Bhutan Passport

【 Country Name 】 The Kingdom of Bhutan.

【 Area 】 Approximately 38000 square kilometers.

【 Population 】 Approximately 777000 (estimated in 2024). The population growth rate is about 0.9% (2023). Bhutanese people make up about 50% of the total population, while Nepalese people make up about 35%. The Bhutanese language 'Zongka' is the official language. Tibetan Buddhism (Kagyu sect) is the state religion, and Nepalese residents practice Hinduism.

Thimphu, the capital, has a population of 138736 as of 2017.

[Head of State] King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck ascended the throne on December 9, 2006 and was crowned on November 6, 2008.

[Important Festivals] National Day (December 17th - the coronation day of the first King Uygin Wangchuck), King's birthday (February 21st), and King's coronation day (November 6th).

[Overview] Located on the southern slope of the eastern section of the the Himalayas, it borders China in the east, north and west, and India in the south. It is a landlocked country. The climate in the northern mountainous areas is cold, the climate in the central river valleys is relatively mild, and the hilly plains in the south belong to a humid subtropical climate.

Since the 7th century AD, it has been a territory of the Tubo Dynasty and became an independent tribe in the 9th century. After the 12th century, the Zhuba Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhism gradually became the sect that wielded secular power. It was invaded by Britain in the late 18th century. The Kingdom of Bhutan was established in 1907. In January 1910, the Treaty of Punakha was signed with Britain. In August 1949, the Permanent Treaty of Peace and Friendship was signed with India. Joined the United Nations in 1971, became a member of the Non Aligned Movement in 1973, and became a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in 1985. In February 2007, a revised Treaty of Amity was signed with India.

In 1998, the fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck no longer held the position of head of government and transferred the management of the government to the Council of Ministers. In 2001, the Constitution Drafting Committee was established to initiate the constitutional work. In 2006, the fourth king gave way to his son Jigme Kesal Namgyl Wangchuck. In December 2007, the first National Council (Upper House) elections were held. In March 2008, the first National Assembly (Lower House) elections were held, establishing the first democratically elected government, marking Bhutan's transition to a constitutional monarchy. Bhutan promulgated its first constitution in July 2008.

The parliament adopts a bicameral system, consisting of the king, the National Council (upper house), and the National Assembly (lower house), with legislative power. The House of Lords is composed of 25 non partisan members, of whom 20 are elected by various sects (counties) and the remaining 5 are appointed by the King as prominent figures. The current Chairman of the National Council is Sangay Dorji. The House of Commons is composed of 47 members who are directly elected by voters. The term of office for members of both houses is 5 years. In December 2007, the first National Committee was established. In March 2008, the first National Assembly was elected. The fourth National Assembly election will be held from November 2023 to January 2024, with the People's Democratic Party winning 30 seats and the Yuan Qing Party winning the remaining 17 seats. The current Speaker of the National Assembly, Lungten Dorji, and Vice Speaker Sangay Khandu.

According to the Bhutanese Constitution, with the consent of two-thirds of the members of parliament, the parliament has the right to propose a motion for the abdication of the king. If the motion is passed by three-quarters of the votes in parliament, a national referendum should be held to decide whether the king should abdicate. The age of the king's reign shall not exceed 65 years old.

According to the Bhutanese Constitution, the leader of the political party that wins the majority of seats in the National Assembly elections will be appointed by the King as the Prime Minister and responsible for forming the government. The term of office of the Prime Minister shall not exceed two terms, and the candidates for ministers in various government departments shall be recommended by the Prime Minister and appointed by the King. With the consent of more than one-third of the members, the National Assembly may propose a motion of no confidence against the government. If the motion is passed by more than two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly, the King has the right to dissolve the government. In October 2018, the Bhutan Unity Party won the third National Assembly election and formed a new government, with Lotay Tshering serving as Prime Minister. In December 2022, Bhutan carried out government institutional reform, adjusting the functions of various ministries and reducing the number of ministries from 10 to 9. In January 2024, the People's Democratic Party won the fourth National Assembly election and its chairman Tshering Tobgay became the Prime Minister.

Cabinet members: Prime Minister Tsering Toj, Foreign Minister Dinanath Dhungyel, Finance Minister Lekey Dorji, Industry, Commerce and Employment Minister Namgyal Dorji, Health Minister Tandin Wangchuk, Education and Skills Development Minister Dimple Thapa, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Younten Phuntsho, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Chandra Gurung, Interior Minister Tshering, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Gem Tsering Tshering).

The government also has direct institutions such as the Royal Civil Service Commission, the National Planning Commission, the National Environment Commission, the National Labor Bureau, the Royal Currency Board, the National Technical Training Bureau, the Royal Management College, the Legal Affairs Bureau, the Bhutan Research Center, the Local Development Commission, and the National Cultural Affairs Commission.

The High Court is the highest judicial institution, and the King has the highest judicial power, including accepting the highest appeal cases. The High Court was established in Thimphon in 1968, with a total of 8 judges, including the Chief Justice, of whom 2 were elected by the National Assembly for a term of 5 years; The rest shall be appointed by the king, and the term of office shall be determined by the king. Each sect has a local court, which is responsible for handling local litigation cases by the head of the sect and local judges appointed by the king. The current Chief Justice is Chogyal Dago Rigdzin.

The Temple Group is the only arbitration institution for religious affairs, composed of central temple groups and local temple groups. There are about 5000 monks nationwide who enjoy financial support provided by the government. Jiekenbu is the highest religious leader, appointed by a high monk elected by the temple and approved by the king, and enjoys the special right to wear a shawl of the same color as the king. Under the guidance of Jie Kanbu, there are four great monks assisting.

【 Administrative divisions 】 The country is divided into 4 administrative regions and 20 districts (counties)

[Important Person] Jigme Kaisar Namgyal Wangchuck: King. Born on February 21, 1980, studied abroad in the UK and India. Appointed as the Patriarch of Tongsa in October 2004. In December 2006, he ascended to the throne and became the fifth king of the Wangchuck dynasty. He was crowned on November 6th, 2008.

There are 5 officially registered political parties, namely the People's Democratic Party (PDP, registered in 2007), the Peace and Prosperity Party (DPT, registered in 2007), the Bhutan Unity Party (DNT, registered in 2013), the Unity Party (DTT, registered in 2022), and the Nguy ễ n Khanh Party (BTP, registered in 2023).

According to data from the International Monetary Fund, Bhutan's main economic data for 2023 are as follows:

Gross Domestic Product: Approximately 2.9 billion US dollars.

Per capita Gross Domestic Product: Approximately 3780 US dollars.

Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate: 4.6%.

Currency name: Ngultrum, abbreviated as "nu", is equivalent to the Indian rupee.

Annual average inflation rate: 4.6%.

In October 2024, the exchange rate of Bhutan's currency to the US dollar was 1 US dollar ≈ 84 nu.

According to the statistics department of Bhutan, the inflation rate in August 2024 was 2.05%, and the unemployment rate in the third quarter was 3.1%. In the fiscal year 2023-2024 (from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024), the growth rates of Bhutan's three industries' output value were 1.8%, -4.9%, and 10.7%, respectively. In 2022, the output value of Bhutan's three industries accounted for approximately 14.67%, 31.82%, and 53.50% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), respectively. The abundant hydropower resources and their export to India have become important factors driving economic growth in the hydropower and related construction industries. Since 2002, the manufacturing and service industries have been the first to open up to foreign investment, with foreign ownership reaching up to 70%.

Bhutan was originally one of the least developed countries. Since 1961, Bhutan has implemented the "Five Year Plan" for economic development and has received economic assistance from countries such as India and Switzerland, as well as international organizations such as the United Nations Development Programme. The period from 2018 to 2023 is Bhutan's 12th Five Year Plan, with a total budget expenditure of approximately 3100.16 billion Nu, an increase of 38% compared to the previous Five Year Plan. The main goal is to build a fair, harmonious, and sustainable society through further decentralization. In December 2023, Bhutan officially graduated from the list of least developed countries. In 2024, Bhutan will launch its 13th Five Year Plan, focusing on attracting foreign investment and stimulating economic development.

In December 2023, the Fifth King of Bhutan, Jigme Kesar Namgyl Wangchuck, proposed in his National Day speech that Bhutan would establish a special administrative region in the southern town of Gelephu to create an economic center with administrative and legal autonomy. While attracting foreign investment, an invitation system will be implemented for foreign enterprises settling in the special zone to ensure that they and their employees respect Bhutan's cultural traditions. To promote the construction of special zones, Bhutan will focus on developing the energy industry, enhancing connectivity and improving public skills. At present, Bhutan is advancing the construction of infrastructure such as the Gleep International Airport.

Bhutan has mineral deposits such as dolomite, limestone, marble, graphite, gypsum, coal, lead, copper, zinc, etc. Abundant hydraulic resources. The reserve of hydropower resources is about 36900 megawatts, and currently only about 1.5% has been developed and utilized. The forest coverage rate is about 70%, and the area of nature reserves accounts for 51.4% of the national land area. There are abundant species, with 3281 plant species per 10000 square kilometers.

In 2022, the total output value of the secondary industry (including electricity, construction, manufacturing, etc.) will be 72.5 billion nu, accounting for 31.82% of the GDP. The output value of the construction industry is 17.945 billion nu, accounting for 7.88% of the GDP. The output value of manufacturing industry is 19.882 billion nu, accounting for 8.73% of GDP. In 1988, Bhutan began the construction of an industrial zone in the southwest of Chukazonpasaka, which has become the largest center for mineral processing and chemical industry in Bhutan. In recent years, the export of electricity to India has driven the construction of hydropower stations in Bhutan, and the power industry has gradually become one of the economic pillars. In 2022, the output value of the power industry is 30.536 billion Nu, accounting for 13.4% of GDP. In 2022, Bhutan's national electricity generation was 10.77 billion kilowatt hours, with exports of 7.483 billion kilowatt hours.

Agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry are the pillar industries of Bhutan. After the implementation of land reform in the 1950s, over 98% of farmers owned their own land and housing, with an average of over 1 hectare of land per household. The arable land area accounts for 16% of the total land area. Grain is basically self-sufficient. The main crops are corn, rice, wheat, barley, buckwheat, potatoes, and cardamom. Animal husbandry is more common. The main tree species include sagebrush, oak, pine, fir, spruce, birch, etc., which are well-known for their rich and famous flowers and plants. Abundant in fruits. Apples, citrus fruits, etc. are exported to India and Bangladesh.

Tourism is one of Bhutan's important sources of foreign exchange. The tourism industry began to open up to the outside world in 1974, but the control was relatively strict, generally only accepting group tours. Due to environmental concerns and other factors, Bhutan implements a "high net worth" tourism policy and charges "sustainable development fees" to foreign tourists. In 2023, in order to attract more foreign tourists, the "sustainable development fee" standard will be reduced from $200 per person per day to $100. March to June and September to December are the peak tourist seasons each year, with tourists mainly coming from South Asian countries such as India, as well as Asia Pacific, Europe, and America. In 2022, there were 20897 inbound tourists. It is estimated that there will be approximately 103000 inbound tourists in 2023.

As of June 2023, the total length of roads in Bhutan is 18343.47 kilometers, with a total of 126501 registered motor vehicles. Horses, cows, and mules are still the main means of transportation in mountainous areas. There are many rivers, but they are turbulent and cannot be navigated.

Paro Airport is the only international airport in Bhutan, located 65 kilometers from the capital city of Thimphu. There are two airlines, Druk Air Corporation and Bhutan Airlines, established in 1983 and 2011 respectively, operating routes from Paro to New Delhi, Kolkata, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Bangkok, and Singapore. The passenger capacity in 2022 is 103700. In 2006, Bhutan signed memorandums of understanding with India, Thailand, and Bangladesh respectively to strengthen aviation links.

Bhutan Telecommunications Company was established in January 1999. In 1999, Bhutan established the national computer Internet, with its own domain name suffix. bt, and established Druknet, an Internet service provider. Bhutan has two major communication companies, namely the state-owned Bhutan Telecom Limited and the private Tashi InfoComm Limited. Bhutan Post Service began in 1962, initially serving only domestic and Indian postal services. Bhutan joined the Universal Postal Union in 1983 and opened international EMS services in 1993. In 2022, there were 19566 fixed line telephone users, 776631 mobile users, and 59 post offices.

The fiscal year is from July 1st to June 30th of the following year. According to the World Bank website, Bhutan's foreign exchange reserves were approximately 624 million US dollars in June 2024.

The main financial institutions include the Royal Monetary Authority and the Bank of Bhutan. The Royal Monetary Authority was established in 1982 as the central bank of Bhutan, responsible for formulating and implementing the government's monetary policy, and representing the government in handling foreign currency deposit transactions. Bhutan Bank was established in 1968 as a national commercial bank and was once jointly operated with the State Bank of India. In 2002, the State Bank of India transferred its management to Bhutan and reduced its shareholding from 40% to 20%.

As a milestone in Bhutan's privatization process, in 1996, the Bhutanese government allowed the financial sector to publicly issue stocks and signed agreements with the Asian Development Bank and Citibank, allowing them to purchase up to 40% of the shares of Bhutan National Bank.

Foreign trade is mainly conducted among members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). India is Bhutan's largest trading partner, with Bhutan signing a free trade agreement with India and a preferential trade agreement with Bangladesh. Other major trading partners include China, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, etc. It is estimated that Bhutan's imports in 2023 will be about 108.4 billion nu, of which imports from India will be about 87 billion nu; The export value is about 52.9 billion nu, of which the export value to India is about 44.6 billion nu (including electricity import and export).

The main export products are electricity, chemical products, mineral products, etc. The main imported products are fuel, grains, metals, electronic products, etc.

Bhutan became an observer of the World Trade Organization in 1998 and is now applying to become a full member.

Bhutan's economic development heavily relies on foreign and international aid. India is the largest aid donor. In addition, Bhutan also receives assistance from Japan, Denmark, the United Nations Development Programme, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, and other sources.

According to data from the World Bank and Bhutan's National Bureau of Statistics, the poverty rate in Bhutan decreased from 23% to 8.2% from 2007 to 2017. Implementing free healthcare, the proportion of people enjoying basic medical care exceeds 90% of the total population, and the average life expectancy has increased to 66.1 years. In 2022, there are 54 hospitals and 288 doctors. In 2022, the population of Bhutan under the age of 14 accounted for 23.49%, those aged 15 to 64 accounted for 69.86%, and those aged 65 and above accounted for 6.64%. In 1998, Bhutan established the world's first health trust fund in Geneva to ensure the provision of vaccines and essential medicines needed for basic healthcare. Traditional Bhutanese medicine originated from Tibetan medicine and is still widely used today. Since the end of 2004, a nationwide smoking ban has been implemented.

The Bhutanese Armed Forces are mainly composed of the Royal Army (including the Royal Guard) and the Royal Police, and are subject to compulsory military service. The King is the supreme commander of the armed forces. The Royal Army was reorganized from a militia armed organization in 1963, with a force of approximately 8000 people. The current Chief Operating Commander is Lieutenant General Batu Zelin. The Royal Guard was officially established in 1961, mainly responsible for the security and protection of members of the royal family. The Royal Police was officially established in 1965 and is under the jurisdiction of the Bhutanese Ministry of Interior. Its main functions are to maintain social order and undertake border security and firefighting tasks.

Bhutan introduced a modern education system in 1961. The education system in Bhutan is mainly divided into three forms: general education, temple education, and informal education. The education system is 7 years for primary school, 2 years for junior high school, 2 years for intermediate high school, and 2 years for senior high school. The Constitution stipulates that compulsory education is 10 years, but since 2020, the government has extended education subsidies to the 12th grade. After graduating from high school, students can enter universities to receive higher education or participate in vocational education. In 2023, there will be 1896 educational institutions of various types in China, with approximately 12500 teachers and around 200000 students enrolled. The Royal University of Bhutan was established in June 2003 as the first university in Bhutan. As of 2023, Bhutan has a total of 2 universities. Since 1961, schools have implemented a bilingual system, with Bhutanese language "Zongka" as a compulsory course. Emphasize vocational and technical education to meet the needs of society. Archery and wrestling are traditional ethnic sports in Bhutan.

The Bhutanese government has established the Bhutanese News and Broadcasting Agency, which is responsible for national broadcasting and television affairs. In 1973, Bhutan Broadcasting Corporation was established to broadcast in Bhutanese, English, Nepali, and other languages. In 1999, Bhutan Broadcasting Corporation launched television services. Kunser is Bhutan's national newspaper and updated on the Internet. In 2006, two private newspapers, Bhutan Times and Bhutan Observer, began to be published. There is also a quarterly publication called Drucker Loser, published in Bhutanese, English, and Nepali.

Bhutan regards maintaining independence and sovereignty, and achieving economic self-reliance as two major goals of its foreign policy. It advocates equality for all countries, big and small, adheres to a non aligned policy, and develops friendship and cooperation with all countries on the basis of peaceful coexistence, especially with neighboring countries. We have established diplomatic relations with 54 countries including India and the European Union. We have permanent missions to the United Nations in New York and Geneva, embassies in India, Bangladesh, Australia, Kuwait, Belgium, and Thailand, consulates in Kolkata and Guwahati, and 16 honorary consuls in 12 countries. India, Bangladesh, and Kuwait have embassies in Bhutan.

Joined the United Nations in 1971, it is currently a member of approximately 75 international organizations.

[Relations with China] Refer to "Bilateral Relations between China and Bhutan"

Bhutan has close relations with India, with open borders and free trade between the two countries. India is Bhutan's largest trading partner, aid donor, and creditor country. On August 8, 1949, the Permanent Treaty of Peace and Friendship was signed without printing. In 1968, India officially established diplomatic relations. In February 2007, the Fifth King of Bhutan, Jigme Kesar Namgyal Wangchuck, visited India and signed the revised Treaty of Amity between the two sides. In May 2008, Indian Prime Minister Singh visited. In July, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Thinley visited India. In November, the coronation ceremony of Bhutan's Fifth King Jigme Kesar Namgyl Wangchuck was held, attended by Indian President Patil, Unity and Progress Alliance Chairperson and National Congress Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Foreign Minister Mukherjee. In June 2009, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Thinley visited India. In December, the Fifth King of Bhutan visited India. In April 2010, Indian Prime Minister Singh went to Bhutan to attend the 16th SAARC Summit. In October, the Fifth King of Bhutan visited India. In the same month, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Thinley visited India. In October 2011, the Fifth King of Bhutan visited India for the first time after marrying his queen. In January 2013, the Fifth King of Bhutan visited India. In February, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Thinley visited India. In August, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tsering Toj visited India. In January 2014, the Fifth King of Bhutan visited India. In May, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tsering Toj visited India. In June, Indian Prime Minister Modi visited. In November 2017, the Fifth King and his wife of Bhutan visited India. In December 2018, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lothar Tsering visited India. In June 2019, Indian Prime Minister Modi paid a state visit to Bhutan. In September 2022, the Fifth King of Bhutan transited through India and met with Indian Prime Minister Modi. In April and November 2023, the Fifth King of Bhutan visited India twice. In March 2024, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tsering Toj visited India. In the same month, Indian Prime Minister Modi paid a state visit to Bhutan. In June, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tsering Toj went to India to attend the inauguration ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Modi. In October, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tsering Toj went to India to attend the 2024 New Delhi Television World Summit and met with Indian Prime Minister Modi and other political figures.

Bhutan has established diplomatic relations with all countries in South Asia. Bhutan is a member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and actively advocates for strengthening regional cooperation in South Asia. In 2004, Bhutan joined the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi sector Economic and Technological Cooperation (BIMSTEC). In April 2010, Bhutan hosted the 16th SAARC Summit.

[Relations with countries outside South Asia] In 1985, Bhutan began to develop cross regional diplomacy. Currently, Bhutan has established diplomatic relations with Kuwait, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Japan, Finland, South Korea, Austria, Thailand, Bahrain, Australia, Singapore, Canada, Belgium, Brazil, Spain, Cuba, Fiji, Morocco, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Myanmar, Argentina, Costa Rica, Andorra, Mauritius, Eswatini, the United Arab Emirates, Slovenia, Slovakia, Armenia, Türkiye, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Poland, Colombia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Oman, Germany, Israel and other countries, as well as the European Union.