Country Name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan

Nationality: noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural) adjective: Bhutanese

Capital: Thimphu

Flag description: The flag of Bhutan is divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner with the upper triangle yellow and the lower triangle orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side. The two colors of the flag represent spiritual and temporal power within Bhutan. The orange part represents the Drukpas monasteries and Buddhist religious practice, while the saffron yellow field denotes the secular authority of the dynasty. The combination of the two colors on the flag represents the harmony of these two powers. The country's name in the local dialect means Land of the Dragon (Druk Yul). In Bhutan, thunder is believed to be the voices of dragons roaring. In about 1200, a monestary was set up called the Druk (Thunder Dragon). The name and the emblem of the dragon have been associated with Bhutan ever since. The dragon on the flag is white to symbolize purity. The treasure balls clamped in the dragon's claws symbolize wealth and prosperity.

Administrative divisions: 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

Population: 2,094,176
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2002 est.)

Age Structure:0-14 years: 39.8% (male 431,883; female 401,386)
15-64 years: 56.2% (male 606,184; female 571,310)
65 years and over: 4% (male 42,193; female 41,220) (2002 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.15% (2002 est.)

Currency: ngultrum (BTN; 48.3BTN =1USD); Indian rupee (INR; 48.3INR=1USD)

Gross domestic product: purchasing power parity - $2.7 billion (2002 est.)

GDP per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)

Life expectancy: male: 54 years ; female: 53 years (2002 est.)

Literacy rate: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)

Language: Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Religion: Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Ethnic groups:Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas--one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%