Asian Development Bank and Bhutan: Fact Sheet
Asian Development Bank | April 2009
Abstract
Updated yearly, this ADB Fact Sheet provides social and economic indicators on the Bhutan as well as concise information on ADB's operations in the country and contact information. Although Bhutan ended its self-imposed isolation in the 1960s, fundamental development activities date back only about 20 years. Nonetheless, it has embarked on a far-reaching development strategy aimed at boosting what it calls Gross National Happiness—a holistic concept combining material well-being with an individual’s spiritual, emotional, and cultural well-being. Despite steady progress, Bhutan remains a poor country, with 23.2% of the population living below the national poverty line in 2007. Inequality is high, with the top quintile consuming eight times more than the lowest quintile. At the same time, the economic base remains narrow, with hydropower accounting for some 12% of gross domestic product (GDP) and 45% of national revenues. Hydropower and its related industries have low employment elasticity, leaving the labor market unlikely to be able to absorb the 50,000 youth and 20,000 rural migrants expected to enter the workforce by 2008. The Government aims to diversify the economic base by enabling greater private sector participation in development—a central pillar of its growth, employment generation, and poverty reduction strategy.
Citation
Asian Development Bank. 2009. Asian Development Bank and Bhutan: Fact Sheet. © Asian Development Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/11540/5766.Keywords
Alleviating Poverty
Anti-Poverty
Extreme Poverty
Fight Against Poverty
Global Poverty
Health Aspects Of Poverty
Indicators Of Poverty
Participatory Poverty Assessment
Poverty Eradication
Poverty Analysis
Poverty In Developing Countries
Poverty Reduction Efforts
Urban Poverty
Public Financial Management
Financial System
Financial Statistics
Development Indicators
Environmental Indicators
Economic Indicators
Educational Indicators
Demographic Indicators
Health Indicators
Disadvantaged Groups
Low Income Groups
Socially Disadvantaged Children
Rural Conditions
Rural Development
Social Conditions
Urban Development
Urban Sociology
Pension Funds
Mutual Funds
Social Equity
Financial Aspects
Fiscal Policy
Poor
Economic forecasting
Health expectancy
Social groups
Political participation
Distribution of income
Inequality of income
Developing countries
Rural community development
Mass society
Social change
Social policy
Social stability
Population
Sustainable development
Peasantry
Urban policy
Urban renewal
Pension plans
Individual retirement accounts
Employee pension trusts
Investment management
Investments
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