Long-form name: Kingdom of Bhutan

Type: monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital: Thimphu; Paro Dzong is the administrative capital

Administrative divisions: 3 regions and 1 division*; Central Bhutan, Eastern Bhutan, Southern Bhutan*, Western Bhutan; note--there may now be 18 districts (dzong, singular and plural) named Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Daga, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdiphodrang

Independence: 8 August 1949 (from India)

Constitution: no written constitution or bill of rights

Legal system: based on Indian law and English common law; in 1907 the monarch assumed full power; in 1968-69 a separate judiciary that provided for local, district, and national courts with appellate jurisdiction was established; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: National Day (Ugyen Wangchuck became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

Branches: appointed ministers; 150-member indirectly elected National Assembly consisting of 110 village elders or heads of family, 10 monastic representatives, and 30 senior government administrators

Leader: @m5Chief of State and Head of Government--King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)

Suffrage: each family has one vote

Elections: popular elections on village level held every three years

Political parties: no legal parties

Communists: no overt Communist presence

Other political or pressure groups: Buddhist clergy, Indian merchant community, ethnic Nepalese organizations

Member of: ADB, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IMF, NAM, SAARC, UNESCO, UPU, UN, WHO

Diplomatic representation: no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassies in New Delhi (India); the Bhutanese mission to the UN in New York has consular jurisdiction in the US

Flag: divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is orange and the lower triangle is red; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

NOTE: The information regarding Bhutan on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bhutan Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bhutan Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.