Bhutan
Thimphu · South Asia
Bhutan is a country in Asia. Its capital city is Thimphu, the official currency is the Ngultrum, and the main language is Dzongkha.
With a population of roughly 790,000 people spread over 38,394 km², Bhutan is the 161st most populous country in the world and the 133rd largest by area. That works out at about 21 people per square kilometre.
Bhutan shares land borders with China and India — 2 neighbours in all. Its largest urban centres are Thimphu, Phuntsholing and Punakha. The highest point in the country is Gangkhar Puensum, at 7,570 metres.
For scale, it covers almost exactly the same area as Guinea-Bissau, while its population is closest to that of Guyana.
- Capital
- Thimphu
- Region
- South Asia
- Population
- 790,000
- Area
- 38,394 km²
- Currency
- Ngultrum
- Main language
- Dzongkha
- Highest point
- Gangkhar Puensum
7,570 m - Land borders
- 2
Bhutan: things worth knowing
- Bhutan measures progress by Gross National Happiness alongside economic output.
- Its constitution requires at least 60% of the country to remain under forest cover; the actual figure is higher.
- Gangkhar Puensum is the highest unclimbed mountain in the world, as climbing above 6,000 metres is prohibited.
Bhutan in context
Asia has 48 sovereign countries in total. Bhutan ranks 46th among them by population.
See the full list of Asia countries, or browse all 195 countries.