Bhutan
The Country of the Week
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Thimphu
- Population
- 892,877 (2025 est.)
- Area
- 38,394 sq km
- Government
- constitutional monarchy
- Languages
- Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)
- Religions
- Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)
- Ethnic Groups
- Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
- Currency
- ngultrum (BTN)
- Life Expectancy
- 73.7 years (2024 est.)
- Internet Domain
- .bt
- 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 carbonate
- Major Exports
- iron alloys, aircraft, dolomite, semi-finished iron, cement (2023)
Source: CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Overview
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.