Settlements

Bhutan is one of the least populated countries in South Asia. Most of the population is concentrated in the valleys, while large areas at higher altitudes in the north of the country are virtually empty except for nomadic herders.

Most Bhutanese still live in villages in a extended family system or maintain strong links with their rural families. The average size of the household or family is estimated to be 5.6. The number of houses per village varies from 2 to 100 with an average of 43. Thimpu in Western Bhutan is the capital with an estimated population of 30,000 - 40,000 people. The other main urban settlements are Gelephu, Phuntsholing and Samdrup Jongkhar, all of them in the south. Towns are developing ia all the 20 dzongkhag (districts) headquarters.