The official and national language of Bhutan is:

Dzongkha is the official and national language of Bhutan.

About Dzongkha:

The name means "the language of the dzong" ("kha" = language). Dzongs are the fortress-monasteries that serve as administrative and religious centres in Bhutan.

It was declared the national language of Bhutan in 1971.

It developed from the language spoken in western Bhutan, which is related to classical Tibetan.

It belongs to the Tibeto-Burman (Sino-Tibetan) language family.

It is written in the Tibetan script, called "Uchen", which ultimately comes from the Brahmi script of ancient India.

The "Dzongkha Development Commission" (1986) promotes and standardises the language.

It is spoken as a first language mainly in western Bhutan, but it is taught in all schools.

English is widely used in education and government; most school subjects are taught in English.

Other languages of Bhutan:

• Bhutan has about 19 languages and dialects.
• Tshangla (Sharchop): spoken in eastern Bhutan.
• Lhotshamkha (Nepali): spoken by the Lhotshampas in southern Bhutan.
• Bumthangkha and Kheng: spoken in central Bhutan.
• Classical Tibetan ("Chokey"): used in Buddhist religious texts.

Languages of the Himalayan region:

• Nepal: Nepali (official).
• Sikkim (India): Nepali is the most widely spoken language; Sikkim has 11 official languages, including Bhutia, Lepcha and Limbu.
• Tibet: Tibetan.
• Ladakh (India): Ladakhi (Bhoti) and Purgi.

Other facts about Bhutan:

• It has never been colonised.
• Television and the internet were introduced only in 1999.
• It is the only country in the world that bans the sale of tobacco (law of 2004, later partly relaxed).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Nepali is the language of Nepal and is spoken by the Lhotshampas in southern Bhutan.
• ✗Tibetan is the language of Tibet; Dzongkha is related to it.
• ✗Sharchop (Tshangla) is spoken in eastern Bhutan but is not the official language.