Chief of State

Jigme Singye Wangchuck

Prime Minister

Jigme Y. Thinley

Capital

Thimphu

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Area

Total: 38,394 sq km
Land: 38,394 sq km
Water: 0 sq km

Land boundaries

Total: 1,075 km
Border Countries: China 470 km, India 605 km

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

Varies; tropical in southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain

Mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Elevation extremes

Lowest point: Drangeme Chhu 97 m
Highest point: Gangkar Puensum 7,570 m

Land use

Arable land: 2.3%
Permanent crops: 0.43%
Other: 97.27% (2005)

Natural resources

Timber, Hydropower, Gypsum, Calcium Carbonate

Irrigated land

400 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

95 cu km (1987)

Natural hazards

Violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

Environment - current issues

Soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Environment-international agreements

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
Signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea