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Flag of Bhutan

Asia

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Quick Facts

Capital
Thimphu
Flag adopted
1969
Population
784,043
Area
38,394 km²
Languages
Dzongkha
Currency
Bhutanese ngultrum (Nu.) — BTN, Indian rupee (₹) — INR
Demonym
Bhutanese
Government
constitutional monarchy
Subregion
Southern Asia
Driving side
Left
Timezones
UTC+06:00
Independence
1907

Religions

  • Buddhist 75.3%
  • Indian- and Nepali-influenced Hinduism 22.1%
  • Other 2.6%

About This Flag

The flag of Bhutan is divided diagonally from the lower hoist-side corner to the upper fly-side corner, with a saffron-yellow upper triangle and an orange-red lower triangle. At the center sits a large white dragon (Druk) holding jewels in its claws.

The saffron yellow represents the secular authority of the king, while the orange-red symbolizes the Buddhist spiritual traditions practiced by the country's monasteries. The dragon, called Druk in Dzongkha, is the Thunder Dragon that gives the country its local name — Druk Yul, 'Land of the Thunder Dragon.' The current design was standardized in 1969.

What the colors & design mean

Saffron yellow represents the temporal authority of the monarchy. Orange-red symbolizes the Buddhist religion and the spiritual power of the monasteries. The white dragon represents purity and loyalty, and the jewels in its claws symbolize the wealth and prosperity of the nation.

orange yellow white

Pattern: Diagonal Design

Bordering countries (2)

🇨🇳 China 🇮🇳 India

Fun Facts

  • Bhutan is the only country in the world whose flag prominently features a dragon — the Druk (Thunder Dragon) is central to Bhutanese identity and the country calls itself Druk Yul.
  • Bhutan measures national progress using Gross National Happiness rather than Gross Domestic Product, a policy initiated by the Fourth King in 1972.
  • The country remained virtually isolated from the outside world until the 1960s, and television and the internet were not introduced until 1999.
  • Bhutan is the world's only carbon-negative country, absorbing more carbon dioxide than it produces, with over 70% of its land covered in forest.

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