Capital of Bhutan: Thimphu — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Bhutan is Thimphu. Bhutan sits in Asia, has a population of 782,455, and uses the BTN. Official languages include Dzongkha.
Quick facts
- Capital: Thimphu
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~782,455
- Area: 38,394 km²
- Population density: 20.4 people per km²
- Official language: Dzongkha
- Currency: BTN
- ISO code: BT
How big is Bhutan?
By population, Bhutan ranks 163rd in the world, holding roughly well under a hundredth of a percent of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 133rd.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Bhutan has 20.4 people per square kilometre, which is about 2.9 times below the world average of 59.4. It is more spacious than its population alone would suggest.
Within Asia, Bhutan is the 46th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Bhutan in population are Guyana (808,726) and Comoros (836,774).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Taiwan (36,193 km²) and Guinea-Bissau (36,125 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Dzongkha is listed as an official language of Bhutan alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
Bhutan uses the BTN, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Bhutan
Bhutan's own name for itself, Druk Yul, means 'Land of the Thunder Dragon', which is why a dragon fills the flag. Thimphu, the capital and largest city, is in the west-central part of the country.
The flag of Bhutan: yellow, orange, white and black
🇧🇹 The flag is a flag divided diagonally from the bottom left to the top right, yellow above and orange below, with a white dragon along the dividing line. The dragon is the Druk, or Thunder Dragon, the national emblem. Yellow stands for the ruling royal family and orange for Buddhism. White stands for purity, and the jewels in the dragon's claws for wealth.
Region and neighbours
Bhutan is a small landlocked kingdom in South Asia, in the Eastern Himalayas, between China to the north and India to the south. It shares land borders with 2 countries: China and India. Bhutan is landlocked, with no coast on the open ocean.
Three facts about Bhutan
- Gangkhar Puensum, Bhutan's highest peak, is the highest mountain in the world that nobody has climbed.
- The idea of 'Gross National Happiness' was created by Bhutan's fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who in 1972 declared it more important than Gross Domestic Product.
- The Paro Taktsang monastery, also called the Tiger's Nest, is built on a cliffside high above the Paro valley.
Sources: Wikipedia: Bhutan, Wikipedia: Flag of Bhutan, Wikipedia: Thimphu, Wikipedia: Gangkhar Puensum, Wikipedia: Gross National Happiness, Wikipedia: Tiger's Nest, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Bhutan
- Asian capitals quiz — match Bhutan to Thimphu
- Asian flags quiz — spot the Bhutan flag among its neighbours
- Landlocked countries quiz — Bhutan has no sea coast
Bhutan capital quiz
What is the capital of Bhutan 🇧🇹?
- Sana'a
- Thimphu
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Thimphu
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- Pyongyang
- Vientiane
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What is the capital of Timor-Leste 🇹🇱?
- Vientiane
- New Delhi
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Dili
What is the capital of Brunei 🇧🇳?
- Kathmandu
- Bandar Seri Begawan
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Bandar Seri Begawan
What is the capital of Bahrain 🇧🇭?
- Tokyo
- Manama
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Manama
Bhutan in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Bhutan belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Bhutan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Bhutan?
The capital of Bhutan is Thimphu.
What is the population of Bhutan?
About 782,455, making it the 163rd most populous country in the world.
How big is Bhutan?
38,394 square kilometres, ranking 133rd by land area, at a density of 20.4 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Bhutan use?
The BTN, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Bhutan flag?
The flag of Bhutan is a flag divided diagonally from the bottom left to the top right, yellow above and orange below, with a white dragon along the dividing line. The dragon is the Druk, or Thunder Dragon, the national emblem. Yellow stands for the ruling royal family and orange for Buddhism. White stands for purity, and the jewels in the dragon's claws for wealth.
Which countries border Bhutan?
Bhutan shares land borders with China and India.
How can I remember the capital of Bhutan?
Bhutan's own name for itself, Druk Yul, means 'Land of the Thunder Dragon', which is why a dragon fills the flag. Thimphu, the capital and largest city, is in the west-central part of the country.
More capitals to learn
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