World Countries Info In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan
would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land. Under
British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty
was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal
affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role
was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal
Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British,
formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's
responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of some
100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed
in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
camps. Maoist Assamese separatists from India, who have established themselves
in the southeast portion of Bhutan, have drawn Indian cross-border incursions.
Geography of Bhutan
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Location:
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Southern Asia, between
China and India |
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Geographic coordinates:
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27 30 N, 90 30 E |
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Area:
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total: 47,000 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 47,000 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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about half the size of
Indiana |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,075 km
border countries: China 470 km, India 605 km |
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked) |
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked) |
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Climate:
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varies; tropical in
southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe
winters and cool summers in Himalayas |
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Terrain:
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mostly mountainous with
some fertile valleys and savanna |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point:
Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m |
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Natural resources:
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timber, hydropower, gypsum,
calcium carbide |
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Land use:
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arable land: 2.98%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.59% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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400 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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violent storms 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 |
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Environment - current issues:
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soil erosion; limited
access to potable water |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Nuclear Test Ban
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea |
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; strategic
location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan
mountain passes
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More Geography
Population of Bhutan
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Population:
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2,185,569
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2004 est.) |
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Age structure:
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0-14 years: 39.3% (male 445,548;
female 414,338)
15-64 years: 56.6% (male 637,637; female 600,253)
65 years and over: 4% (male 44,298; female 43,495) (2004 est.) |
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Median age:
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total: 20.2 years
male: 20 years
female: 20.3 years (2004 est.) |
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Population growth rate:
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2.12% (2004 est.) |
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Birth rate:
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34.41 births/1,000 |
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Death rate:
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13.2 deaths/1,000 |
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Net migration rate:
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0 migrant(s)/1,000 |
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Infant mortality rate:
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total: 102.56 deaths/1,000 live
births
female: 104.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2004 est.)
male: 100.35 deaths/1,000 live births |
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Life expectancy at birth:
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total population: 53.99 years
male: 54.27 years
female: 53.68 years (2004 est.) |
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Total fertility rate:
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4.87 children born/woman (2004 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
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less than 0.1% (2001 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
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less than 100 (1999 est.) |
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Nationality:
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noun: Bhutanese (singular and
plural)
adjective: Bhutanese |
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Ethnic groups:
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Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes
Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15% |
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Religions:
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Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and
Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25% |
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Languages:
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Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various
Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects |
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Literacy:
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definition: age 15 and over can read
and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
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Government
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Country name:
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conventional long form: Kingdom of
Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan |
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Government type:
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monarchy; special treaty relationship with
India |
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Capital:
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Thimphu |
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Administrative divisions:
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18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and
plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro,
Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa,
Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse |
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Independence:
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8 August 1949 (from India) |
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National holiday:
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National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first
hereditary king), 17 December (1907) |
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Constitution:
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no written constitution or bill of rights;
note - in 2001 the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution, which is to become
effective in 2005 |
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Legal system:
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based on Indian law and English common law;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage:
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each family has one vote in village-level
elections; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law, though no
elections have been held |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: King Jigme Singye
WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998
grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo Jigme Y. THINLEY
(since 30 August 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch,
approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is
also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu
(150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35
are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members
serve three-year terms)
elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: NA |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High
Court (judges appointed by the monarch) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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no legal parties |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese
organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United
Front for Democracy (exiled) |
Economy
The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on
agriculture and forestry, providing the main livelihood for more than 90% of
the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal
husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of
roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely
aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on
India's financial assistance. The industrial sector is technologically
backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development
projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's
hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. The
government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base
and improving social welfare. Model education, social, and environment
programs are underway with support from multilateral development
organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's
desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. Detailed
controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade,
labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion
(2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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7.7% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002
est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 45%
industry: 10%
services: 45% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% (1995) |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3% (2002 est.) |
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Labor force:
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NA
note: massive lack of skilled labor (1997 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and
commerce 2% |
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Unemployment rate:
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NA% (2003 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $146 million
expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of NA
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget
expenditures (FY95/96 est.) |
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Industries:
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cement, wood products, processed fruits,
alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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9.3% (1996 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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1.896 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 0.1%
hydro: 99.9%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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379.5 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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1.4 billion kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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16 million kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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1,020 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Agriculture - products:
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rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains;
dairy products, eggs |
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Exports:
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$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum,
timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices |
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Exports - partners:
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India 88.5%, US 2.7%, UK 2.7% (2002) |
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Imports:
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$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and
parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice |
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Imports - partners:
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India 62.8%, Japan 16.3%, Germany 4.3%
(2002) |
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Debt - external:
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$245 million (2000) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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substantial aid from India and other
nations |
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Currency:
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ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR) |
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Currency code:
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BTN; INR |
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Exchange rates:
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ngultrum per US dollar - 46.58 (2003),
48.61 (2002), 47.19 (2001), 44.94 (2000), 43.06 (1999) |
SOURCES: The CIA World Factbook, U.S. Department of State, Area Handbook of the US Library of Congress
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