The inhabitants of Bhutan are warm, simple, hard working and open. They are peace loving and have a lively sense of humor. Bhutan 's people fall into three broad ethnic groups. The Sharchops, believed to have been the earliest inhabitants of the country, live largely in the eastern regions. The Naglops are the descendants of Tibetan immigrants who came to Bhutan from about the 9th century onward, settling primarily in the west.

The third sections of population are the Nepalese, who began to settle in the south towards the end of the last century. Predominantly Buddhist, the Bhutanese practice the Drukpa Kagyupa sect of Mayana Buddhism. Religion has saved the history of nation and continuous to play an important role in the life of the god faring and spiritual people. All over Bhutan evidence of this can be seen in many religious monuments and symbols that have been erected. Practically every Bhutanese home has an altar were daily religious observance are carried out by the family. Monks are held in high respects and play an active part in community life and in the government.

From then on, the Buddhist faith has played a large part in shaping the course of this country's history. Although Bhutan was not unified under a central authority until the 17th century, evidence strongly suggests that it had existed as an independent entity from at least the 7th century on. Its formidable geographic boundaries kept it free of foreign authority and allowed it to develop a strong degree of common identity despite the ethnic and linguistic diversity of its inhabitants. The 17th century witnessed the unification of Bhutan under the charismatic Nawang Namgyal who took the honorary title of Shabdrung. In 1865, the Penlop of Tongsa named Jigme Namgyel became the strong man of Bhutan and bequeathed his son Ugyen Wangchuk that position. And then came a series of rulers under whose guidance Bhutan has grown from strength to strength.