_#_Diplomatic representation: no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India); the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US
_#_Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side
_*Economy #_Overview: The economy, one of the world's least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 50% of GDP. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with that of India through strong trade and monetary links. Low wages in industry lead most Bhutanese to stay in agriculture. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are its most important natural resources.
_#_GDP: $273 million, per capita $199 (1988) real growth rate 4% (1989 est.)
_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1990 est.)
_#_Unemployment: NA
_#_Budget: revenues $99 million; expenditures $128 million, including capital expenditures of $65 million (FY89 est.)
_#_Exports: $70.9 million (f.o.b., FY89);
commodities—cardamon, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit;
partners—India 93%
_#_Imports: $138.3 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.);
commodities—fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics;
partners—India 67%
_#_External debt: $70.1 million (FY89 est.)
_#_Industrial production: growth rate - 12.4% (1988 est.); accounts for 18% of GDP
_#_Electricity: 353,000 kW capacity; 2,000 million kWh produced, 1,280 kWh per capita (1990)
_#_Industries: cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide
_#_Agriculture: accounts for 50% of GDP; based on subsistence farming and animal husbandry; self-sufficient in food except for foodgrains; other production—rice, corn, root crops, citrus fruit, dairy, and eggs
_#_Economic aid: Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970–88), $86.0 million; OPEC bilateral aid (1979–89), $11 million
_#_Currency: ngultrum (plural—ngultrum); 1 ngultrum (Nu) = 100 chetrum; note—Indian currency is also legal tender
_#_Exchange rates: ngultrum (Nu) per US$1—18.329 (January 1991), 17.504 (1990), 16.226 (1989), 13.917 (1988), 12.962 (1987), 12.611 (1986), 12.369 (1985); note—the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee
_#_Fiscal year: 1 July-30 June
_*Communications #_Highways: 1,304 km total; 418 km surfaced, 515 km improved, 371 km unimproved earth
_#_Civil air: 1 jet, 2 prop
_#_Airports: 2 total, 2 usable; 1 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 2,439 m; 2 with runways 1,220–2,439 m
_#_Telecommunications: inadequate; 1,990 telephones (1988); 22,000 radios (1990 est.); 85 TVs (1985); stations—1 AM, 1 FM, no TV (1990)
_*Defense Forces #_Branches: Royal Bhutan Army, Palace Guard, Militia
_#_Manpower availability: males 15–49, 398,263; 213,083 fit for military service; 17,321 reach military age (18) annually
_#Defense expenditures: $NA, NA% of GDP % @Bolivia *Geography #_Total area: 1,098,580 km2; land area: 1,084,390 km2
_#_Comparative area: slightly less than three times the size of Montana
_#_Land boundaries: 6,743 km total; Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km
_#_Coastline: none—landlocked
_#_Maritime claims: none—landlocked
_#_Disputes: has wanted a sovereign corridor to the South Pacific Ocean since the Atacama area was lost to Chile in 1884; dispute with Chile over Rio Lauca water rights
_#_Climate: varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid
_#_Terrain: high plateau, hills, lowland plains
_#_Natural resources: tin, natural gas, crude oil, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron ore, lead, gold, timber
_#_Land use: arable land 3%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 25%; forest and woodland 52%; other 20%; includes irrigated NEGL%
_#_Environment: cold, thin air of high plateau is obstacle to efficient fuel combustion; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification
_#_Note: landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Peru
_*People #_Population: 7,156,591 (July 1991), growth rate 2.4% (1991)
_#_Birth rate: 34 births/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Death rate: 9 deaths/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Net migration rate: - 1 migrant/1,000 population (1991)
_#_Infant mortality rate: 83 deaths/1,000 live births (1991)
_#_Life expectancy at birth: 59 years male, 64 years female (1991)
_#_Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1991)
_#_Nationality: noun—Bolivian(s); adjective Bolivian
_#_Ethnic divisions: Quechua 30%, Aymara 25%, mixed 25–30%, European 5–15%
_#_Religion: Roman Catholic 95%; active Protestant minority, especially Evangelical Methodist
_#_Language: Spanish, Quechua, and Aymara (all official)
_#_Literacy: 78% (male 85%, female 71%) age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
_#_Labor force: 1,700,000; agriculture 50%, services and utilities 26%, manufacturing 10%, mining 4%, other 10% (1983)
_#_Organized labor: 150,000–200,000, concentrated in mining, industry, construction, and transportation; mostly organized under Bolivian Workers' Central (COB) labor federation
_*Government #_Long-form name: Republic of Bolivia
_#_Type: republic
_#_Capital: La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)
_#_Administrative divisions: 9 departments (departamentos, singular—departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, El Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija
_#_Independence: 6 August 1825 (from Spain)
_#_Constitution: 2 February 1967
_#_Legal system: based on Spanish law and Code Napoleon; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
_#_National holiday: Independence Day, 6 August (1825)
_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Cabinet
_#_Legislative branch: bicameral National Congress (Congreso Nacional) consists of an upper chamber or Chamber of Senators (Camara de Senadores) and a lower chamber or Chamber of Deputies (Camara de Diputados)
_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Corte Suprema)
_#_Leaders:
Chief of State and Head of Government—President Jaime PAZ Zamora (since 6 August 1989); Vice President Luis OSSIO Sanjines (since 6 August 1989)
_#_Political parties and leaders: