "Debt - external": {
      "Debt - external 2023": {
        "text": "$2.923 billion (2023 est.)"
      },
      "note": "<b>note:</b> present value of external debt in current US dollars"
    },
    "Exchange rates": {
      "Currency": {
        "text": "ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2023": {
        "text": "82.599 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2022": {
        "text": "78.604 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2021": {
        "text": "73.918 (2021 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2020": {
        "text": "74.1 (2020 est.)"
      },
      "Exchange rates 2019": {
        "text": "70.42 (2019 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Energy": {
    "Electricity access": {
      "electrification - total population": {
        "text": "100% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity": {
      "installed generating capacity": {
        "text": "2.342 million kW (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "9.752 billion kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "6 billion kWh (2020 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "834.7 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      },
      "transmission/distribution losses": {
        "text": "83.626 million kWh (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Electricity generation sources": {
      "hydroelectricity": {
        "text": "100% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Coal": {
      "production": {
        "text": "177,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "consumption": {
        "text": "325,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "exports": {
        "text": "100 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      },
      "imports": {
        "text": "148,000 metric tons (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Petroleum": {
      "refined petroleum consumption": {
        "text": "3,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Carbon dioxide emissions": {
      "total emissions": {
        "text": "1.206 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from coal and metallurgical coke": {
        "text": "728,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      },
      "from petroleum and other liquids": {
        "text": "478,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Energy consumption per capita": {
      "Total energy consumption per capita 2022": {
        "text": "60.788 million Btu/person (2022 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Communications": {
    "Telephones - fixed lines": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "18,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "2 (2023 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telephones - mobile cellular": {
      "total subscriptions": {
        "text": "752,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "95 (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Telecommunication systems": {
      "general assessment": {
        "text": "the small land-locked Kingdom of Bhutan has only recently emerged from decades of isolation from the modern world; that, and its mountainous terrain, left the country far back in the field in terms of teledensity as well as access to the Internet; over the last decade, the country has undergone a significant transformation due to the opening of its borders, liberalization of its telecom sector, and the active support from the government towards increased competition in the mobile, broadband, and ISP segments; the relatively widespread availability of the mobile platform has caused an explosion in mobile broadband subscriber numbers, growing from zero to over 100% penetration in just ten years (between 2010 and 2019).; the onset of the Covid-19 crisis in 2020 caused the subscription rates to drop back a little; growth is projected to return in 2022 (along with the broader mobile market) as the overall economy recovers; the government opens up more to foreign investment, trade, and tourism; and network expansion continues &ndash; the recent (December 2021) launch of 5G services by both of the country&rsquo;s mobile operators being particularly noteworthy (2022)"
      },
      "domestic": {
        "text": "approximately 3 to 100 fixed-line and 100 mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 people (2021)"
      },
      "international": {
        "text": "country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat"
      }
    },
    "Broadcast media": {
      "text": "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)"
    },
    "Internet country code": {
      "text": ".bt"
    },
    "Internet users": {
      "percent of population": {
        "text": "87% (2022 est.)"
      }
    },
    "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": {
      "total": {
        "text": "10,000 (2023 est.)"
      },
      "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": {
        "text": "1 (2023 est.)"
      }
    }
  },
  "Transportation": {
    "National air transport system": {
      "number of registered air carriers": {
        "text": "2 (2020)"
      },
      "inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers": {
        "text": "6"
      },
      "annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "275,849 (2018)"
      },
      "annual freight traffic on registered air carriers": {
        "text": "690,000 (2018) mt-km"
      }
    },
    "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": {
      "text": "A5"
    },
    "Airports": {
      "text": "4 (2024)"
    },
    "Heliports": {
      "text": "8 (2024)"
    },
    "Roadways": {
      "total": {
        "text": "12,205 km (2017)"
      },
      "urban": {
        "text": "437 km"
      }
    }
  },
  "Military and Security": {
    "Military and security forces": {
      "text": "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 (2024)"
    },
    "Military and security service personnel strengths": {
      "text": "estimated 7-8,000 active personnel (2024)"
    },
    "Military equipment inventories and acquisitions": {
      "text": "the Royal Bhutan Army is lightly armed; it has a small amount of heavy equipment, such as armored cars and helicopters, originating from India and Thailand (2024)"
    },
    "Military service age and obligation": {
      "text": "18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period  (2023)",
      "note": "<strong>note: </strong>in 2021, the Royal Bhutan Army graduated from a year-long training course the first batch of 150 women to be allowed to serve in combat roles; previously, women were allowed to serve in medical and other non-combat roles"
    },
    "Military deployments": {
      "text": "190 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024)"
    },
    "Military - note": {
      "text": "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 relies on India for military training, arms supplies, and the country&rsquo;s air defense (2024)"
    }
  },
  "Space": {
    "Space agency/agencies": {
      "text": "announced in 2018 that it intends to establish a space agency, but has not yet done so; has a Division of Telecom and Space (DoTS) under the GovTech Agency (2024)"
    },
    "Space program overview": {
      "text": "has a small, recently established program focused on acquiring satellites and developing the capabilities to manufacture satellites; cooperates with India and the US (2024)",
      "note": "<strong>note:</strong> further details about the key activities, programs, and milestones of the country’s space program, as well as government spending estimates on the space sector, appear in the Space Programs reference guide"
    }
  },
  "Transnational Issues": {
  }
}