Economy of Bhutan

Thimphu is the largest economic centre of Bhutan.
Currency	ngultrum (BTN) Indian rupee (INR)
Fiscal year	1 July – 30 June
Trade organizations	SAFTA
Country group	Developing/Emerging[1] Lower middle income economy[2]
Statistics
Population	780,000 (2021)
GDP	$2.707 billion(nominal, 2022) $9.937 billion(PPP, 2022)
GDP rank	178th (nominal, 2022) 166th (PPP, 2022)
GDP growth	-2.38% (fy21) -3.73% (fy22) 4.39% (fy23 est.) 4.5% (fy24 forecast)
GDP per capita	$3,144 (nominal, 2022) $13,077 (PPP, 2022)
GDP per capita rank	156th (nominal, 2022) 106th (PPP, 2022)
GDP by sector	agriculture: 16.2% industry: 41.8% services: 42% (2017 est.)[3]
Inflation (CPI)	7.35% (2021)[4]
Population below poverty line	8.2% (2017)[5] 9.8% on less than $3.20/day (2020f)[6]
Gini coefficient	37.4 medium (2017, World Bank)[7]
Human Development Index	0.666 medium (2021) [8] (129th) 0.450 low IHDI (2018)[9]
Labor force	381,742 (2019)[10] major shortage of skilled labour[3] 61.6% employment rate (2015)[11]
Labor force by occupation	agriculture: 58% industry: 20% services: 22% (2015 est.)[3]
Unemployment	3.2% (2017 est.)[3]
Main industries	cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide, tourism
External
Exports	$345 million (2021)[12]
Export goods	Iron and Steel, Salt Sulphur and Cement, Aircraft
Main export partners	India 93.3%    Nepal 3.01%  Italy 1.79%  South Korea 0.42%  Germany 0.38% (2021)[12]
Imports	$1.12 billion (2021)[12]
Import goods	machinery, minerals, motor vehicles, metals
Main import partners	India 77.3%  China 9.6%  Thailand 5.38%  UAE 1.08%  South Korea 0.98% (2021)[12]
FDI stock	$160.4 million (31 December 2017 est.)[3] Abroad: n/a
Current account	−$547 million (2017 est.)[3]
Gross external debt	$2.671 billion (31 December 2017 est.)[3]
Public finances
Government debt	106.3% of GDP (2017 est.)[3]
Budget balance	−3.4% (of GDP) (2017 est.)[3]
Revenues	655.3 million (2017 est.)[3]
Expenses	737.4 million (2017 est.)[3][note 1]
Economic aid	$985 million (India) (2015-16)
Foreign reserves	$970 million (August 2022)
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

The economy of Bhutan is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 60% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult. Bhutan is among the richest by gross domestic product (nominal) per capita in South Asia, at $3,491 as of 2022, but it still places 153rd, and among the poorest in the world. The total gross domestic product is only $2,653 million, and 178th according to IMF.

Bhutan's economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. Most production in the industrial sector is of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labour. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organisations.

Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas such as industrial licensing, trade, labour, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment. Hydropower exports to India have boosted Bhutan's overall growth, even though GDP fell in 2008 as a result of a slowdown in India, its predominant export market.

Since 1961, the government of Bhutan has guided the economy through five-year plans in order to promote economic development.^[13]

On 13 December 2023, Bhutan graduated from the UN's list of least developed countries (LDCs), making it only the 7th country to do so and the first in 3 years.^[14][15]

Macro-economic trend

This is a chart of trend of gross domestic product of Bhutan at market prices [1] by the International Monetary Fund:

Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. The Bhutanese Government has made some progress in expanding the nation's productive base and improving social welfare.

In 2010, Bhutan became the first country in the world to ban smoking and the selling of tobacco. In order to stamp out cross-border smuggling during the pandemic, a new Tobacco Control Rules and Regulations (TCRR) 2021 allowed the import, sales and consumption of tobacco products.^[16]

GNH versus GDP

In the 1970s the King placed Gross National Happiness over Gross Domestic Product.^[17][18]