Bhutan Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Thimphu

Population

892,877 (2025 est.)

Area

38,394 sq km

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

🧭 Background

After Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Ugyen WANGCHUCK -- who had served as the de facto ruler of an increasingly unified Bhutan and had improved relations with the British toward the end of the 19th century -- was named king 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. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Under a succession of modernizing monarchs beginning in the 1950s, Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders. In 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the draft of Bhutan's first constitution -- which introduced major democratic reforms -- and held a national referendum for its approval. The King abdicated the throne in 2006 in favor of his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK. In 2007, India and Bhutan renegotiated their treaty, eliminating the clause that stated that Bhutan would be "guided by" India in conducting its foreign policy, although Thimphu continues to coordinate closely with New Delhi. In 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary election in accordance with the constitution. Bhutan experienced a peaceful turnover of power following a parliamentary election in 2013, which resulted in the defeat of the incumbent party. In 2018, the incumbent party again lost the parliamentary election. In 2024, of the more than 100,000 ethnic Nepali -- predominantly Lhotshampa -- refugees who fled or were forced out of Bhutan in the 1990s, about 6,500 remain displaced in Nepal.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references

Asia

Area — total

38,394 sq km

Area — land

38,394 sq km

Area — water

0 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly larger than Maryland; about one-half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries — total

1,136 km

Land boundaries — border countries

China 477 km; India 659 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

None (landlocked)

Climate

Varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain

Mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Elevation — highest point

Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m

Elevation — lowest point

Drangeme Chhu 97 m

Elevation — mean elevation

2,220 m

Natural resources

Timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Land use — agricultural land

13.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 10.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

70.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

15.6% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

320 sq km (2012)

Natural hazards

Violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's Bhutanese name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

Geography - note

Landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

892,877 (2025 est.)

Population — male

461,679

Population — female

431,198

Nationality — noun

Bhutanese (singular and plural)

Nationality — adjective

Bhutanese

Ethnic groups

Ngalop (also known as Bhote) 50%, ethnic Nepali 35% (predominantly Lhotshampas), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Languages

Sharchopkha 28%, Dzongkha (official) 24%, Lhotshamkha 22%, other 26% (includes foreign languages) (2005 est.)

Religions

Lamaistic Buddhist 75.3%, Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%, other 2.6% (2005 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

23.1% (male 104,771/female 99,981)

Age structure — 15-64 years

70.2% (male 322,497/female 298,324)

Age structure — 65 years and over

6.7% (2024 est.) (male 30,397/female 28,576)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

42.1 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

32.4 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

9.7 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

10.3 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

31.2 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

31.1 years

Median age — female

30.3 years

Population growth rate

0.93% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

15.05 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.75 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

44.4% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas - population

203,000 THIMPHU (capital) (2018)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.05 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

1.08 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

1.07 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

47 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

23 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

24.6 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

23.9 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

73.7 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

72.5 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

75 years

Total fertility rate

1.75 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.85 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 99.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 98.8% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 99.1% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 0.5% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 1.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 0.9% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

3.8% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

6.7% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

0.55 physicians/1,000 population (2022)

Hospital bed density

2.2 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 91.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 85.5% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 87.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 8.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 14.5% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 12.1% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

6.4% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

0.07 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0.05 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

18.5% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

26.1% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

9.8% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

8.7% (2023 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

62% (2022 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

5.8% of GDP (2023 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

22.2% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

64.9% (2022 est.)

Literacy — male

73.4% (2022 est.)

Literacy — female

57% (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

13 years (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

12 years (2022 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

14 years (2022 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

Environmental issues

Soil erosion; limited access to potable water; wildlife conservation; industrial pollution; waste disposal

International environmental agreements — party to

Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Law of the Sea

Climate

Varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Land use — agricultural land

13.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 2.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 0.4% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 10.8% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

70.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

15.6% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

44.4% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

2.52% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

733,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

241,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

492,000 metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

26.4 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

111,300 tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

1.7% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

17 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

3 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

318 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

78 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

Kingdom of Bhutan

Country name — conventional short form

Bhutan

Country name — local long form

Druk Gyalkhap

Country name — local short form

Druk Yul

Country name — etymology

Name may derive from the Sanskrit words bhoṭa, the name for Tibet, and anta, meaning "end" -- a reference to Bhutan's location at the southernmost end of Tibet; the local Dzongkha name Druk Yul means "Land of the Dragon"

Government type

Constitutional monarchy

Capital — name

Thimphu

Capital — geographic coordinates

27 28 N, 89 38 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Capital — etymology

The origins of the name are unclear; the traditional explanation, dating to the 14th century, is that thim means "dissolve" and phu means "rock," in reference to a local deity who dissolved before a traveler's eyes, becoming a part of the rock on which the present city stands

Administrative divisions

20 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Dagana, Gasa, Haa, Lhuentse, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatshel, Punakha, Samdrup Jongkhar, Samtse, Sarpang, Thimphu, Trashigang, Trashi Yangtse, Trongsa, Tsirang, Wangdue Phodrang, Zhemgang

Legal system

Civil law based on Buddhist religious law

Constitution — history

Previous governing documents were various royal decrees; first constitution drafted November 2001 to March 2005, ratified 18 July 2008

Constitution — amendment process

Proposed as a motion by simple majority vote in a joint session of Parliament; passage requires at least a three-fourths majority vote in a joint session of the next Parliament and assent by the king

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

No

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

The father must be a citizen of Bhutan

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14 December 2006)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Tshering TOBGAY (since 28 January 2024)

Executive branch — cabinet

Council of Ministers or Lhengye Zhungtshog members nominated by the monarch in consultation with the prime minister and approved by the National Assembly; members serve 5-year terms

Executive branch — election/appointment process

The monarchy is hereditary but can be removed by a two-thirds vote of Parliament; leader of the majority party in Parliament is nominated as the prime minister, appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch — legislature name

Parliament (Chi Tshog)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

National Assembly (Tshogdu)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

47 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

1/9/2024

Legislative branch - lower chamber — parties elected and seats per party

People's Democratic Party (PDP) (30); Bhutan Tendrel Party (BTP) (17)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

4.3%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

January 2029

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

National Council (Gyelyong Tshogde)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

25 (20 directly elected; 5 appointed)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — electoral system

Plurality/majority

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

0 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

4/20/2023

Legislative branch - upper chamber — parties elected and seats per party

N/A; note - the National Council is not party-based

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

12%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

April 2028

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and 4 associate justices)

Judicial branch — judge selection and term of office

Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the monarch on the advice of the National Judicial Commission, a 4-member body to include the Legislative Committee of the National Assembly, the attorney general, the Chief Justice of Bhutan and the senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; other judges (drangpons) appointed by the monarch from among the High Court judges selected by the National Judicial Commission; chief justice serves a 5-year term or until reaching age 65 years, whichever is earlier; the 4 other judges serve 10-year terms or until age 65, whichever is earlier

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

High Court (first appellate court); District or Dzongkhag Courts; sub-district or Dungkhag Courts

Political parties

Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party (Druk Phuensum Tshogpa) or DPT Bhutan Tendrel Party or BTP Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa or DTT People's Democratic Party or PDP United Party of Bhutan (Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa) or DNT

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

343 East, 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017 telephone: [1] (212) 682-2371 FAX: [1] (212) 661-0551 email address and website: consulate.pmbny@mfa.gov.bt https://www.mfa.gov.bt/pmbny/

Diplomatic representation from the US

Note: Although Bhutan and the United States have never established formal diplomatic relations, the two countries maintain informal relations via the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, and Bhutan’s Mission to the United Nations in New York

International organization participation

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Independence

17 December 1907 (became a unified kingdom under its first hereditary king); 8 August 1949 (Treaty of Friendship with India maintains Bhutanese independence)

National holiday

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

Flag

Description: divided diagonally from the lower-left corner to the upper-right corner; the upper triangle is yellow, and the lower triangle is dark orange; centered along the dividing line is a large, stylized black-and-white dragon facing to the right; the dragon is called the Druk (Thunder Dragon) and is the national emblem meaning: white stands for purity, and the jewels in the dragon's claws symbolize wealth; the background colors represent the spiritual and secular powers in Bhutan, with orange standing for Buddhism and yellow for the ruling dynasty

National symbol(s)

Mythical thunder dragon (druk)

National color(s)

Orange, yellow

National anthem(s) — title

"Druk tsendhen" (The Thunder Dragon Kingdom)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Gyaldun Dasho Thinley DORJI/Aku TONGMI

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 1953

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

Hydropower investments spurring economic development; Gross National Happiness economy; sharp poverty declines; low inflation; strong monetary and fiscal policies; stable currency; fairly resilient response to COVID-19; key economic and strategic relations with India; climate vulnerabilities

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$11.517 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$10.981 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021

$10.437 billion (2021 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

4.9% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.2% (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2021

4.4% (2021 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$14,600 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$14,100 (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2021

$13,500 (2021 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$3.019 billion (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024

2.8% (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

4.2% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

5.6% (2022 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

15% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

29.6% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

52.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

59.4% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

20.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

44.5% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

0.7% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

28.3% (2023 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-53.2% (2023 est.)

Agricultural products

Rice, milk, potatoes, root vegetables, maize, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, pumpkins/squash, carrots/turnips (2023)

Industries

Cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism

Industrial production growth rate

0% (2023 est.)

Labor force

406,500 (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

2.9% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

3.2% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

6% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

13.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

11.2% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

16.5% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

12.4% (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

28.5 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

3.6% (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

22.7% (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

3.6% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

3.3% of GDP (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2021

2.6% of GDP (2021 est.)

Budget — revenues

$740.328 million (2020 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$802.177 million (2020 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2020

111% of GDP (2020 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

12.3% (of GDP) (2020 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

-$669.766 million (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

-$963.122 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$805.723 million (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$944.391 million (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$867.871 million (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$791.342 million (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

India 92%, Italy 4%, Indonesia 1%, China 1%, Singapore 0% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Iron alloys, aircraft, dolomite, semi-finished iron, cement (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$1.513 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$1.77 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$1.581 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

India 82%, Singapore 8%, China 5%, Thailand 2%, Indonesia 1% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, gold, plastics, broadcasting equipment, iron reductions (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024

$941.018 million (2024 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$654.481 million (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$825.755 million (2022 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$2.827 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

83.669 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

82.599 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

78.604 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

73.918 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

74.1 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

100% (2022 est.)

Electricity — installed generating capacity

2.344 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

11.914 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

6 billion kWh (2020 est.)

Electricity — imports

834.7 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

86.681 million kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

100% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — production

4,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

105,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

54 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

122,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

4,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

64.082 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

0 (2024 est.) no service

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

0 (2024 est.) no service

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

790,000 (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

100 (2024 est.)

Broadcast media

State-owned TV station established in 1999; cable TV service offers dozens of Indian and other international channels; first radio station, privately launched in 1973, is now state-owned; 5 private radio stations are currently broadcasting (2012)

Internet country code

.bt

Internet users — percent of population

88% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

10,000 (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

1 (2023 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

A5

Airports

4 (2025)

Heliports

8 (2025)

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

Military and security forces

Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National Militia Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2025)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Estimated 7-8,000 active Royal Bhutan Army (2025)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

The Royal Bhutan Army is lightly armed; it has a small amount of heavy equipment, such as armored cars and helicopters, originating from the former Soviet Union, India, and Thailand (2025)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; militia training is compulsory for men aged 20-25 over a 3-year period (2025)

Military deployments

180 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2025)

Military - note

The Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan's closest security partner is India; under the 2007 India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, both countries agreed to cooperate closely on issues relating to their national interests (2025)

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

138 (2024 est.)