Bhutan Military - 2022

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Military and security forces

Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and an air wing); National Militia; Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2022)

note: the Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) agency is responsible for internal security; the Army is responsible for external threats but also has responsibility for some internal security functions, including conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Royal Bhutan Army has an estimated 8,000 personnel (2022)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

India has provided most of the Royal Bhutan Army's equipment (2022)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period; in 2021, the Royal Bhutan Army graduated from a year-long training course the first batch of 150 women to be allowed to serve in combat roles; previously, women were allowed to serve in medical and other non-combat roles (2022)

Military - note

India is responsible for military training, arms supplies, and the air defense of Bhutan (2022)

NOTE: The information regarding Bhutan on this page is re-published from the 2022 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Bhutan 2022 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Bhutan 2022 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.