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Country profilesBhutan
Capital: Thimphu
Currency: Ngultrum (BTN)
- Time zone: GMT +6
- International dialling code: +975
- Driving: Left
- Area size: 47,000 km²
At a glance / quick facts
- Common Definition: Kingdom of Bhutan
- Language: Dzongkha is the official language. Nepali and dialects are also spoken.
- Region: Asia-Pacific
- Latitude: 27.5000000
- Longitude: 90.5000000
- Religion: Buddhist 70 percent, Hindu 25 percent, Muslim 5 percent, others 1 percent
- Climate: Hot and humid in the southern region; cool, temperate in the inner Himalayas; severe alpine climate in the high northern region with substantial variation in rainfall throughout the country.
- Ethnic Group: The Bhutias, Drukpas and Tibetans make up 50 percent of the population, and Nepalis (known as Lhotsampas) 35 percent. There are also Lepchas, indigenous people and Santal, descended from Indian immigrants.
Humanitarian profile
Bhutan has embarked on a far-reaching development strategy aimed at boosting what it calls “Gross National Happiness”, a holistic concept combining material well-being with spiritual, emotional and cultural well-being. The country has made steady progress in reducing poverty since 2000 and is on track towards achieving almost all of the Millennium Development Goals, according to the Asian Investment Bank. But despite progress, the mountainous South Asian country remains poor and inequality is high.
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