Bhutan Factsheet

The kingdom at a glance: key facts for travellers

The essentials of the Kingdom of Bhutan on one page: geography, people, government and the practical details that matter before you travel. Use it as a quick reference, then explore our guides for the full story.

At a glance

Official name Kingdom of Bhutan. Bhutanese call their country Druk Yul, the Land of the Thunder Dragon.
Capital Thimphu
Area 38,394 km², a little smaller than Switzerland
Population About 780,000
Government Democratic constitutional monarchy since 2008
Head of state His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the fifth Druk Gyalpo (Dragon King)
Districts 20 dzongkhags
National Day 17 December

Land and nature

Elevation From about 100 m in the southern foothills to 7,570 m at Gangkhar Puensum, widely considered the highest unclimbed mountain in the world
Forest cover Around 70% of the land. The constitution requires at least 60% to stay forested for all time.
Carbon One of the very few carbon-negative countries on earth
Climate Subtropical in the south, temperate in the central valleys and alpine in the high north
National symbols Animal: takin. Bird: raven. Flower: blue poppy. Tree: cypress.

People and culture

Languages Dzongkha is the national language. English is widely spoken and is the language of schooling. Lhotshamkha (Nepali) and many regional languages are also spoken.
Faith Vajrayana Buddhism is the country’s spiritual heritage. Hinduism is also widely practised, mainly in the south.
National dress The gho for men and the kira for women, worn in offices, schools and dzongs
National sport Archery
Guiding idea Gross National Happiness, which measures progress by wellbeing as well as wealth. It rests on four pillars: good governance, sustainable development, cultural preservation and environmental conservation.

For travellers

Currency Ngultrum (BTN), pegged one-to-one to the Indian rupee
Time zone Bhutan Time, UTC+6, with no daylight saving
Electricity 230 V, 50 Hz. Plug types D, F and G.
Calling code +975
Driving On the left
International airport Paro (PBH), served by Drukair and Bhutan Airlines
Land entry points Phuentsholing, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar, all on the border with India
Visa Most visitors need a visa, applied for online before travel. Nationals of India, Bangladesh and the Maldives receive an entry permit instead.
Sustainable Development Fee A daily fee paid by visitors that funds Bhutan’s free healthcare, education and conservation. See our Visa & SDF guide for current rates.
Guides International visitors travel with a licensed Bhutanese guide, arranged through a licensed tour operator
Best seasons Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November). See Best Time to Visit.

Want the stories behind the numbers? Read 20 rare insights about Bhutan in our travel magazine.

Facts checked November 2026. Population and forest figures are rounded estimates.