Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index Economy - overview: The economy of Bhutan, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for 90% of the population and account for about 40% of GDP. 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. 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 Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare. Model education, social, and environment programs in Bhutan 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. GDP: purchasing power parity - $2.1 billion (1999 est.) GDP - real growth rate: 7% (1999 est.) GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $1,060 (1999 est.) GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 37% services: 25% (1998) Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA% Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1998) Labor force: NA note: massive lack of skilled labor Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry and commerce 2% Unemployment rate: NA% Budget: revenues: $146 million expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (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: 1.788 billion kWh (1998) Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.39% hydro: 99.61% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1998) Electricity - consumption: 345 million kWh (1998) Electricity - exports: 1.339 billion kWh note: exports electricity to India (1998) Electricity - imports: 21 million kWh (1998) Agriculture - products: rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs Exports: $111 million (f.o.b., 1998) Exports - commodities: cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, electricity (to India), precious stones, spices Exports - partners: India 94%, Bangladesh Imports: $136 million (c.i.f., 1998) Imports - commodities: fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice Imports - partners: India 77%, Japan, United Kingdom, Germany, United States Debt - external: $120 million (1998) 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 - 43.552 (January 2000), 43.055 (1999), 41.259 (1998), 36.313 (1997), 35.433 (1996), 32.427 (1995); note - the Bhutanese ngultrum is at par with the Indian rupee Fiscal year: 1 July - 30 June Reference Much of the material in this article comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website. This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.