98 est.)

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

Environment - current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable
water

Environment - international agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Nuclear Test Ban signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

People Bhutan

Population: 2,094,176 note: other estimates range as low as 810,000
(July 2002 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 39.8% (male 431,883; female 401,386) 15-64
years: 56.2% (male 606,184; female 571,310) 65 years and over: 4%
(male 42,193; female 41,220) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.15% (2002 est.)

Birth rate: 35.26 births/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Death rate: 13.74 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08
male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over:
1.02 male(s)/female total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 106.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: 52.83 years (2002 est.) male: Total fertility
rate: 5 children born/woman (2002 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Nationality: noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese

Ethnic groups: Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas--one
of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Religions: Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%

Languages: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects,
Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total
population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.)

Government Bhutan

Country name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan conventional
short form: Bhutan

Government type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital: Thimphu

Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural);
Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug,