note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

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@Bhutan
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Map
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Location: 27 30 N, 90 30 E -- Southern Asia, between China and
India

Flag
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Description: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner;
the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange;
centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon
facing away from the hoist side

Geography
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Location: Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates: 27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references: Asia

Area:
total area: 47,000 sq km
land area: 47,000 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

Land boundaries:
total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

International disputes: none

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
lowest point: Dangme Chu 97 m
highest point: Khula Kangri I 7,553 m

Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide

Land use:
arable land: 2%
permanent crops: 0%
meadows and pastures: 5%
forest and woodland: 70%
other: 23%

Irrigated land: 340 sq km (1989 est.)

Environment:
current issues: soil erosion; limited access to potable water
natural hazards: violent storms coming down 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
international agreements: party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Nuclear Test Ban; signed, but not ratified - Law of the Sea

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

People
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Population: 1,822,625 (July 1996 est.)
note: other estimates range as low as 600,000

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 378,407; female 351,146)
15-64 years: 56% (male 524,972; female 496,715)
65 years and over: 4% (male 36,304; female 35,081) (July 1996 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.32% (1996 est.)

Birth rate: 38.48 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

Death rate: 15.28 deaths/1,000 population (1996