Bhutan/People

Population: In 1999, Bhutan's population was 657,548 according to the Planning Commission of the Royal Government of Bhutan. There are 125,000 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal and India. Out of which around 105,000 are living in Nepal and another 20,000 in India.. Thus, the total population of Bhutan was estimated at 782,548 ( 657,548 + 125,000). The world Bank's population figure for the year 2000 was 782,000

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40% (male 417,627; female 387,927)
15-64 years: 56% (male 576,533; female 544,076)
65 years and over: 4% (male 40,081; female 38,978) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate: 2.19% (2000 est.)

Birth rate: 36.22 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate: 14.32 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate: 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.03 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate: 110.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 52.4 years
male: 52.79 years

female: 51.99 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate: 5.13 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese

Ethnic groups: Ngalung or Drukpa 129, 068 (16.50 %); Sharchop 187,252 (23.92 %); Bumthangpa 34,309 (04.40 %); Kheng 28,553 (03.65 %); Nepali/Lhotshampa 366,224 (46.79 %); Kurteop 21,108(02.68 %); Brokpa 4,034(00.50 %); Lhop/Doya 2,000 (00.26 %); Adivasis 1,000(00.13 %) Lepcha 2,000 (00.26 %); Tibetan 3,000 (00.39 %); Gongduk 2,000(00.26 %)and Monpa 2,000(00.26 %).

Religions:

Drukpa Krgyupa Buddhism 127, 068 (16.24 %); Nyngmapa Buddhism 270,222(34,53 %); Hinduism 354,224 (46.25 %); Christians 16,000(02.04 %); Tibetan Buddhism 7,000 (00.90 %) ; Animist or nature worshippers 8,034(01.02 %) Grand Total 782,548 (100.00 %). Out of 16,000 Christians, 10,000 are living as refugees in Nepal and India

Languages: Dzongkha (official), Sharchhops speak Sharshopkha or Tsangla, Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak Nepali language

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)

People - note: refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 96,500 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps