Bhutan

Bhutan (

Stone tools, weapons, elephants, and remnants of large stone structures provide evidence that Bhutan was inhabited as early as 2000 BC, although there are no existing records from that time. Historians have theorised that the state of Lhomon (lit. 'southern darkness'), or Monyul ("Dark Land", a reference to the Monpa, an ethnic group in Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh, India), may have existed between 500 BC and AD 600. The names Lhomon Tsendenjong (Sandalwood Country) and Lhomon Khashi, or Southern Mon (country of four approaches), have been found in ancient Bhutanese and Tibetan chronicles.^[24][25]

Much of early Bhutanese history is unclear because most of the records were destroyed when fire ravaged the ancient capital, Punakha, in 1827. By the 10th century, Bhutan's religious history had a significant impact on its political development. Various subsects of Buddhism emerged that were patronized by the various Mongol warlords.

Bhutan may have been influenced by the Yuan dynasty with which it shares various cultural and religious similarities.

After the decline of the

Locally, Bhutan has been known by many names. The earliest Western record of Bhutan, the 1627 Relação of the

When Ngawang Namgyal died in 1651, his passing was kept secret for 54 years. After a period of consolidation, Bhutan lapsed into internal conflict. In 1711, Bhutan went to war against the Raja of the kingdom of Koch Bihar in the south. During the chaos that followed, the Tibetans unsuccessfully attacked Bhutan in 1714.^[40]

In the 18th century, the Bhutanese invaded and occupied the kingdom of Koch Bihar. In 1772, the

In 1953, King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck established the country's legislature—a 130-member National Assembly—to promote a more democratic form of governance. In 1965, he set up a Royal Advisory Council, and in 1968 he formed a Cabinet. In 1971, Bhutan was admitted to the United Nations, having held observer status for three years. In July 1972, Jigme Singye Wangchuck ascended to the throne at the age of sixteen after the death of his father, Dorji Wangchuck.

Bhutan's sixth Five-Year Plan (1987–92) included a policy of 'one nation, one people' and introduced a code of traditional Drukpa dress and etiquette called Driglam Namzhag. The dress element of this code required all citizens to wear the gho (a knee-length robe for men) and the kira (an ankle-length dress for women).

Bhutan's political system has recently changed from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional monarchy. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck transferred most of his administrative powers to the Council of Cabinet Ministers and allowed for impeachment of the King by a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly.^[50]

In 1999, the government lifted a ban on television and internet, making Bhutan one of the last countries to introduce television. In his speech, the King said that television was a critical step to the modernisation of Bhutan as well as a major contributor to the country's

On 6 November 2008, 28-year-old Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was crowned king.^[53]

In July 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bhutan became the first world-leading nation in its role of vaccinating 470,000 out of 770,000 people with a two-dose shot of AstraZeneca vaccines.

On 13 December 2023, Bhutan was officially delisted as a

Geography

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Bhutan is on the southern slopes of the eastern Himalayas, landlocked between the Tibet Autonomous Region of China to the north and the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam to the west and south, and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh to the east. It lies between latitudes 26°N and 29°N, and longitudes 88°E and 93°E. The land consists mostly of steep and high mountains crisscrossed by a network of swift rivers that form deep valleys before draining into the Indian plains. In fact, 98.8% of Bhutan is covered by mountains, which makes it the most mountainous country in the world.^[54] Elevation rises from 200 m (660 ft) in the southern foothills to more than 7,000 m (23,000 ft). This great geographical diversity combined with equally diverse climate conditions contributes to Bhutan's outstanding range of biodiversity and ecosystems.^[4]

Bhutan's northern region consists of an arc of

The northern Duars, which abut the Himalayan foothills, have rugged, sloping terrain and dry, porous soil with dense vegetation and abundant wildlife. The southern Duars have moderately fertile soil, heavy savanna grass, dense, mixed jungle, and freshwater springs. Mountain rivers, fed by melting snow or monsoon rains, empty into the Brahmaputra River in India. Data released by the Ministry of Agriculture showed that the country had a forest cover of 64% as of October 2005.

• Landscape of Bhutan
• 
  Gangkar Puensum

  , the highest mountain in Bhutan
• 
  Sub-alpine Himalayan landscape
• 
  A Himalayan peak from

  Bumthang
• 
  Jigme Dorji National Park
• 
  The Haa Valley in Western Bhutan

Climate

Bhutan's climate varies with elevation, from subtropical in the south to temperate in the highlands and polar-type climate with year-round snow in the north. Bhutan experiences five distinct seasons: summer, monsoon, autumn, winter and spring. Western Bhutan has the heavier monsoon rains; southern Bhutan has hot humid summers and cool winters; central and eastern Bhutan are temperate and drier than the west with warm summers and cool winters.

Biodiversity

Bhutan signed the Rio

Bhutan has a rich primate life, with rare species such as the

More than 770 species of bird have been recorded in Bhutan. The globally endangered white-winged duck has been added recently in 2006 to Bhutan's bird list.^[63]

The 2010 BBC documentary Lost Land of the Tiger follows an expedition to Bhutan. The expedition is notable for claiming to obtain the first footage of tigers living at 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) in the high Himalayas. The BBC footage shows a female tiger lactating and scent-marking, followed a few days later by a male tiger responding, suggesting that the cats could be breeding at this elevation. Camera traps also recorded footage of other rarely seen forest creatures, including dhole (or Indian wild dog), Asian elephants, leopards and leopard cats.^[64]

Plants

More than 5,400 species of plants are found in Bhutan,

Conservation

JDNP

Motithang

WCNP

BWS

PNP

JWS

JKSNR

JSWNP

PWS

RMNP

SWS

Protected areas of Bhutan in lavender; biological corridors

in green

The Eastern Himalayas has been identified as a global biodiversity hotspot and counted among the 234 globally outstanding ecoregions of the world in a comprehensive analysis of global biodiversity undertaken by WWF between 1995 and 1997.

According to the Swiss-based International Union for Conservation of Nature, Bhutan is viewed as a model for proactive conservation initiatives. The Kingdom has received international acclaim for its commitment to the maintenance of its biodiversity.^[66] This is reflected in the decision to maintain at least sixty per cent of the land area under forest cover, to designate more than 40%^[67][68] of its territory as national parks, reserves and other protected areas, and most recently to identify a further nine per cent of land area as biodiversity corridors linking the protected areas. All of Bhutan's protected land is connected to one another through a vast network of biological corridors, allowing animals to migrate freely throughout the country.^[69] Environmental conservation has been placed at the core of the nation's development strategy, the middle path. It is not treated as a sector but rather as a set of concerns that must be mainstreamed in Bhutan's overall approach to development planning and to be buttressed by the force of law. The country's constitution mentions environmental standards in multiple sections.^[70]

Environmental issues

Although Bhutan's natural heritage is still largely intact, the government has said that it cannot be taken for granted and that conservation of the natural environment must be considered one of the challenges that will need to be addressed in the years ahead.^[71] Nearly 56.3% of all Bhutanese are involved with agriculture, forestry or conservation.^[70] The government aims to promote conservation as part of its plan to target Gross National Happiness. It currently has net negative^[69] greenhouse gas emissions because the small amount of pollution it creates is absorbed by the forests that cover most of the country.^[72] While the entire country collectively produces 2,200,000 metric tons (2,200,000 long tons; 2,400,000 short tons) of carbon dioxide a year, the immense forest covering 72% of the country acts as a carbon sink, absorbing more than four million tons of carbon dioxide every year.^[69] Bhutan had a 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 8.85/10, ranking it 16th globally out of 172 countries.^[73]

Bhutan has a number of progressive environmental policies that have caused the head of the UNFCCC to call it an "inspiration and role model for the world on how economies and different countries can address climate change while at the same time improving the life of the citizen."^[74] For example, electric cars have been pushed in the country and as of 2014^[update] make up a tenth of all cars. Because the country gets most of its energy from hydroelectric power, it does not emit significant greenhouse gases for energy production.^[72]

In practice, the overlap of these extensive protected lands with populated areas has led to mutual habitat encroachment. Protected wildlife has entered agricultural areas, trampling crops and killing livestock. In response, Bhutan has implemented an insurance scheme, begun constructing solar powered alarm fences, watch towers, and search lights, and has provided fodder and salt licks outside human settlement areas to encourage animals to stay away.^[75]

The huge market value of the Ophiocordyceps sinensis fungus crop collected from the wild has also resulted in unsustainable exploitation which is proving very difficult to regulate.^[76]

Bhutan has enforced a plastic ban rule from 1 April 2019, where plastic bags were replaced by alternative bags made of jute and other biodegradable material.^[77]

Government and politics

The People's Democratic Party came to power in the 2013 elections. It won 32 seats and 54.88% of the vote. PDP leader Tshering Tobgay served as Prime Minister from 2013 to 2018.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa won the largest number of seats in the 2018 National Assembly election, bringing Lotay Tshering to the premiership and Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa into the government for the first time.^[81]

Tshering Tobgay returned to power as Prime Minister after the 2024 election, with the PDP gaining 30 seats; he assumed office on 28 January 2024.^[82]

Foreign relations

Bhutan maintains strong economic, strategic, and military relations with India.^[86][87] In February 2007, the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Treaty was substantially revised, clarifying Bhutan's full control of its foreign relations, as well as its independence and sovereignty. Whereas the Treaty of 1949, Article 2 stated: "The Government of India undertakes to exercise no interference in the internal administration of Bhutan. On its part the Government of Bhutan agrees to be guided by the advice of the Government of India in regard to its external relations," the revised treaty now states "In keeping with the abiding ties of close friendship and cooperation between Bhutan and India, the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan and the Government of the Republic of India shall cooperate closely with each other on issues relating to their national interests. Neither government shall allow the use of its territory for activities harmful to the national security and interest of the other." The revised treaty also includes this preamble: "Reaffirming their respect for each other's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity", an element absent in the earlier version. By long-standing agreement, Indian and Bhutanese citizens may travel to each other's countries without a passport or visa, but must still have their national identity cards. Bhutanese citizens may also work in India without legal restrictions.

Bhutan does not have formal diplomatic ties with China, but exchanges of visits at various levels between them have significantly increased in recent times. The first bilateral agreement between China and Bhutan was signed in 1998 and Bhutan has also set up honorary consulates in the

Bhutan's border with China is not mutually demarcated in some areas because China lays claims to those places. In 2021, after more than 35 years of border negotiations, China signed a memorandum of understanding with Bhutan to expedite those talks.^[89] Approximately 269 square kilometres (104 sq mi) remain under discussion between China and Bhutan.^[90] On 13 November 2005, Chinese soldiers crossed into the disputed territories between China and Bhutan and began building roads and bridges.^[91] Bhutanese Foreign Minister Khandu Wangchuk took up the matter with Chinese authorities after the issue was raised in the Bhutanese parliament. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang of the People's Republic of China said that the border remains in dispute and that the two sides are continuing to work for a peaceful and cordial resolution of the dispute, denying that the presence of soldiers in the area was an attempt to forcibly occupy it.^[92] An Indian intelligence officer said that a Chinese delegation in Bhutan told the Bhutanese they were "overreacting". The Bhutanese newspaper Kuensel said that China might use the roads to further Chinese claims along the border.^[91]

Bhutan has very warm relations with Japan, which provides significant development assistance. The Bhutanese royals were hosted by the Japanese imperial family during a state visit in 2011. Japan is also helping Bhutan cope with glacial floods by developing an early warning system. Bhutan enjoys strong political and diplomatic relations with Bangladesh. The Bhutanese king was the guest of honour during celebrations of the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence.^[93] A 2014 joint statement by the prime ministers of both countries announced cooperation in areas of hydropower, river management and climate change mitigation.^[94] Bangladesh and Bhutan signed a preferential trade agreement in 2020 with provisions for free trade.^[95]

Bhutan has diplomatic relations with 53 countries and the European Union and has missions in India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Kuwait, and Belgium. It has two UN missions, one in New York and one in Geneva. Only India, Bangladesh, and Kuwait have residential embassies in Bhutan. Other countries maintain informal diplomatic contact via their embassies in New Delhi and Dhaka. Bhutan maintains formal diplomatic relations with several Asian and European nations, Canada, and Brazil. Other countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, have no formal diplomatic relations with Bhutan but maintain informal contact through their respective embassies in New Delhi and with the United States through Bhutan's permanent mission to the United Nations. The United Kingdom has an honorary consul resident in Thimphu. The latest country Bhutan has established diplomatic relations with is Israel, on 12 December 2020.^[96][97][98]

Bhutan opposed the Russian annexation of Crimea in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 68/262.

Military

The Royal Bhutan Army is Bhutan's military service and is the weakest armed force in the world, in terms of Power Index, according to the Global Firepower survey.^[99] It includes the royal bodyguard and the Royal Bhutan Police. Membership is voluntary and the minimum age for recruitment is 18.

The standing army numbers about 16,000 and is trained by the Indian Army.^[100] It has an annual budget of about US$13.7 million (1.8 per cent of GDP). As a landlocked country, Bhutan has no navy. It also has no air force or army aviation corps. The Army relies on the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force for air assistance.

Human rights

Bhutan is ranked as "Partly Free" by Freedom House.^[101] Bhutan's parliament decriminalised homosexuality in 2020.^[102]

Women in Bhutan tend to be less active in politics than men due to customs and aspects of Bhutan's culture that dictate a woman's role in the household.^[103] This leads to a limitation of their voices in government. Bhutan has made steps toward gender equality by enrolling more girls in school as well as creating the "National Commission for Women and Children" (NCWC) in 2004.^[104] This programme was created to promote and protect women's and children's rights. Bhutan also elected its first female Dzongda, equivalent to a District Attorney, in 2012, and its first female minister in 2013.^[104] Minister Dorji Choden, chair for the National Commission for Women and Children, believes that the aforementioned programme can be used to "promote women into more leadership roles" which can then lead women to take on more active roles in their society.^[103] Overall there has also been a gradual increase in women in power with a 68% increase in women representation from 2011 to 2016.^[104]

1990s ethnic cleansing

Starting in the 1980s, a part of Bhutan's minority population groups of Nepali speakers ("Lhotshampa"), in Southern Bhutan, fell victim to perceived political persecution by the Bhutanese government as part of what the Nepali-speaking population viewed as Bhutanisation (termed One Nation, One People) policy which was aimed to nationalise the country.^[105][106] In 1977 followed by in 1985, Bhutan's government enacted legislations which impacted the Lhotshampa ethnic minority. The review of the national citizenship criteria and provisions for denationalisation of illegally present population in the country ensued.^[107][108] The government enforced uniformity in dress, culture, tradition, language and literature to create a national identity which was aligned with the majority Drukpa culture of the country.^{[105][109][110][111]} The Lhotshampas started demonstrations in protest of such discriminatory laws, voicing for a change to be brought to the existing political system toward a preferred multi-party democracy and to gain political autonomy for the Nepali Ethnic minority, most probably incited by the similar political uprising against the established monarchy in the neighbouring country of Nepal.^[112] These demonstrations turned into violence when some ethnic Nepalese representatives were attacked by the government officials (armed forces) when schools in the southern districts were burned by the demonstrators.^[113] Consequently, Bhutanese armed forces were mobilised; the members of Bhutanese police and army forces allegedly imprisoned some Nepali descendant ethnic minority who were suspected to be politically active in these demonstrations, under a command of then king Jigme Singye Wangchuck and home minister Dago Tshering to keep peace and open a line of communication.^[114] Bhutan Armed forces were alleged to have targeted the Nepali ethnic southerners by burning down the houses, livestocks, and forced hundreds and thousands to be expelled from the country with their property being confiscated where no compensation were reported to be granted to anyone, however, claims to these were neither proved nor documented.^[115]

This escalated up until the early 1990s, and was followed by the forceful expulsion of

The Nepalese government refused to assimilate the Bhutanese refugees (Lhotshampas) and did not allow a legal path to citizenship, so they were left stateless.^[118] Careful scrutiny has been used to review the status of the refugee's relatives in the country, and citizenship identity cards and voting rights for these reviewed people are restricted.^[118] Bhutan does not recognise political parties associated with these refugees and see them as a threat to the well-being of the country.^[118] Human rights groups' rhetoric that the government interfered with individual rights by requiring all citizens, including ethnic minority members, to wear the traditional dress of the ethnic majority in public places was used as a political tool for the demonstrations. The Bhutanese government since then enforced the law of national attire to be worn in Buddhist religious buildings, government offices, schools, official functions, and public ceremonies aimed toward preserving and promoting the national identity of Bhutan.^[118]

The kingdom has been accused of banning religious proselytising,^[119] which critics deem as a violation of freedom of religion^[120] and a policy of ethnic cleansing.^[121] Starting in the 1980s, Bhutan adopted a policy of "One Nation One People" to create a unified sense of national identity. This was interpreted as cultural (in language, dress and religion) and political dominance of the majority Drukpa people by the Nepali-speaking people.^[122] Inspired by the Gorkhaland Movement and fuelled by a sense of injustice, some Lhotshampas began organising demonstrations against the Bhutanese state. Furthermore, the removal of Nepali language in school curriculum to adopt a more centralised language in Dzongkha coupled with the denial of citizenship to those who were not able to prove officially issued land holding title prior to 1950^[123] was perceived as specifically targeting Lhotshampa population estimated to be one-third of the population at the time.^[124] This resulted in widespread unrest and political demonstrations.^[107][125] In response to this threat, in 1988, the Bhutanese authorities carried out a special census^[126] in southern Bhutan to review the status of legal residents from illegal immigrants. This region with high Lhotshampa population had to be legally verified, and the following census led to the deportation these Lhotshampas, estimated to be one-sixth of the total population at the time.^{[127][50][128]} People who had been granted citizenship by the Bhutanese 1958 Nationality Law were also stripped of their citizenship. The state intervened after violence was instigated by some Nepali-speaking citizens in radical form of attacking government officials and burning of schools.^[129] Members of Bhutanese police and army were accused of burning Lhotshampa houses, land confiscation and other widespread human rights abuses including arrest, torture and rape of Lhotshampas involved in political protests and violence.^[108][130] Following forcible deportation from Bhutan, Lhotshampas spent almost two decades in refugee camps in Nepal and were resettled in various western countries such as the United States between 2007 and 2012.^[131]

Political divisions

Bhutan is divided into twenty

Bumthang

Chukha

Dagana

Gasa

Haa

Lhuntse

Mongar

Paro

Pema-
gatshel

Punakha

Samdrup Jongkhar

Samtse

Sarpang

Thimphu

Trashigang

Trashiyangtse

Trongsa

Tsirang

Wangdue
Phodrang

Zhemgang

Districts of Bhutan^[133]

Economy

Bhutan's currency is the

Bhutan's economy is based on agriculture, forestry, tourism and the sale of

This, and a lack of access to the sea, has meant that Bhutan has not been able to benefit from significant trading of its produce. Bhutan has no railways, though Indian Railways plans to link southern Bhutan to its vast network under an agreement signed in January 2005.^[137] Bhutan and India signed a 'free trade' accord in 2008, which additionally allowed Bhutanese imports and exports from third markets to transit India without tariffs.^[138] Bhutan had trade relations with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China until 1960, when it closed its border with China after an influx of refugees.^[139]

Access to biocapacity in Bhutan is much higher than world average. In 2016, Bhutan had 5.0 global hectares^[140] of biocapacity per person within its territory, much more than the world average of 1.6 global hectares per person.^[141] In 2016 Bhutan used 4.5 global hectares of biocapacity per person—their ecological footprint of consumption. This means they use less biocapacity than Bhutan contains. As a result, Bhutan is running a biocapacity reserve.^[140]

The industrial sector is currently in a nascent stage. Although most production comes from cottage industry, larger industries are being encouraged and some industries such as cement, steel, and

Incomes of over

The share of the agricultural sector in GDP declined from approximately 55% in 1985 to 33% in 2003. In 2013 the government announced the aspiration that Bhutan will become the first country in the world with 100 per cent organic farming.^[145][146] Bhutanese red rice is the country's most widely known agricultural export, enjoying a market in North America and Europe. Bangladesh is the largest market of Bhutanese apples and oranges.^[147]

Fishing in Bhutan is mainly centred on trout and carp.

Industry

The industrial sector accounts for 22% of the economy. The key manufacturing sectors in Bhutan include production of

Bhutan has deposits of numerous minerals. Commercial production includes coal, dolomite, gypsum, and limestone. The country has proven reserves of beryl, copper, graphite, lead, mica, pyrite, tin, tungsten, and zinc. However, the country's mineral deposits remain untapped, as it prefers to conserve the environment.^[150]

Energy

Bhutan's largest export is hydroelectricity. As of 2015^[update], it generates about 2,000 MW of hydropower from dams in Himalayan river valleys.^[151] The country has a potential to generate 30,000 MW of hydropower.^[151] Power is supplied to various states in India. Future projects are being planned with Bangladesh.^[151] Hydropower has been the primary focus for the country's five-year plans. As of 2015^[update], the Tala Hydroelectric Power Station is its largest power plant, with an installed capacity of 1,020 MW. It has received assistance from India, Austria and the Asian Development Bank in developing hydroelectric projects.

Besides hydropower, it is also endowed with significant renewable energy resources such as solar, wind and bioenergy. Technically viable solar energy generation capacity is around 12,000 MW and wind around 760 MW. More than 70% of its land is under forest cover, which is an immense source of bioenergy in the country.^[152]

Financial sector

There are five commercial banks in the country and the two largest banks are the Bank of Bhutan and the Bhutan National Bank which are based in Thimphu. Other commercial banks are Bhutan Development Bank, T-Bank and Druk Punjab National Bank. The country's financial sector is also supported by other non-banking Financial Institutions. They are Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan (RICB), National Pension and Provident Fund (NPPF), and Bhutan Insurance Limited (BIL). The central bank of the country is the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan (RMA). The Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan is the main stock exchange.

The

In 2014, Bhutan welcomed 133,480 foreign visitors.^[154] Bhutan is a high-value destination. It imposes a daily sustainable development fee of US$200–250 a day on all nationals except Indians.^[155] Indians can apply for a permit to enter Bhutan which costs 1,200 INR per day (about US$14 in 2024). The industry employs 21,000 people and accounts for 1.8% of GDP.^[156]

The country currently has no

Air

Since 2014, road widening has been a priority across Bhutan, in particular for the north-east–west highway from Trashigang to Dochula. The widening project is expected to be completed by the end of 2017 and will make road travel across the country substantially faster and more efficient. In addition, it is projected that the improved road conditions will encourage more tourism in the more inaccessible eastern region of Bhutan.[170]^[171][172] Currently, the road conditions appear to be deterring tourists from visiting Bhutan due to the increased instances of road blocks, landslides, and dust disruption caused by the widening project.^[173]

Rail

Although Bhutan currently has no railways, it has entered into an agreement with India to link southern Bhutan to India's vast network by constructing an 18-kilometre-long (11 mi),

Bhutan had a population of 777,486 people in 2021.^[5][6] Bhutan has a median age of 24.8 years.^[55] There are 1,070 males to every 1,000 females. The literacy rate in Bhutan is around 66 per cent.^[176]

Ethnic groups

Nyingmapa rather than the official Drukpa Kagyu form of Tibetan Buddhism

. In modern times, with improved transportation infrastructure, there has been much intermarriage between these groups.

The

Nepalese ancestry who have sought political and cultural recognition including equality in right to abode, language, and dress. Unofficial estimates claimed that they constituted 45% of the population in the 1988 census.^[178] Starting in the 1980s, Bhutan adopted a policy of "One Nation One People" to exert cultural (in language, dress and religion) and political dominance of the majority Drukpa people.^[122] The policy manifested in banning of teaching of Nepali language in schools and denial of citizenship to those who were not able to prove officially issued land holding title prior to 1950^[123] specifically targeting ethnic Nepali-speaking minority groups ("Lhotshampa"), representing one-third of the population at the time.^[124] This resulted in widespread unrest and political demonstrations.^[107][125] In 1988, the Bhutanese authorities carried out a special census^[126] in southern Bhutan, region of high Lhotshampa population, resulting in mass denationalisation of Lhotshampas, followed by forcible deportation of 107,000 Lhotshampas, approximately one-sixth of the total population at the time.^{[127][50][128]} Those who had been granted citizenship by the 1958 Nationality Law were stripped of their citizenship. Members of Bhutanese police and army were involved in burning of Lhotshampa houses, land confiscation and other widespread human rights abuses including arrest, torture and rape of Lhotshampas involved in political protests.^[108][130] Following forcible deportation from Bhutan, Lhotshampas spent almost two decades in refugee camps in Nepal and were resettled in various western countries such as the United States between 2007 and 2012.^[131]

Cities and towns

Main article: List of cities in Bhutan

• Thimphu, the largest city and capital of Bhutan.
• Damphu, the administrative headquarters of Tsirang District.
• Jakar, the administrative headquarters of Bumthang District and the place where Buddhism entered Bhutan.
• Mongar, the eastern commercial hub of the country.
• international airport
  .
• Phuentsholing
  , Bhutan's commercial hub.
• Punakha, the old capital.
• Samdrup Jongkhar, the southeastern town on the border with India.
• Trashigang, administrative headquarters of Trashigang District, the most populous district in the country.
• dzongs
  in Bhutan.

Largest cities or towns in Bhutan According to the 2017 Census[179]
	Rank	Name	District	Pop.
Thimphu Phuntsholing	1	Thimphu	Thimphu	114,551	Paro
	2	Phuntsholing	Chukha	27,658
	3	Paro	Paro	11,448
	4	Gelephu	Sarpang	9,858
	5	Samdrup Jongkhar	Samdrup Jongkhar	9,325
	6	Wangdue Phodrang	Wangdue Phodrang	8,954
	7	Punakha	Punakha	6,626
	8	Jakar	Bumthang	6,243
	9	Nganglam	Pemagatshel	5,418
	10	Samtse	Samtse	5,396

Religion

Religion in Bhutan (PewResearch) 2020^[180][181]

  Buddhism (72.9%)

  Hinduism (22.6%)

  Bon (3.2%)

  Christianity (0.7%)

  Others (0.5%)

Main article: Religion in Bhutan

It is estimated that between two-thirds and three-quarters of the Bhutanese population follow Vajrayana Buddhism, which is also the state religion. Hinduism accounts for less than 12% of the population.^[182] The current legal framework in principle guarantees freedom of religion; proselytism, however, is forbidden by a royal government decision^[182] and by judicial interpretation of the Constitution.^[183]

Buddhism was introduced to Bhutan in 746 AD, when Guru

Paro Valley.^[28]

Languages

Main article: Languages of Bhutan

Dzongkha

Bumthang

Kurtöp

Dzala

Khampa Tibetan

Lakha

Nyenkha

'Olekha (Monpa)

Brokkat

Chocangacakha

Chali

Dakpa

Brokpa

Nepali

Nepali

Nepali

Lepcha

Lhokpu

Kheng

Gongduk

Tshangla
(Sharchopkha)

Languages of Bhutan

The national language is

Tibeto-Burman family, except Nepali, an Indo-Aryan language.^[110]

Until the 1980s, the government sponsored the teaching of Nepali in schools in southern Bhutan. With the adoption of the Driglam Namzhag (Bhutanese code of etiquette) and its expansion into the idea of strengthening the role of Dzongkha, Nepali was dropped from the curriculum. The languages of Bhutan are still not well characterized, and several have yet to be recorded in an in-depth academic grammar. Before the 1980s, the Lhotshampa (Nepali-speaking community), mainly based in southern Bhutan, constituted approximately 30% of the population.^[110] However, after a purge of Lhotshampas from 1990 to 1992 this number might not accurately reflect the current population.

Dzongkha is partially intelligible with Sikkimese and spoken natively by 25% of the population. Tshangla, the language of the Sharchop and the principal pre-Tibetan language of Bhutan, is spoken by a greater number of people. It is not easily classified and may constitute an independent branch of Tibeto-Burman. Nepali speakers constituted some 40% of the population as of 2006^[update]. The larger minority languages are Dzala (11%), Limbu (10%), Kheng (8%), and Rai (8%). There are no reliable sources for the ethnic or linguistic composition of Bhutan, so these numbers do not add up to 100%.

Health

Main article: Health in Bhutan

Bhutan has a life expectancy of 70.2 years (69.9 for males and 70.5 for females) according to the latest data for 2016 from the World Bank.^[184][185]

Basic healthcare in Bhutan is free, as provided by the Constitution of Bhutan.^[186]

Education

Main article: Education in Bhutan

Historically, education in Bhutan was monastic, with secular school education for the general population introduced in the 1960s.^[187] The mountainous landscape poses barriers to integrated educational services.^[187]

Today, Bhutan has two decentralised universities with eleven constituent colleges spread across the kingdom. These are the Royal University of Bhutan and Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences, respectively. The first five-year plan provided for a central education authority—in the form of a director of education appointed in 1961—and an organised, modern school system with free and universal primary education.

Royal Bhutan Polytechnic

.

Since the beginning of modern education in Bhutan, teachers from India—especially Kerala—have served in some of the most remote villages of Bhutan. Thus, 43 retired teachers who had served for the longest length of time were personally invited to Thimphu, Bhutan during the Teachers' Day celebrations in 2018, where they were honoured and individually thanked by His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. To celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bhutan and India, Bhutan's Education Minister, Jai Bir Rai, honoured 80 retired teachers who served in Bhutan at a special ceremony organised at Kolkata, India, on 6 January 2019.^[188] Currently, there are 121 teachers from India placed in schools across Bhutan.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Bhutan

Mt. Meru and the Buddhist universe (19th century, Trongsa Dzong

, Trongsa, Bhutan)

Bhutan has a rich and unique cultural heritage that has largely remained intact because of its isolation from the rest of the world until the mid-20th century. One of the main attractions for tourists is the country's culture and traditions. Bhutanese tradition is deeply steeped in its Buddhist heritage.[189]^[190] Hinduism is the second most dominant religion in Bhutan, being most prevalent in the southern regions.^[191] The government is increasingly making efforts to preserve and sustain the current culture and traditions of the country. Because of its largely unspoiled natural environment and cultural heritage, Bhutan has been referred to as The Last Shangri-La.^[192]

While Bhutanese citizens are free to travel abroad, Bhutan is viewed as inaccessible by many foreigners. Another reason for it being an unpopular destination is the cost, which is high for tourists on tighter budgets. Entry is free for citizens of India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, but all other foreigners are required to sign up with a Bhutanese tour operator and pay around US$250 per day that they stay in the country, though this fee covers most travel, lodging and meal expenses.^[193] Bhutan received 37,482 visitor arrivals in 2011, of which 25% were for meetings, incentives, conferencing, and exhibitions.^[194]

Bhutan was the first nation in the world to ban tobacco. It was illegal to smoke in public or sell tobacco, according to Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan 2010. Violators are fined the equivalent of $232—a month's salary in Bhutan. In 2021, this was reversed with the new Tobacco Control Act 2021 to allow for the import and sale of tobacco products to stamp out cross-border smuggling of tobacco products during the pandemic.^[195]

Dress

The national dress for Bhutanese men is the

kira, which is clipped at the shoulders with two identical brooches called the koma and tied at the waist with kera. An accompaniment to the kira is a long-sleeved blouse, the "wonju", which is worn underneath the kira. A long-sleeved, jacket-like garment called the "toego" is worn over the kira. The sleeves of the wonju and the tego are folded together at the cuffs, inside out. Social status and class determine the textures, colours, and decorations that embellish the garments.^[196]

tsechus

") and public gatherings. To strengthen Bhutan's identity as an independent country, Bhutanese law requires all Bhutanese government employees to wear the national dress at work and all citizens to wear the national dress while visiting schools and other government offices, though many citizens, particularly adults, choose to wear the customary dress as formal attire.

Varicolored scarves, known as rachu for women and

feudal society; in particular, red is the most common colour worn by women. The "Bura Maap" (Red Scarf) is one of highest honours a Bhutanese civilian can receive. It, as well as the title of Dasho, comes from the throne in recognition of an individual's outstanding service to the nation.^[197] On previous occasions, the King himself conferred Bura Maaps to outstanding individuals such as the Director General of Department Hydropower and Power System, Yeshi Wangdi, the Deputy Chairperson of National Council, Dasho Dr. Sonam Kinga, and former National Assembly Speaker, Dasho Ugyen Dorji.^[198]

Architecture

Main article: Architecture of Bhutan

administrative centers for their respective districts.^[201] The University of Texas at El Paso in the United States has adopted Bhutanese architecture for its buildings on campus, as have the nearby Hilton Garden Inn and other buildings in the city of El Paso.^[202]

Public holidays

Bhutan has

Hindu

celebrations.

Media

Main article:

Media of Bhutan

Film industry

Main article: Cinema of Bhutan

Music and dance

Main article: Music of Bhutan

Dance dramas and masked dances such as the

dæmons

, death heads, animals, gods, and caricatures of common people by wearing colourful wooden or composition face masks and stylised costumes. The dancers enjoy royal patronage, and preserve ancient folk and religious customs and perpetuate the ancient lore and art of mask-making.

The music of Bhutan can generally be divided into traditional and modern varieties; traditional music comprises religious and folk genres, the latter including zhungdra and boedra.^[207] The modern rigsar is played on a mix of traditional instruments and electronic keyboards, and dates back to the early 1990s; it shows the influence of Indian popular music, a hybrid form of traditional and Western popular influences.^[208][209]

Family structure

In Bhutanese families, inheritance generally passes

Jetsun Pema

, then 21, a commoner and daughter of a pilot, on 13 October 2011.

Cuisine

Main article: Bhutanese cuisine

Rice (red rice), buckwheat, and increasingly maize, are the staples of Bhutanese cuisine. The local diet also includes pork, beef, yak meat, chicken, and lamb. Soups and stews of meat and dried vegetables spiced with chilies and cheese are prepared. Ema datshi, made very spicy with cheese and chilies, might be called the national dish for its ubiquity and the pride that Bhutanese have for it. Dairy foods, particularly butter and cheese from yaks and cows, are also popular, and indeed almost all milk is turned into butter and cheese. Popular beverages include butter tea, black tea, locally brewed ara (rice wine), and beer.^[38]

Sports

Main article: Sports in Bhutan

Bhutan's national and most popular sport is archery.^[211] Competitions are held regularly in most villages. It differs from Olympic standards in technical details such as the placement of the targets and atmosphere. Two targets are placed over 100 metres (330 ft) apart, and teams shoot from one end of the field to the other. Each member of the team shoots two arrows per round. Traditional Bhutanese archery is a social event, and competitions are organised between villages, towns, and amateur teams. There is usually plenty of food and drink complete with singing and dancing. Attempts to distract an opponent include standing around the target and making fun of the shooter's ability. Darts (khuru) is an equally popular outdoor team sport, in which heavy wooden darts pointed with a 10 cm (3.9 in) nail are thrown at a paperback-sized target 10 to 20 metres (33 to 66 ft) away.

Another traditional sport is the Digor, which resembles the shot put and horseshoe throwing.

Another popular sport is

World Cup final, but at the time Bhutan and Montserrat were the world's two lowest ranked teams. The match was held in Thimphu's Changlimithang National Stadium, and Bhutan won 4–0. A documentary of the match was made by the Dutch filmmaker Johan Kramer. In 2015, Bhutan won its first two FIFA World Cup Qualifying matches, beating Sri Lanka 1–0 in Sri Lanka and 2–1 in Bhutan.^[212] Cricket has also gained popularity in Bhutan, particularly since the introduction of television channels from India. The Bhutan national cricket team

is one of the most successful affiliate nations in the region.

Women in the workforce

Women have begun to participate more in the work force and their participation is one of the highest in the region.[104] However, the unemployment rates among women are still higher than those of men and women are in more unsecure work fields, such as agriculture.^[213] Most of the work that women do outside of the home is in family-based agriculture which is insecure and is one of the reasons why women are falling behind men when it comes to income.^[104] Women also, in general, work lower-quality jobs than men and only earn 75% of men's earnings.^[214]

Women in the household

Rooted deep in Bhutan culture is the idea of selflessness and the women of Bhutan take on this role in the context of the household.^[215] Nearly 1/4 of all women have reported experiencing some form of violence from their husband or partner.^[213] Some Bhutanese communities have what is referred to as matrilineal communities, where the eldest daughter receives the largest share of the land.^[214] This is due to the belief that she will stay and take care of her parents while the son will move out and work to get his own land and for his own family.^[214] Importantly, land ownership does not necessarily equate to economic benefits – despite the eldest daughter having control of the house, it is the husband that is in charge of making decisions.^[214] However, the younger generation has stepped away from this belief, in splitting the land evenly between the children instead of the eldest daughter inheriting the most land.^[214]

Women's health

Throughout Bhutan, there has been an improvement in reproductive health services that has led to a drastic drop in maternal mortality rate, dropping from 1,000 in 1990 to 180 in 2010.^[214] There has also been an increase in contraceptive use from less than 1/3 in 2003 to 2/3 in 2010.^[214]

See also

• Index of Bhutan-related articles
• Outline of Bhutan

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Further reading

General

• A.P. Agarwala (2003). Sikkim and Bhutan. Nest and Wings.
  ISBN 978-81-7824-008-4
  .
• Aris, Michael. Bhutan: the early history of a Himalayan Kingdom (Aris & Phillips, 1979).
• Bothe, Winnie (28 January 2015). "In the name of king, country, and people on the Westminster model and Bhutan's constitutional transition". Democratization. 22 (7): 1338–1361.
  S2CID 143529082
  .
• Givel, Michael (21 June 2015). "Mahayana Buddhism and Gross National Happiness in Bhutan". International Journal of Wellbeing. 5 (2): 14–27.
  doi:10.5502/ijw.v5i2.2. Archived
  from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
• Osmani, Siddiqur R.; Bajracharya, B. B.; Tenzing, S.; Wangyal, T. (2007). Macroeconomics of Poverty Reduction: The Case Study of Bhutan (PDF). p. 302.
  ISBN 978-955-1416-00-3. Archived from the original
  (PDF) on 28 July 2011.
• Karma Phuntsho (2013). The History of Bhutan. Nodia: Random House India.
  ISBN 9788184003116
  .
• Rizal, Dhurba. The Royal Semi-authoritarian Democracy of Bhutan (Lexington Books, 2015).
• Robles, Chelsea M. Education and Society in Bhutan: Tradition and Modernisation (Routledge, 2016).
• Rose, Leo. The Nepali Ethnic Community in the Northeast of the Subcontinent. University of California, Berkeley.
• Rose, Leo E. The politics of Bhutan (Cornell University Press, 1977).
• Sinha, Awadhesh Coomar. Himalayan kingdom Bhutan: tradition, transition, and transformation (Indus Publishing, 2001).
• Wangchhuk, Lily (2008). Facts About Bhutan: The Land of the Thunder Dragon. Thimphu: Absolute Bhutan Books.
  ISBN 978-99936-760-0-3
  .
• Revkin, Andrew C. (4 October 2005). "A New Measure of Well-Being From a Happy Little Kingdom". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2005.
• "Border tension pushes MEA allocation". The Tribune, Chandigarh. Archived from the original on 22 July 2005. Retrieved 8 September 2005.
• Bhutan. MSN Encarta. Archived from the original on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2005.
• "BTI 2008 — Bhutan Country Report". Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Stiftung. 2007. Archived from the original on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
• ISBN 978-0-7069-2509-8
  .
• Foning, A.R. (1987). Lepcha, My Vanishing Tribe. Sterling Publishers.
  ISBN 978-81-207-0685-9
  .
• Napoli, Lisa (2011). Radio Shangri-La: What I Learned in Bhutan, the Happiest Kingdom on Earth. Crown.
  ISBN 978-0-307-45302-0
  .
• Niestroy, Ingeborg; Schmidt, Armando García; Esche, Andreas (2013). "Bhutan: Paradigms Matter" (PDF). In Stiftung, Bertelsmann (ed.). Winning Strategies for a Sustainable Future. Brookings Institution Press. pp. 55–80.
  ISBN 978-3-86793-491-6. Archived
  (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
• Jordans, Bart (9 September 2010). Bhutan: A Trekker's Guide. Cicerone Press Limited.
  ISBN 978-1-84965-189-9
  .
• Rennie, Frank; Mason, Robin (2008). Bhutan: Ways of Knowing. IAP.
  ISBN 978-1-59311-734-4. Archived
  from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
• Ramakant; Misra, Ramesh Chandra (1 January 1996). Bhutan: Society and Polity. Indus Publishing.
  ISBN 978-81-7387-044-6. Archived
  from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
• Zeppa, Jamie (1 May 2000). Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan. Penguin Publishing Group.
  ISBN 978-1-101-17420-3. Archived
  from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
• Ardussi, John A.; Pommaret, Françoise (2007). Bhutan: Traditions and Changes. BRILL.
  ISBN 978-90-04-15551-0
  .
• Karan, Pradyumna Prasad; Iijima, Shigeru; Pauer, Gyula (1987). Bhutan: development amid environmental and cultural preservation. Institute for the Study of Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa.
• Hutt, Michael (1994). Bhutan: Perspectives on Conflict and Dissent. Strachan-Kiscadale.
  ISBN 978-1-870838-02-3
  .
• Zürcher, Dieter; Choden, Kunzang (2004). Bhutan: Land of Spirituality and Modernization: Role of Water in Daily Life. New Dawn Press, Incorporated.
  ISBN 978-1-932705-43-0
  .
• Carpenter, Russell B.; Carpenter, Blyth C. (1 January 2002). The Blessings of Bhutan. University of Hawaii Press.
  ISBN 978-0-8248-2679-6. Archived
  from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
• Sinha, Awadhesh Coomar (2001). Himalayan Kingdom Bhutan: Tradition, Transition, and Transformation. Indus Publishing.
  ISBN 978-81-7387-119-1. Archived
  from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
• Dhakal, D. N. S.; Strawn, Christopher (1 January 1994). Bhutan: A Movement in Exile. Nirala Publications.
  ISBN 978-81-85693-41-5. Archived
  from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
• Foote, Daisy (2007). Bhutan. Dramatists Play Service.
  ISBN 978-0-8222-2212-5
  .
• Rustomji, Nari (1978). Bhutan: the dragon kingdom in crisis. Oxford University Press.
  ISBN 9780195610628
  .
• Rose, Leo E. (1977). The Politics of Bhutan. Cornell University Press.
  ISBN 978-0-8014-0909-7
  .
• Mayhew, Bradley; Whitecross, Richard W (2007). Bhutan. Ediz. Inglese. Lonely Planet.
  ISBN 978-1-74220-314-0
  .
• Hellum, A. K. (1 January 2001). A Painter's Year in the Forests of Bhutan. University of Alberta.
  ISBN 978-0-88864-323-0
  .
• Scott, Gregory J. (1983). Marketing Bhutan's Potatoes: Present Patterns and Future Prospects. International Potato Center. GGKEY:HEATQBL56TG.
• Sinha, Awadhesh Coomar (1 January 1998). Bhutan: Ethnic Identity and National Dilemma. Reliance Publishing House.
  ISBN 978-81-7510-059-6
  .
• Khandu, Tshoki (2006). Causes of Rural Urban Migration in Bhutan. Cornell University.
• Dorji, Jaġar (2003). Quality of Education in Bhutan: A Personal Perspective on the Development and Changes in Bhutanese Education System Since 1961. KMT Publisher.
  ISBN 978-99936-10-60-1
  .
• Bhutan 2020: A Vision for Peace, Prosperity and Happiness. Planning Commission, Royal Government of Bhutan. 1999.
• Choden, Kunzang (1994). Folktales of Bhutan. White Lotus.
  ISBN 978-974-8495-96-5
  .

History

• Aris, Michael (1982). Views of Medieval Bhutan: The Diary and Drawings of Samuel Davis, 1783. Serinda Publications.
  ISBN 0906026105
  .
• Aris, Michael (1979). Bhutan: The Early History of a Himalayan Kingdom. Central Asian Studies. Aris & Phillips Ltd.
  ISBN 0-85668-082-6
  .
• Das, Nirmala (1974). The Dragon Country: The General History of Bhutan. Orient Longman.
  ISBN 0861250451
  .
• Hasrat, Bikrama Jit (1980). History of Bhutan: Land of the Peaceful Dragon. Education Department.
  OCLC 9829078
  .
• Karma Phuntsho (23 April 2013). The History of Bhutan. Random House India.
  ISBN 978-81-8400-411-3. Archived
  from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
• White, J. Claude (1909). Sikhim & Bhutan: Twenty-one Years on the North-East Frontier, 1887–1908. Asian Educational Services.
  ISBN 978-81-206-1183-2
  .

Geography

• Fraser, Neil; Bhattacharya, Anima; Bhattacharya, Bimalendu (2001). Geography of a Himalayan Kingdom: Bhutan. Concept Publishing.
  ISBN 8170228875
  .
• Gansser, Augusto (1983). Geology of the Bhutan Himalaya. Birkhäuser Verlag.
  ISBN 3764313714
  .

External links

• Bhutan.gov.bt Archived 30 December 2005 at the Wayback Machine – Official Government Web Portal of Bhutan
• Bhutan. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency.
• Bhutan profile, BBC News.
• Bhutan from UCB Libraries GovPubs.
• Bhutan, Encyclopædia Britannica entry.
• "Bhutan" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 03 (11th ed.). 1911. pp. 846–848.
• Bhutan at
  Curlie
• Wikimedia Atlas of Bhutan
• Key Development Forecasts for Bhutan from International Futures.

27°25′01″N 90°26′06″E / 27.417°N 90.435°E / 27.417; 90.435