Page 4 - BHUTAN 2007

equitable and sustainable socio-economic development, 2) preservation and
promotion of cultural values, 3) conservation of the natural environment

and 4) establishment of good governance. It is actually fairly obvious even to

casual observers like tourists on short visits that Bhutan is reaching those

four ends steadily and striving continuously for even higher attainments.

In our 10-day visit, we saw and were impressed by this country’s

commitment to these goals. Evidence of their efforts will be revealed as the
story of our visit progresses.

COUNTRY FACTS

First, though, let me recall some of the fascinating facts about Beautiful

Bhutan. The country is landlocked by India on three sides and China on its

northern border. It is relatively small in size, 36,420 square miles--Florida is

65,728 sq. miles. Its population is small, around 700,000, with a median age

of 20. Life expectancy for Bhutanese people has reached 61 years for males
and 64 years for females. The ethnicity of Bhutanese people is divided

among three major groups: 50% Bhotes (people of Tibetan origin who

th
migrated into what is now Bhutan in the 9 century), 35% ethnic Nepalese
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people who came much later—probably in the 18 century, and 15% the

indigenous peoples (3 main tribes) of Mongolian heritage whose origins are
unclear but whose entry into the land is generally held to be around 2000

B.C. The Nepali and Tibetan peoples are pretty completely intermixed, but

there has been relatively little intermarriage with the indigenous peoples by

the other Bhutanese.

RELIGION

In religion, 75% of the peoples are Buddhists and Buddhism is the state

sponsored religion. The remaining 25% are Hindus. There are elements of
animistic practices among the indigenous peoples as well as their being

intermixed with Buddhism and Hinduism. Only Buddhist temples are