Bhutan is partly secular, but Buddhism has special status

What Bhutan's constitution actually does

Bhutan’s constitution does two things at once. First, it protects individual religious freedom and separates religion from politics. Second, it gives Buddhism a privileged cultural and constitutional role, including responsibility for the country’s spiritual heritage. That makes Bhutan different from a fully neutral, no-preference secular state, but it is not a theocracy or a country that formally declares Buddhism the state religion. ¹⁵⁶

The clearest reading is that Bhutan is secular in government structure, not secular in the sense of complete religious neutrality. The constitution’s wording focuses on keeping religion out of politics, while still recognizing Buddhist institutions and Buddhist values in public life. That is why government explainers and legal commentators often describe Bhutan as a hybrid model rather than a simple yes-or-no case. ¹⁵⁶

Why people disagree about the word “secular”

People who answer “yes” usually mean the state does not have an established religion in the strict constitutional sense, and the constitution explicitly separates religion from politics. People who answer “no” point to Buddhism’s special status, the Buddhist requirement for the King, the state’s support for monastic institutions, and limits on clergy political activity. Both readings have support; the disagreement is mostly about what “secular” should mean here. ¹²⁴⁶