Bhutan Overview People
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Bhutan Demographics

What is the population of Bhutan?

Population 782,318
Population Growth Rate 1.15%
Urban Population 35.600000
Population in Major Urban Areas THIMPHU (capital) 99,000
Nationality Noun Bhutanese (singular and plural)
Ethnic Groups Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Bhutan Population Comparison

Bhutan Health Information

What are the health conditions in Bhutan?

Life Expectancy at Birth 68.440000
Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population 6.88
Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births 39.970000
Health Expenditures - percent of GDP 4%
Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population .07
Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population 1.8
Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk High
Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved 99.400000
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 180
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49 65.6%
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 2.07
Obesity - adult prevalence rate 5.3%
Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved 74.500000
Underweight - percent of children under five years 12.8%

Bhutan Life Expectancy

How long do people live in Bhutan?

Life Expectancy at Birth 68.440000
Median Age 25.700000
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49 65.6%
Infant Mortality Rate 39.970000
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 180
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 2.07

Bhutan median age, birth rate and death rates

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population 18
Median Age 25.700000
Population Growth Rate 1.15%
Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female 1.050000
Age Structure 26.270000
Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49 65.6%
Infant Mortality Rate 39.970000
Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births 180
Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman 2.07

Bhutan Medical Information

What are the health conditions in Bhutan?

Medical Facilities and Health Information

Medical facilities in the populated areas in Bhutan such as Thimphu and Paro are available but may be limited or unavailable in rural areas. U.S. citizens in need of urgent medical care should try to get to the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in the capital city, Thimphu. For emergency services in Thimphu, dial 113 for police or 112 for an ambulance. Medical services may not meet Western standards, and some medicines are in short supply. Certain emergency medical services are provided free of charge to all tourists. Visitors planning to trek in Bhutan should pay special attention to the risk of altitude illness. Altitude sickness is a risk above 8,000 feet and travelers to that altitude should consult an appropriate health care provider 4 to 6 weeks before their trip. Treks in Bhutan can take visitors days or weeks away from the nearest medical facility. Helicopter evacuation from remote areas in Bhutan is available through the registered tour operators at the U.S. citizen’s expense. The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi can also help arrange evacuations through private companies at the U.S. citizen’s expense. We strongly urge you to ensure that your medical insurance covers such evacuations, which can be extremely expensive.

The Government of Bhutan recommends that visitors obtain tetanus, typhoid, and hepatitis A inoculations before traveling to Bhutan. Hepatitis B, Japanese Encephalitis, and rabies vaccines are recommended for prolonged stays for people at risk. The influenza vaccine is also recommended.

Tuberculosis is an increasingly serious health concern in Bhutan. For further information, please consult the CDC's information on TB.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of malaria exists in rural areas below 1,700m (5,577ft) in the southern belt districts of Bhutan (Chirang, Geylegphug, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, and Shemgang) along the border with India. Dengue is also a risk; you should take measures to prevent insect/mosquito bites in the higher-risk areas in the south from July to December.

Although yellow fever is not a disease risk in Bhutan, the government requires travelers arriving from countries where yellow fever is present to present proof of yellow fever vaccination.

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

4%

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

1.8

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.07

Bhutan Education

What is school like in Bhutan?

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP 4.7%
Literacy - female 34%
Literacy - male 60%
Literacy - total population 47%
Literacy Definition Age 15 and over can read and write
Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary) 13.000000

Bhutan Literacy

Can people in Bhutan read?

Literacy - female 34%
Literacy - male 60%
Literacy - total population 47%
Literacy Definition Age 15 and over can read and write

Bhutan Crime

Is Bhutan a safe place to visit?

Crime Information

There is relatively little crime in Bhutan. Petty crime, such as pick-pocketing and purse snatching, is occasionally reported. While generally safe, the capital Thimphu has begun to see burglaries, street fights, and an increasing, although still small, number of drug abusers. Reasonable precautions should be taken when visiting the town and, in particular, when going out at night.

Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, but you may also be breaking local law.

Bhutan Penalties for Crime

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Bhutan, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Bhutan, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in a foreign country, that might not always be the case. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas. Although no formal diplomatic relations exist between the United States and Bhutan, engagement is maintained through the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India.

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