Download Bhutan

the world’s happiest countries.
HDI Rank 132 /182. Public debt 65% of
GDP. Income/person $2,114 (4% of USA).
China
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Nepal
India
Thimpu
Bhutan
March 10
Bangladesh
India
Bhutan
Kingdom of Bhutan –
Druk Yul
Asia
Area 47,000 sq km. A small kingdom in the
eastern Himalaya Mountains.
Population
Ann Gr
Density
2010
708,484
1.74%
15/sq km
2020
819,781
1.27%
17/sq km
2030
902,168
0.85%
19/sq km
The above are government figures. Other sources claim
much higher numbers.
Capital Thimpu 93,000. Urbanites 36.8%. Pop
under 15 yrs 31%. Life expectancy 65.7 yrs.
There are significant differences over the size of
the population of ethnic Nepalis, many of whom
were driven out of Bhutan from 1989 onward.
Tibetan/Himalayan 72.5%.
Bhutanese 50.0%.Tshangla/Sharchop 17.8%; Dzongkha
14.0%; Kheng 7.4%; Matpa 3.7%; Bumthangpa 2.0%;
Kurteop 1.9%; Nyenpa 1.9%.
South Himalayan 15.7%. Lepcha 10.6%; Gurung
4.4%.
Tibetan 6.5%. Dzala 2.8%; Lakha 1.4%; Tseku 1.0%.
South Asian 27.5%. Pahari Nepali 17.7%; Assamese
3.8%; Walang 3.0%; Santali 2.4%.
Literacy 47%. Official language Dzongkha.
Nepali is also widely used. All languages 35.
Indigenous languages 25. Languages with
Scriptures 4Bi 2NT 6por.
Autocratic and benign Buddhist monarchy with
a docile parliament; a slow democratization is
taking place. India plays a major role in its
external affairs.The government fiercely protects
its own sovereignty. Large-scale Nepali
immigration over the past century and agitation
for more democracy have provoked severe
measures against non-Bhutanese peoples since
1985, culminating in what effectively amounted
to ethnic cleansing of Nepalis.
The state religion is Vajrayana Buddhism –
Lamaistic Buddhism influenced by Bon
(pre-Buddhist animism). Other religions are
barely tolerated foreign intrusions. Proselytism
and incitement to convert are illegal. Church
buildings are not allowed, and Christians are not
privy to many of the state benefits available to
Buddhists, such as free education.
Religions
Buddhist
Hindu
Christian
Muslim
Ethnoreligionist
Pop %
74.56
22.43
2.11
0.50
0.40
Population
528,246
158,913
14,949
3,542
2,834
Christians Denoms Pop % Affiliates
Protestant
6
0.67
5,000
Independent
9
1.24
9,000
Catholic
1
0.20
1,000
Ann Gr
2.0%
3.8%
7.0%
Churches
MegaBloc Congs Members Affiliates
Indigenous house chs
I
26
2,597
4,000
Believers Church
P
25
2,250
3,000
Indian Evang Team
I
13
1,000
2,000
Catholic Church
C
1
1,053
1,400
Other denominations[12]
79
2,491
4,490
Total Christians[16]
144
9,391 14,890
TransBloc
Evangelicals
Evangelicals
Renewalists
Charismatics
Pentecostals
Pop %
Population
Ann Gr
1.8
12,983
3.1%
1.1
0.1
7,836
440
2.8%
3.1%
Undeveloped subsistence economy. Rising
unemployment from lack of economic
development. Infrastructure development is
very difficult due to isolation and topography.
Tourist numbers are strictly controlled. Around
23% live in poverty, but Bhutan is rated one of
Bhutan
Ann Gr
1.8%
1.5%
3.6%
1.7%
-0.6%
Operation World
Copyright © 2010 Jason Mandryk and GMI. All Rights Reserved. Printing or redistribution not
permitted except subject to DVD or Download license; see www.operationworld.org/eula
Challenges for Prayer
Bhutan is one of the world’s least evangelized nations. The continued isolationist policies
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of the government combined with the highly significant role of the Buddhist monarchy further
reinforce the hold of tantric Vajrayana Buddhism, complete with the strong occultic/demonic
influence of pre-Buddhist Bon animism. Pray for true spiritual liberation for this land of the Dragon
(Druk Yul). Pray for King Wangchuk and his salvation.
The Tibetan/Himalayan peoples comprise the majority population, with the Bhutanese
w
people cluster numbering 50% of the population. They are strongly Buddhist, and Christians
among them number only a few hundred. These scattered believers are limited to small fellowships at
best; most have faced varying degrees of persecution or social ostracism. Among the five largest peoples
(Dzongkha, Tshangla, Lepcha, Kheng, Gurung), only the Lepcha have any significant Christian
population. Pray for the emergence of a vital witnessing fellowship in every ethnic group of the
Bhutanese.
The Nepali population has suffered what amounts to ethnic cleansing since 1990. The
e
Buddhist Bhutanese majority has suppressed Nepali culture and language and even allowed
violence against people and property in the course of expelling up to 150,000 Nepali Bhutanese.
The vast majority of these huddle in meagre UN refugee camps in southeast Nepal, though some
emigrate to Western nations. In these camps, several dozen informal Christian fellowships have
formed among those who have found faith, and the number of believers is growing. Pray that the
compassion of Jesus might be demonstrated to these displaced people.
Bhutan was effectively closed to all Christian witness until 1965. This was followed by
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25 years of slight relaxation, during which Indian and other expatriate NGOs were able to
witness. Since 1990, restrictions have increased. The spread of Christian witness and the potentially
“destabilizing” effects on society of proselytism and Western-style democracy are the pretexts for
harsh treatment of Christians. Pray for the growth of the Church in this land.
Christians are denied religious freedom and are persecuted in various ways. Church
t
buildings are forbidden in all but a very few cases; most fellowships must meet in homes.
Bhutanese who become Christian face the loss of their citizenship, of other benefits – such as free
education, health care, employment – and of access to electricity and water. In some instances,
harassment and beatings occur. Despite these, groups of believers are forming and increasingly
spreading across the breadth of the country.
y Foreign Christians have made an impact in two ways:
a)Mission agencies were allowed to be involved in health, agriculture and education programmes,
but these are increasingly winding down to nothing. A few small aid projects continue. Visas are
difficult to obtain. Pray that God will once again open doors for Christian ministries to sensitively
bring the love of Christ into Bhutan. GFA has a Bible college in the capital city of Thimpu.
b)Border ministries. Indian believers in particular, but also Nepalis and others, are active in
evangelism and literature distribution among Bhutanese. Many Christians in Bhutan have come to
the Lord by these means. Pray that Bhutanese as well as Bhutanese students in India and around
the world may hear the gospel and respond positively.
ministries are particularly helpful when witness within the country must be done
u Media
cautiously. Pray for:
a)Scripture translation and distribution. The NT has been translated in Dzongha, the national
language. The majority of indigenous languages have no Scriptures whatsoever. Pray for the
effective spread of Christian materials in the country and at the borders (GFA, EHC).
b)Audio materials. GRN has produced Scripture or Christian recordings in 10 languages.
c) Other media. Shortwave radio is available in some languages of Bhutan. GFA locally broadcasts a
programme in the indigenous Dzongkha language. The JESUS film is used in and around Bhutan
in five languages.
Bhutan
March 10
Copyright © 2010 Jason Mandryk and GMI. All Rights Reserved. Printing or redistribution not
permitted except subject to DVD or Download license; see www.operationworld.org/eula