People of Bhutan

Bhutan consists of mulch-ethnic and mulch-lingual population of around 700, 000.

Brokpas

The extreme north-east of the country is home to the Brokpas, the semi-nomads of the villages of Merak and Sakteng. Their main occupation is rearing yaks and sheep. Their houses are normally built of stones with small ventilation to protect from the piercing cold weather.

Tsanglas / Sharshops

To the east of the country are the Tsanglas, popularly known as Sharchops, or the easterners, who speak Tsangla. Besides cultivation of maize, rice, wheat, barley, and vegetables, they also rear domestic animals to supplement their living. The women weave clothes mainly of silk and raw silk.

Kurtoeps

Kurteops inhabit the Lhuentse district in the east, and speak kurtoep. The district is known as the land of Kishuthara, due to the expertise of Khoma women who are talented with skills in weaving the kishuthara.

Bumthaps, Mangdeps and Khengpas

These groups of society live in the central districts of Bhutan, viz, Bumthang, Trongsa and Shemgang and they speak Bumthap, Mangdep and Khengkha respectively.

Lhotsampas

Lhotsampas inhabit the sountern region of the country and speak Nepali. Most of them practice Hinduism as their religion.

Ngalops

They occupy the western region of the country and speak Dzongkha, the national language of Bhutan. They cultivate rice, wheat, barley, maize, and etc.

Layaps

To the extreme north-west are the Layaps who speak the layapkha. Like the Brokpas of Merak and Sakteng, they are semi-nomads whose source of livelihood is dependent on yaks and sheep.

Doyaps

These are the other tribal community and are settled mostly in southern Bhutan. They are considered the aboriginal inhabitants of western and central Bhutan, who over the years settled in the present areas in Dorokha. They have a dialect of their own and dress in their own unique style.