Bhutan
Following Britain’s victory in the 1865 Duar War, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding land to British India. Three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs, and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. Bhutan negotiated a similar arrangement with independent India in 1949. The Indo-Bhutanese Treaty of Friendship returned to Bhutan a small piece of the territory annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. Bhutan joined the UN in 1971 and slowly continued its engagement beyond its borders. Today, Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy with civil law system based on Buddhist religious law.
Bhutan has 20 districts in terms of administrative regions.
Economically, Bhutan has a small economy based largely on hydropower, agriculture, and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than half the population. Due to rugged mountains dominating the terrain, the building of roads and other infrastructure is difficult and expensive. Bhutan's industrial production is primarily of the cottage industry type.
Source: CIA World Factbook - Bhutan
Offices
| Population | Election | Office | Incumbent | Term Length | Term Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 797,765 | Not Elected | King of Bhutan | Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck | None | None |
| Indirectly Elected | Prime Minister | Tshering Tobgay | 5 years | None | |
| Directly Elected | National Council | 5 years | None | ||
| Directly Elected | National Assembly | 5 years | None |
Upcoming Elections
| Election | Count Down | Election Date |
|---|---|---|
| Bhutanese National Council Election, 2028 | in 3 years | April 2028 *No Fixed Date |
| Bhutanese National Assembly Election, 2028 | in 4 years | November 2028 *No Fixed Date |
Event Timeline
January 28, 2024
Tshering Tobgay begins National AssemblyChogyal Dago Rigdzin resigns National Assembly
| November 30, 2023 | Bhutanese National Assembly Election, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | Region | Vote Count | Elected |
| Tshering Tobgay | People's Democratic Party | Bhutan | ||
| more... | ||||
November 1, 2023
Chogyal Dago Rigdzin begins National Assembly : Interim Prime Minster after government resignation.Lotay Tshering resigns National Assembly
| April 20, 2023 | Bhutanese National Council Election, 2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2018 | Bhutanese National Assembly Election, 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | Region | Vote Count | Elected |
| Lotay Tshering | Druk Nyamrup Party | Bhutan | ||
| more... | ||||
| April 20, 2018 | Bhutanese National Council Election, 2018 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2013 | Bhutanese National Assembly Election, 2013 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | Region | Vote Count | Elected |
| Tshering Tobgay | People's Democratic Party | Bhutan | ||
| more... | ||||