NAVIGATION
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NAVIGATION
Kingdom of Bhutan
INTRODUCTION
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Background:
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In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 85,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. Maoist Assamese separatists from India, who have established themselves in the southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border incursions. |
GEOGRAPHY
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Location:
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Southern Asia, between China and India |
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Geographic coordinates:
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27 30 N, 90 30 E |
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Map references:
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Asia |
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Area:
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total: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km land: 47,000 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about half the size of Indiana |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide |
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.98%
permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.59% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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400 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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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 |
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion; limited access to potable water |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes |
PEOPLE
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Population:
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2,094,176
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2002 est.) |
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Age structure:
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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.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.15% (2002 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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35.26 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Death rate:
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13.74 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) |
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Sex ratio:
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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.) |
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Infant mortality rate:
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106.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 53.19 years
female: 52.83 years (2002 est.) male: 53.53 years |
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Total fertility rate:
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5 children born/woman (2002 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.01% (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 100 (1999 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - deaths:
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NA |
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Nationality:
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noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese |
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Ethnic groups:
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Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas--one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% |
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Religions:
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Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% |
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Languages:
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Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2% male: 56.2% female: 28.1% (1995 est.) |