Nepal

Southern Asia, between China and India

28.00° N, 84.00° E

total: 147,181 sq km

land: 143,351 sq km

water: 3,830 sq km

slightly larger than Arkansas

total: 3,159 km

border countries (2): China 1,389 km, India 1,770 km

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south

Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north

mean elevation:

elevation extremes:

lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m

highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level)

quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

agricultural land: 28.8%

arable land 15.1%; permanent crops 1.2%; permanent pasture 12.5%

forest: 25.4%

other: 45.8% (2011 est.)

13,320 sq km (2012)

210.2 cu km (2011)

total: 9.5 cu km/yr (2%/0%/98%)

per capita: 334.7 cu m/yr (2006)

severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest mountains - on the borders with China and India respectively

noun: Nepali (singular and plural)

adjective: Nepali

Chhettri 16.6%, Brahman-Hill 12.2%, Magar 7.1%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.8%, Newar 5%, Kami 4.8%, Muslim 4.4%, Yadav 4%, Rai 2.3%, Gurung 2%, Damai/Dholii 1.8%, Thakuri 1.6%, Limbu 1.5%, Sarki 1.4%, Teli 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.3%, Koiri/Kushwaha 1.2%, other 19%

note: 125 caste/ethnic groups were reported in the 2011 national census (2011 est.)

Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Magar 3%, Bajjika 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, other 10.4%, unspecified 0.2%

note: 123 languages reported as mother tongue in 2011 national census; many in government and business also speak English (2011 est.)

Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other 0.5%, unspecifed 0.2% (2011 est.)

31,551,305 (July 2015 est.)

0-14 years: 30.72% (male 4,937,627/female 4,755,972)

15-24 years: 22.51% (male 3,580,083/female 3,522,047)

25-54 years: 36.5% (male 5,552,621/female 5,964,599)

55-64 years: 5.67% (male 874,350/female 913,683)

65 years and over: 4.6% (male 668,760/female 781,563) (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio: 61.8%

youth dependency ratio: 52.9%

elderly dependency ratio: 9%

potential support ratio: 11.1% (2015 est.)

total: 23.4 years

male: 22.8 years

female: 24 years (2015 est.)

1.79% (2015 est.)

20.64 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

6.56 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

urban population: 18.6% of total population (2015)

rate of urbanization: 3.18% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

KATHMANDU (capital) 1.183 million (2015)

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female

0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female

15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female

25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female

55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female

total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

20.1

note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011 est.)

258 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

total: 39.14 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 39.24 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 39.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)

total population: 67.52 years

male: 66.18 years

female: 68.92 years (2015 est.)

2.24 children born/woman (2015 est.)

49.7% (2011)

6% of GDP (2013)

5 beds/1,000 population (2006)

improved:

urban: 90.9% of population

rural: 91.8% of population

total: 91.6% of population

unimproved:

urban: 9.1% of population

rural: 8.2% of population

total: 8.4% of population (2015 est.)

improved:

urban: 56% of population

rural: 43.5% of population

total: 45.8% of population

unimproved:

urban: 44% of population

rural: 56.5% of population

total: 54.2% of population (2015 est.)

0.2% (2014 est.)

39,200 (2014 est.)

2,600 (2014 est.)

2.9% (2014)

29.1% (2011)

4.7% of GDP (2010)

total: 12 years

male: 12 years

female: 12 years (2011)

total: 3.5%

male: 4.2%

female: 2.9% (2008 est.)

conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

conventional short form: Nepal

local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal

local short form: Nepal

etymology: the Newar people of the Kathmandu valley and surrounding areas apparently gave their name to the country; the terms "Nepal," "Newar," "Nepar," and "Newal" are phonetically different forms of the same word

federal democratic republic

name: Kathmandu

geographic coordinates: 27.43° N, 85.19° E

time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

Republic Day, 28 May (2008), the abdication of Gyanendra SHAH, last Nepalese monarch, and the establishment of a federal republic

several previous; latest adopted 20 September 2015 (2015)

English common law and Hindu legal concepts

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years

18 years of age; universal

chief of state: President Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (since 29 October 2015); Vice President Nanda Bahadar PUN (since 31 October 2015)

head of government: Prime Minister Khadga Prasad OLI (since 12 October 2015)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet dominated by the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Constituency Assembly; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; president elected on 29 October 2015 (next election NA); prime minister indirectly elected by the Constituent Assembly

election results: Bidhya Devi BHANDARI elected president; Constituent Assembly vote count - Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (CPN-UML) 327, Kul Bahadur GURUNG (NC) 214; BHANDARI is Nepal's first woman president

description: unicameral Constituent Assembly or Sambidhan Sabha (601 seats; 240 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 335 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation (PR) vote and 26 appointed by the cabinet (Council of Ministers); note - political parties allocated more than 30 percent of the PR seats are obliged to follow specified quotas for ethnic groups and within them equal percentages of men and women

elections: last held on 19 November 2013 (next to be held NA)

election results: percent of vote by party - NC 26%, CPN-UML 24%, Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) 15%, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal 7%; other 28%; seats by party - NC 196, CPN-UML 175, UCPN(M) 80, Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal 24, other smaller parties 100; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet have not yet been appointed

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and up to 14 judges)

judge selection and term of office: the Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council; other judges appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the Judicial Council; judges serve until age 65

subordinate courts: appellate and district courts

note: Nepal's judiciary was restructured under its 2007 Interim Constitution

note: 122 political parties participated in the 19 November 2013 election and the 30 parties listed below were elected to serve in the Constituent Assembly

Akhanda Nepal Party [Kumar KHADKA]

Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist Leninist or CPN-ML [C.P. MAINALI]

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist or CPN-UML [Jhala Nath KHANAL]

Communist Party of Nepal (United) or CPN (United) [Jaydev JOSHI]

Dalit Janajati Party [Bishwendra PASHWAN]

Federal Socialist Party [Ashok RAI]

Jana Jagaran Party Nepal (Awareness Party Nepal) [Lok Mani DHAKAL]

Khambuwan Rastriya Morcha-Nepal [Ram Kumar RAI]

Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHCHADAR]

Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]

Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Republican

Madhesh Samata Party Nepal [Meghraj SAHANI]

National Madhes Socialist Party [Sharat Singh BHANDARI]

Nepal Rastriya Party [Keshav Man SHAKYA]

Nepal Pariwar Dal [Ek Nath DHAKAL]

Nepal Workers and Peasants Party [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]

Nepali Congress or NC [Sushil KOIRALA]

Nepali Janata Dal [Hari Charan SHAH]

Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]

Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]

Rastriya Prajatantra Party

Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal [Kamal THAPA]

Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]

Samajbadi Prajatanytrik Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]

Sanghiya Sadbhavana Party [Anil Kumar JHA]

Sanghiye Loktantrik Rastriya Manch [Rukmini CHAUDHARY]

Terai Madhesh Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]

Terai-Madhesh Sadbhavana Party-Nepal [Mahendra YADAV]

Tharuhat Terai Party Nepal [Bhanuram CHAUDARY]

Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) or UCPN(M) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as Comrade PRACHANDA]

other: various groups advocating regional autonomy such as the Federal State Limbuwan Council in far eastern Nepal

ADB, BIMSTEC, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies

note: Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular or square

rhododendron blossom; national color: red

name: "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)

lyrics/music: Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG

note: adopted 2007; after the abolition of the monarchy in 2006, a new anthem was required because of the previous anthem's praise for the king

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Nepal is heavily dependent on remittances, which amount to as much as 29% of GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for almost 70% of the population and accounting for about one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain.

Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of commercially feasible capacity. Nepal and India signed trade and investment agreements in 2014 that increase Nepal’s hydropower potential, but political uncertainty and a difficult business climate have hampered foreign investment.

Nepal was hit by massive earthquakes in early 2015, which damaged or destroyed infrastructure and homes and set back economic development. Political gridlock in the past several years and recent public protests, predominantly in the southern Tarai region, have hindered post-earthquake recovery and prevented much-needed economic reform. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, persistent power shortages, and underdeveloped transportation infrastructure.

$70.08 billion (2015 est.)

$67.8 billion (2014 est.)

$64.33 billion (2013 est.)

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

$21.36 billion (2015 est.)

3.4% (2015 est.)

5.4% (2014 est.)

4.1% (2013 est.)

$2,500 (2015 est.)

$2,400 (2014 est.)

$2,300 (2013 est.)

note: data are in 2015 US dollars

33.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

33.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

33.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

household consumption: 77.2%

government consumption: 12.4%

investment in fixed capital: 24.4%

investment in inventories: 12.3%

exports of goods and services: 9.9%

imports of goods and services: -36.2%

(2015 est.)

agriculture: 31.7%

industry: 15.1%

services: 53.2% (2015 est.)

pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production

2.6% (2015 est.)

15.2 million

note: severe lack of skilled labor (2012 est.)

agriculture: 69%

industry: 12%

services: 19% (2010 est.)

46% (2008 est.)

42% (2004 est.)

25.2% (2011 est.)

lowest 10%: 3.2%

highest 10%: 29.5% (2011)

32.8 (2010)

47.2 (2008 est.)

revenues: $4.257 billion

expenditures: $4.203 billion (2015 est.)

19.9% of GDP (2015 est.)

0.2% of GDP (2015 est.)

30% of GDP (FY 2012/13 est.)

32% of GDP (2013 est.) (FY11/12)

16 July - 15 July

7.2% (2015 est.)

8.4% (2014 est.)

8% (31 October 2014)

8% (31 December 2013)

9.8% (31 December 2015 est.)

10.6% (31 December 2014 est.)

$4.002 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$3.567 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$17.83 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$16.36 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$14.33 billion (31 December 2015 est.)

$13.97 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$11.81 billion (31 October 2014 est.)

$9.574 billion (31 October 2013)

$5.235 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$1.067 billion (2015 est.)

$908 million (2014 est.)

$924.2 million (2015 est.)

$1.078 billion (2014 est.)

clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, jute goods

India 59.7%, US 8.6%, China 4.6% (2014)

$8.56 billion (2015 est.)

$7.72 billion (2014 est.)

petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine

India 57%, China 29.6% (2014)

$71.83 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$6.191 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$3.727 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.833 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$103 million (31 July 2013 est.)

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -

102.4 (2015 est.)

97.6 (2014 est.)

99.53 (2013 est.)

85.2 (2012 est.)

74.02 (2011 est.)

3.516 billion kWh (2012 est.)

3.239 billion kWh (2012 est.)

4 million kWh (2012 est.)

793 million kWh (2012 est.)

763,000 kW (2012 est.)

7.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

92.5% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

20,000 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2012 est.)

19,990 bbl/day (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (2013 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

3.638 million Mt (2012 est.)

total subscriptions: 840,000

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.)

total: 23.2 million

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 75 (2014 est.)

general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network

domestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership base is increasing with roughly 90% of the population living in areas covered by mobile carriers

international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave and fiber landlines to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)

state operates 2 TV stations, as well as national and regional radio stations; roughly 30 independent TV channels are registered with only about half in regular operation; nearly 400 FM radio stations are licensed with roughly 300 operational (2007)

AM 6, FM 80, shortwave 4 (2008)

9 (plus 9 repeaters) (2008)

.np

41,256 (2012)

total: 3.8 million

percent of population: 12.1% (2014 est.)

47 (2013)

total: 11

over 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 1 (2013)

total: 36

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

914 to 1,523 m: 6

under 914 m: 29 (2013)

total: 53 km

narrow gauge: 53 km 0.762-m gauge (2014)

total: 10,844 km

paved: 4,952 km

unpaved: 5,892 km (2010)

Nepal Army (2012)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2014)

NA% (2012)

1.41% of GDP (2011)

NA% (2010)

joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities

refugees (country of origin): 15,000 (Tibet/China) (2014); fewer than 18,000 (Bhutan) (2015)

IDPs: 40,700 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; figure does not include people displaced since 2007 by inter-communal violence and insecurity in the Terai region; 2015 earthquakes) (2015)

stateless persons: undetermined (2013); note - in 2007-2008 the government distributed 2.6 million citizenship certificates to the 3.4 million people without one; the remaining 800,000 without citizenship certificates are not necessarily stateless, and the UNHCR is working with the Nepali Government to clarify their situation; smaller numbers of Bhutanese Hindu refugees of Nepali origin (the Lhotsampa) who were stripped of Bhutanese nationality and forced to flee their country in the late 1980s and early 1990s - and undocumented Tibetan refugees who arrived in Nepal prior to the 1990s - are considered stateless

illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West