(FY95/96 est.)
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures

Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic
beverages, calcium carbide

Industrial production growth rate: 9.3% (1996 est.)

Electricity--production: 1.717 billion kWh (1996)
note: exports electricity to India

Electricity--production by source:
fossil fuel: 0.41%
hydro: 99.59%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (1996)

Electricity--consumption: 246 million kWh (1996)

Electricity--exports: 1.475 billion kWh (1996)

Electricity--imports: 4 million kWh (1996)

Agriculture--products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains;
dairy products, eggs

Exports: $99 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.)

Exports--commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts,
cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices

Exports--partners: India 94%, Bangladesh

Imports: $131 million (c.i.f., 1997 est.)

Imports--commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and
parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice

Imports--partners: India 77%, Japan, UK, Germany, US

Debt--external: $87 million (1996)

Economic aid--recipient: $73.8 million (1995)

Currency: 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note--Indian currency is
also legal tender

Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1--42.508 (January 1999),
41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374
(1994); note--the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee

Fiscal year: 1 July--30 June

Communications

Telephones: 4,620 (1991 est.)

Telephone system:
domestic: domestic telephone service is very poor with very few
telephones in use
international: international telephone and telegraph service is by
landline through India; a satellite earth station was planned (1990)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios: 23,000 (1989 est.)

Television broadcast stations: 0 (1997)

Televisions: 200 (1985 est.)

Transportation

Railways: 0 km

Highways:
total: 3,285 km
paved: 1,994 km
unpaved: 1,291 km (1996 est.)

Ports and harbors: none

Airports: 2 (1998 est.)

Airports--with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Airports--with unpaved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1998 est.)

Military

Military branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia,
Royal Police Force

Military manpower--milita