: defense is the responsibility of the UK
_%_
_@_Bhutan
_*_Geography
_#_Total area: 47,000 km2; land area: 47,000 km2

_#_Comparative area: slightly more than half the size of Indiana

_#_Land boundaries: 1,075 km total; China 470 km, India 605 km

_#_Coastline: none--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

_#_Natural resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbide,
tourism potential

_#_Land use: arable land 2%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and
pastures 5%; forest and woodland 70%; other 23%

_#_Environment: violent storms coming down from the Himalayas were the
source of the country name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon

_#_Note: landlocked; strategic location between China and India;
controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

_*_People
_#_Population: 1,598,216 (July 1991), growth rate 2.0% (1991)

_#_Birth rate: 37 births/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Death rate: 17 deaths/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1,000 population (1991)

_#_Infant mortality rate: 135 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)

_#_Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 48 years female (1991)

_#_Total fertility rate: 4.9 children born/woman (1991)

_#_Nationality: noun--Bhutanese (sing., pl.); adjective--Bhutanese

_#_Ethnic divisions: Bhote 60%, ethnic Nepalese 25%, indigenous or
migrant tribes 15%

_#_Religion: Lamaistic Buddhism 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced
Hinduism 25%

_#_Language: Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects--most widely spoken
dialect is Dzongkha (official); Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

_#_Literacy: NA% (male NA%, female NA%)

_#_Labor force: NA; agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and
commerce 2%; massive lack of skilled labor

_#_Organized labor: not permitted

_*_Government
_#_Long-form name: Kingdom of Bhutan

_#_Type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

_#_Capital: Thimphu

_#_Administrative divisions: 18 districts (dzongkhag, singular
and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi,
Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang,
Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang

_#_In