Currency | ngultrum (BTN) Indian rupee (INR) |
---|---|
1 July – 30 June | |
Trade organizations | SAFTA |
Country group |
|
Statistics | |
Population | 780,000 (2021) |
GDP |
|
GDP rank | |
GDP growth |
|
GDP per capita |
|
GDP per capita rank | |
GDP by sector |
|
7.35% (2021) [4] | |
Population below poverty line | |
37.4 medium (2017, World Bank) [7] | |
68 out of 100 points (2023, 26th rank) | |
Labor force | |
Labor force by occupation |
|
Unemployment | 3.2% (2017 est.) [3] |
Main industries | cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism |
External | |
Exports | $345 million (2021) [12] |
Export goods | Iron and Steel, Salt Sulphur and Cement, Aircraft |
Main export partners | |
Imports | $1.12 billion (2021) [12] |
Import goods | machinery, minerals, motor vehicles, metals |
Main import partners | |
FDI stock |
|
−$547 million (2017 est.) [3] | |
Gross external debt | $2.671 billion (31 December 2017 est.) [3] |
Public finances | |
106.3% of GDP (2017 est.) [3] | |
−3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.) [3] | |
Revenues | 655.3 million (2017 est.) [3] |
Expenses | 737.4 million (2017 est.) [3] [note 1] |
Economic aid | $985 million (India) (2015-16) |
$970 million (August 2022) | |
The economy of Bhutan is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult. Bhutan is among the richest by gross domestic product (nominal) per capita in South Asia, at $3,491 as of 2022, but it still places 153rd, and among the poorest in the world. The total gross domestic product is only $2,653 million, and 178th according to IMF.
Bhutan's economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. Most production in the industrial sector is of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labour. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organisations.
Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labour, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Hydropower exports to India have boosted Bhutan's overall growth, even though GDP fell in 2008 as a result of a slowdown in India, its predominant export market.
Since 1961, the government of Bhutan has guided the economy through five-year plans in order to promote economic development. [13]
On 8 December 2023, Bhutan graduated from the UN's list of least developed countries (LDCs), making it only the 7th country to do so and the first in 3 years. [14] [15]
This is a chart of trend of gross domestic product of Bhutan at market prices by the International Monetary Fund:
Year | GDP (millions of BTN) | GDP (millions of USD) |
---|---|---|
1985 | 2,166 | 175 |
1990 | 4,877 | 279 |
1995 | 9,531 | 294 |
2000 | 20,060 | 460 |
2005 | 36,915 | 828 |
2008 | 45,000 | 1280 |
2011 | 84,950 | 1695 |
2014 | 119,546 | 1784 |
2017 | 159,572 | 2294 |
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.
In 2010, Bhutan became the first country in the world to ban smoking and the selling of tobacco. In order to stamp out cross-border smuggling during the pandemic, a new Tobacco Control Rules and Regulations (TCRR) 2021 allowed the import, sales and consumption of tobacco products. [16]
In terms of trade, Bhutan is a member of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) and the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC). [17] [18] [19] Bhutan is also a member of the pan-Asian Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), and the Asian Development Bank. [20] [21]
Bhutan first applied to join the WTO in 1999 and as an applicant, was quickly granted observer status [22] Beyond that, ascension proceedings at the WTO have been much delayed and periodically put on pause, largely stemming from concerns and considerations of the Bhutanese government itself. [22] [23] [24] [25] The Bhutanese government approved ascension to the WTO in April 2023, at least partly hastened by the country's upcoming graduation from the UN-defined 'least developed country (LDC) category. [26] [27] Under WTO rules and processes, ascent of a country with LDC status comes with some leniency in certain requirements, more relaxed timeframes for compliance, and additional support; [28] so, whilst the loss of LDC status, as happened in December 2023, was a reflection of Bhutan's success and development progress, it also meant much further delay in WTO ascension (that is, ascent after the loss of LDC status) would make the journey through to full WTO member status even harder. [24] [26] [29]
In the 1970s the King placed Gross National Happiness over Gross Domestic Product. [30] [31]
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The economy of Ecuador is the eighth largest in Latin America and the 69th largest in the world by total GDP. Ecuador's economy is based on the export of oil, bananas, shrimp, gold, other primary agricultural products and money transfers from Ecuadorian emigrants employed abroad. In 2017, remittances constituted 2.7% of Ecuador's GDP. The total trade amounted to 42% of the Ecuador's GDP in 2017.
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UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is an intergovernmental organization within the United Nations Secretariat that promotes the interests of developing countries in world trade. It was established in 1964 by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development but rebranded to its current name on the occasion of its 60th anniversary in 2024. It reports to both the General Assembly and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). UNCTAD is composed of 195 member states and works with non-governmental organizations worldwide; its permanent secretariat is at UNOG in Geneva, Switzerland.
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The economy of Papua New Guinea (PNG) is largely underdeveloped with the vast majority of the population living below the poverty line. However, according to the Asian Development Bank its GDP is expected to grow 3.4% in 2022 and 4.6% in 2023. It is dominated by the agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector and the minerals and energy extraction sector. The agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector accounts for most of the labour force of PNG while the minerals and energy extraction sector, including gold, copper, oil and natural gas is responsible for most of the export earnings.
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Bhutan, officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked country in South Asia situated in the Eastern Himalayas between China in the north and India in the south. With a population of over 727,145 and a territory of 38,394 square kilometres (14,824 sq mi), Bhutan ranks 133rd in land area and 160th in population. Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with a king as the head of state and a prime minister as the head of government. Vajrayana Buddhism is the state religion and the Je Khenpo is the head of the state religion.
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