Demographics of Bhutan
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Bhutan's bimodal population estimates
One of the quirky things about Bhutan is the wide range of population numbers given for the country (see bimodal distribution). One set of numbers tends to estimate the population at around two million (e.g. the 'CIA Factbook'). Other sets of numbers center around a population estimate of approximately 800,000 (e.g. Royal Government of Bhutan census numbers given below). How can this be?
One explanation given inside Bhutan for the discrepancy is that the higher numbers ultimately trace back to an inflated population number the Bhutanese government supplied to the United Nations in the early 1970s in order to gain entry into that body (the UN reportedly had a cutoff population of one million at that time -- see micronation for justifications in support of such a minimum). According to this theory the CIA population experts have retained this original inflated number year after year while adjusting it each year for normal population growth. In this theory the current official census numbers are the best estimate.
An alternative theory is that the western and central districts of the country wish to underestimate the populations of the southern and eastern districts in order to maintain their historical dominance over those districts. This is the claim made by some Bhutanese refugee groups.
Given the remote and mountainous nature of the country (with over half the population of the country more than a day's walk from any road), given its economic and cultural isolation, and given its geopolitical insignificance, it is a bit of a puzzle as to how an accurate crosscheck of the government's number could ever be made. If anyone knows how many Bhutanese there are it's the Bhutanese, and if they're not telling then it's anybody's guess.
Demographic data from the CIA World Factbook
Population
- 2,232,291
- Note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2005 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years: 39.1% (male 452,213/female 420,675)
- 15-64 years: 56.9% (male 654,109/female 615,431)
- 65 years and over: 4% (male 45,281/female 44,582) (2005 est.)
Median age
- Total: 20.27 years
- Male: 20.11 years
- Female: 20.44 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate
- 2.11% (2005 est.)
Birth rate
- 34.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate
- 12.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate
- 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Sex ratio
- At birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
- Under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
- Total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate
- Total: 100.44 deaths/1,000 live births
- Male: 98.19 deaths/1,000 live births
- Female: 102.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
- Total population: 54.39 years
- Male: 54.65 years
- Female: 54.11 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate
- 4.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS
- Adult prevalence rate: less than 0.1% (2001 est.)
- People living with HIV/AIDS: less than 100 (1999 est.)
- Deaths: NA
Nationality
- Noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
- Adjective: Bhutanese
Ethnic groups
- Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%
Religions
- Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%
Languages
- Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects
Literacy
- Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
- Total population: 42.2%
- Male: 56.2%
- Female: 28.1% (1995 est.)
References
Template:CIA WFB 2005 and the 2003 U.S. Department of State website.