Page last updated on January 28, 2014
In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing 10-year civil war between rebels and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. Following a nationwide election in April 2008, the newly formed Constituent Assembly (CA) declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and abolished the monarchy at its first meeting the following month. The CA elected the country's first president in July. Between 2008 and 2011 there have been four different coalition governments, led twice by the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, which received a plurality of votes in the Constituent Assembly election, and twice by the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist. In August 2011, Baburam BHATTARAI of the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist became prime minister. After the CA failed to draft a constitution by the May 2012 deadline, BHATTARAI dissolved the CA and called for new elections. Months of negotiations failed to produce a new election date. Finally, in March 2013, the chief justice of Nepal's Supreme Court, Khil Raj REGMI, was sworn in as Chairman of the Interim Council of Ministers for Elections to lead an interim government and charged with holding Constituent Assembly elections by December 2013.
Southern Asia, between China and India
total: 147,181 sq km
country comparison to the world: 94
land: 143,351 sq km
water: 3,830 sq km
slightly larger than Arkansas
total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
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, rugged Himalayas in north
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (highest point in Asia)
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
arable land: 16%
permanent crops: 0.8%
other: 83.2% (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 - on the borders with China and India respectively
noun: Nepali (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepali
Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)
Nepali (official) 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.)
Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
30,430,267 (July 2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 42
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 5,045,989/female 4,859,274)
15-24 years: 22.6% (male 3,444,428/female 3,431,127)
25-54 years: 34.9% (male 5,015,145/female 5,593,248)
55-64 years: 5.5% (male 820,014/female 860,439)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 630,853/female 729,750) (2013 est.)
total dependency ratio: 66.1 %
youth dependency ratio: 57.6 %
elderly dependency ratio: 8.5 %
potential support ratio: 11.7 (2013)
total: 22.4 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 23.2 years (2013 est.)
1.81% (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 66
21.48 births/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79
6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 144
3.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 31
urban population: 17% of total population (2011)
rate of urbanization: 3.62% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
KATHMANDU (capital) 990,000 (2009)
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2013 est.)
20.1
note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011 est.)
170 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
country comparison to the world: 61
total: 41.76 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 53
male: 41.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2013 est.)
total population: 66.86 years
country comparison to the world: 165
male: 65.57 years
female: 68.19 years (2013 est.)
2.36 children born/woman (2013 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
5.4% of GDP (2011)
country comparison to the world: 126
0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2004)
4.7 beds/1,000 population (2009)
0.4% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 72
64,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
4,700 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 39
degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever (2013)
1.4% (2008)
country comparison to the world: 189
29.1% (2011)
country comparison to the world: 18
4.7% of GDP (2010)
country comparison to the world: 86
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.4%
male: 71.1%
female: 46.7% (2011 est.)
total: 9 years
male: 10 years
female: 8 years (2002)
total number: 2,467,549
percentage: 34 % (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
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)
several previous; latest entered into force 15 January 2007 (interim); note -a Constituent Assembly elected in 2008 to draft and promulgate a new constitution was unsuccessful and was dismissed in mid-2012 (2013)
English common law and Hindu legal concepts
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
18 years of age; universal
chief of state: President Ram Baran YADAV (since 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008)
head of government: note: on 14 March 2013, the chief justice of Nepal's Supreme Court, Khil Raj REGMI, was sworn in as Chairman of the Interim Council of Ministers for Elections to lead an interim government and charged with holding Constituent Assembly elections by December 2013
cabinet: cabinet was formed in August-September 2011 by a majority coalition made up of the United Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic, Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Republic, Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Nepal, Terai-Madhes Democratic Party, and several smaller parties
elections: president elected by Parliament; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; president elected on 21 July 2008; date of next election NA
election results: Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008; Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282
unicameral Constituent Assembly (601 seats; 240 members elected by direct popular vote, 335 by proportional representation, and 26 appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers)
elections: last held on 19 November 2013 (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NC 196, CPN-UML 175, CPN-M 80, Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal 24, Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum Nepal 14, National Democratic Party 13, Terai Madhesi Loktantrik Party-Nepal 11, Madhesi People's Right Forum-Nepal 10, Sadbhavana Party 6, other 46
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 are appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the Judicial Council; judges serve until age 65
subordinate courts: appellate and district courts
Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Himalaya Bhakta PRADHANGA]
other: small armed groups along the southern border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for individual ethnic groups
ADB, BIMSTEC, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
chief of mission: Ambassador Shankar Prasad SHARMA (since 18 November 2009)
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general: New York
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE (since 21 September 2012)
embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200
FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272
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
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. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for a little over 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 feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.
$40.03 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
$18.7 billion (2012 est.)
4.9% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 70
$1,500 (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 202
note: data are in 2012 US dollars
household consumption: 76%
government consumption: 10.7%
investment in fixed capital: 20%
investment in inventories: 14.9%
exports of goods and services: 10%
imports of goods and services: -31.8%
agriculture: 38.1%
industry: 15.3%
services: 46.6% (2012 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
3% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 87
18 million
country comparison to the world: 36
note: severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)
agriculture: 75%
industry: 7%
services: 18% (2010 est.)
46% (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.5% (2011)
32.8 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 100
revenues: $3.5 billion
expenditures: $4.7 billion (FY11/12)
18.7% of GDP (FY11/12)
country comparison to the world: 174
-6.4% of GDP (FY11/12)
country comparison to the world: 180
9.5% (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 196
6% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 51
8% (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116
$3.104 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115
$12.12 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 98
$11.88 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
$4.529 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
$283.9 million (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 49
$1.004 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, pashima, jute goods
India 59.1%, US 9.3%, Germany 4.1% (2012)
$5.951 billion (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 121
petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine
India 52.3%, China 33.6% (2012)
$4.339 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 97
$3.956 billion (31 December 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -
3.431 billion kWh (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 128
2.745 billion kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
30 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
694 million kWh (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 71
721,000 kW (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 129
7.9% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 152
92.1% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 10
0% of total installed capacity (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 106
0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 164
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 105
0 bbl (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 171
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 117
18,430 bbl/day (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 132
0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 203
21,960 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 102
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 175
0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 180
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 156
0 cu m (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 108
0 cu m (1 January 2013 es)
country comparison to the world: 178
3.173 million Mt (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
834,000 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 83
18.138 million (2013)
country comparison to the world: 54
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)
41,256 (2012)
country comparison to the world: 100
577,800 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 116
47 (2013)
country comparison to the world: 94
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:
total: 59 km
country comparison to the world: 129
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2008)
total: 10,844 km
country comparison to the world: 132
paved: 4,952 km
unpaved: 5,892 km (2010)
18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for military training; no conscription (2012)
males age 16-49: 6,941,152
females age 16-49: 7,618,397 (2010 est.)
males age 16-49: 5,260,878
females age 16-49: 5,947,512 (2010 est.)
male: 380,172
female: 367,103 (2010 est.)
NA% (2012)
country comparison to the world: 219
joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer 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): 15,0000-20,000 (Tibet/China); about 43,000 (Bhutan) (2012)
IDPs: 50,000 (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) (2012)
stateless persons: 800,000 (2011); 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; lesser 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
