In 1994 the estimated population of Bhutan was 6,00,000, with 43% of the population aged under 15. The population growth rate is 3.1% per year, which is one of the highest in the world. As in many non-industrialised countries. The high infant mortality rate in the past induced people to have more children in the hope that at least some of them would survive. With the introduction of better medial facilities, many more children now survive, but it takes time for people to adjusts there habits.

The government is keenly aware that an increased population will strain the country's resources. At present, Bhutan has a ratio of resources of population that provides adequate housing and food as well as an unspoiled environment. The government is working to introduce measures, which will reduce the growth rate. They include birth control, provision of better education and increased employment opportunities for women.

The country is still predominantly rural. An estimated 80% of the population lives more than a one hour walk from a road and as much as 50% lives more than one day of walking from a motorable road.

There is some confusion over the discrepancy between a population figure of 1.2 million that was published by the UN and the current estimate of 6,00,000.

In 1971, when Bhutan applied for UN membership, the population was estimated at just less than 1 million. No census data existed and government officials estimated the population as best they could, choosing to err on the high side in order to help gain world recognition. Over the years, this nearly a million figure was adjusted upward in accordance with estimates of Bhutan's population growth figures, finally reaching the 1.2 million figure. In some publications this total was even listed at 1.5 million.

The 6,00,000 estimate is based on the census of 1998 and is now the accepted figure.

Ethnic Groups

The population can be categorised into three main ethnic groups.

Sharchops

The Sharchops, who live in the east of the country, are recognised as the original inhabitants of Bhutan. They are Indo-Mongoloid; it is still unclear exactly where they migrated from and when they arrived in Bhutan. Their name, Sharchop, is translated 'people of the east'.

Ngalong

The Ngalong are descendants of Tibetan immigrants who arrived in Bhutan from the 9th century. These immigrants settled in the west of the country; Ngalongs dominate the region west of the Black Mountains.

Lhotshampa

The third group is the Nepalis, who began settling in the south of Bhutan in the late 19th century. The Lhotshampa represent numerous Nepal-speaking ethnic groups-primarily Brahman, Chettri, Gurung, Rai and Limbu.

Minority Groups Several smaller groups, many with their own language, from about 1% of the population. Many of these groups comprise fewer than 1000 people. The most important of these groups are the Bumthap in Bumthang, the Mandhep in Trongsa, tne Kheng in the central region of Zhemgang, and the Layap in the northwest. Other smaller groups are the Brokpa in the far eastern villages of Mera and Sakteng, the Doya and Lhopu in the southern district of Samtse, the Dagpa in the east. Tibetans in the central-west and north and the Lepcha in the west.

Health

Once ranked as having one of the world's poorest health standards, Bhutan has made great efforts to improve health facilities and now provides free health care to all its citizens. It has achieved a child immunisation rate of nearly 100%, iodine deficiency has been eliminated and 50% of the population has access to clean water.

Life expectancy has increased from 47.4 years in 1984 to 66 years in 1994. Infant mortality was once the highest in the world. At 142 per thousand births; 1995 had halved it to 70.7 per thousand births.

Health care in Bhutan is provided on a four-tiered network consisting of the National Referral Hospital in Thimphu, two regional referral hospitals and smaller hospitals in the headquarters of each district. Rural health care is provided through a network of Basic Health Units (BHUs) staffed by a health assistant, nurse midwife and a basic health worker. These medial practitioners also serve role similar to 'walking doctors' and provide services to more distant villages through a system of outreach clinics that they visit on a regular schedule.