Economy Overview
Bhutan's small economy is based largely on hydropower, agriculture, and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than half the population. Because rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive, industrial production is primarily of the cottage industry type. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and is dependent on India for financial assistance and migrant laborers for development projects, especially for road construction. Bhutan signed a pact in December 2014 to expand duty-free trade with Bangladesh.Multilateral development organizations administer most educational, social, and environment programs, and take into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government is cautious in its expansion of the tourist sector, restricing visits to environmentally conscientious tourists. Complicated controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.Bhutan’s largest export - hydropower to India - could spur sustainable growth in the coming years if Bhutan resolves chronic delays in construction. Bhutan’s hydropower exports comprise 40% of total exports and 25% of the government’s total revenue. Bhutan currently taps only 6.5% of its 24,000-megawatt hydropower potential and is behind schedule in building 12 new hydropower dams with a combined capacity of 10,000 megawatts by 2020 in accordance with a deal signed in 2008 with India. The high volume of imported materials to build hydropower plants has expanded Bhutan's trade and current account deficits. Bhutan also signed a memorandum of understanding with Bangladesh and India in July 2017 to jointly construct a new hydropower plant for exporting electricity to Bangladesh.
Agriculture Products
milk, rice, maize, potatoes, roots/tubers, oranges, areca nuts, chillies/peppers, spices, ginger
Industries
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism
Industrial Production Growth Rate
6.3% (2017 est.)
Labor Force
397,900 (2017 est.)
Labor Force by Occupation
Agriculture: 58%
Industry: 20%
Services: 22% (2015 est.)
Unemployment Rate
0: 3.2% (2017 est.)
1: 3.2% (2016 est.)
Population Below Poverty Line
8.2% (2017 est.)
Household Income or Consumption by Percentage Share
Lowest 10%: 2.8%
Highest 10%: 30.6% (2012)
Distribution of Family Income Gini Index
0: 37.4 (2017 est.)
1: 38.1 (2007)
Budget
Revenues: 655.3 million (2017 est.)
Expenditures: 737.4 million (2017 est.)
Note: the Government of India finances nearly one-quarter of Bhutan's budget expenditures
Budget Surplus
-3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)
Public Debt
0: 106.3% of GDP (2017 est.)
1: 114.2% of GDP (2016 est.)
Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate
Market Value of Publicly Traded Shares
Reserves of Foreign Exchange and Gold
0: $1.206 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
1: $1.127 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Debt External
0: $2.671 billion (31 December 2017 est.)
1: $2.355 billion (31 December 2016 est.)
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment at Home
Stock of Direct Foreign Investment Abroad
Exchange Rates
0: ngultrum (BTN) per US dollar -
1: 64.97 (2017 est.)
2: 67.2 (2016 est.)
3: 67.2 (2015 est.)
4: 64.15 (2014 est.)
5: 61.03 (2013 est.)
