Overview
Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked country located in South Asia in the Eastern Himalayas. It borders China to the north and northwest and India to the south and southeast. With a population of over 800,000 and a territory of 38,394 square kilometres (14,824 square miles), Bhutan ranks 133rd in land area and 160th in population among world nations.
Government and Religion
Bhutan is a democratic constitutional monarchy with a King as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. The country's state religion is Vajrayana Buddhism, with the Je Khenpo serving as the head of this religious tradition.
Geography and Natural Features
Bhutan's landscape is characterized by dramatic elevation changes. The Himalayan mountains in the north rise from the country's lush subtropical plains in the south. The Bhutanese Himalayas contain peaks higher than 7,000 metres (23,000 feet) above sea level, with Gangkhar Puensum being Bhutan's highest peak and notably the highest unclimbed mountain in the world.
The capital and largest city is Thimphu, where approximately 15% of the population resides.
Wildlife
Bhutan's wildlife is notable for its diversity. Notable species include the Himalayan takin and the golden langur.
History
Evidence suggests that Bhutan was inhabited as early as 2000 BCE, though no existing records survive from that period. Buddhism was first introduced to Bhutan in the mid-7th century CE under the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo, who ordered the construction of two Buddhist temples: Jambay Lhakhang in Bumthang and Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro Valley.
Until the early 17th century, Bhutan existed as a patchwork of minor warring fiefdoms. The country was unified by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a Tibetan lama and military leader who had fled religious persecution in Tibet. Namgyal built a network of fortresses called dzongs and established the Tsa Yig legal code to centralize control. Portuguese Jesuits Estêvão Cacella and João Cabral were the first recorded Europeans to visit Bhutan in 1627.
Bhutan was never colonized, though it became a British protectorate. During the Duar War in the 19th century, Bhutan ceded the Bengal Duars to British India. In 1910, the Treaty of Punakha guaranteed British advice in foreign policy in exchange for internal autonomy. This arrangement continued under a new treaty with India in 1949, signed at Darjeeling, in which both countries recognized each other's sovereignty.
International Relations and Memberships
Bhutan joined the United Nations in 1971 and currently maintains relations with 56 countries. The country is a founding member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and holds membership in numerous international organizations including the Climate Vulnerable Forum, the Non-Aligned Movement, BIMSTEC, the IMF, the World Bank, UNESCO, and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Rankings and Development
In 2016, Bhutan ranked first in SAARC in economic freedom, ease of doing business, peace, and lack of corruption. In 2020, Bhutan ranked third in South Asia in the Human Development Index and, as of 2024, ranked 21st on the Global Peace Index as the most peaceful country in South Asia and the only South Asian country in the index's first quartile.
Natural Resources and Environmental Concerns
Bhutan has one of the largest water reserves for hydropower in the world. However, melting glaciers caused by climate change are becoming a growing concern in the country.