2010 Edition

Background

In 1951, the Nepalese 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 ten-year civil war between insurgents 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 nation-wide election in April 2008, the newly formed Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and abolished the monarchy at its first meeting the following month. The Constituent Assembly elected the country's first president in July. The Maoists, who received a plurality of votes in the Constituent Assembly election, formed a coalition government in August 2008, but resigned in May 2009 after the president overruled a decision to fire the chief of the army staff. The Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist and the Nepali Congress party then formed a new coalition government with several smaller parties. In June 2010, the prime minister resigned but, as of December 2010, continued to lead a caretaker government while the parties debate who should lead the next government. Disagreements among the political parties over issues such as the future of former Maoist combatants has hindered the drafting of a new constitution -- due in May 2011 -- and the formal conclusion of the peace process.

Area

land

143,351 sq km

total

147,181 sq km

water

3,830 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly larger than Arkansas

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation extremes

highest point

Mount Everest 8,850 m

lowest point

Kanchan Kalan 70 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

per capita

375 cu m/yr (2000)

total

10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)

Geographic coordinates

28 00 N, 84 00 E

Geography - note

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

Irrigated land

11,700 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries

China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

total

2,926 km

Land use

arable land

16.07%

other

83.08% (2005)

permanent crops

0.85%

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards

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

Natural resources

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

Terrain

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

Total renewable water resources

210.2 cu km (1999)

Age structure

0-14 years: 36.6% (male 5,327,484/female 5,127,178) 15-64 years: 59.2% (male 8,094,494/female 8,812,675) 65 years and over: 4.2% (male 566,666/female 634,880) (2010 est.)

Birth rate

22.43 births/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Death rate

6.89 deaths/1,000 population (July 2010 est.)

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2008)

Ethnic groups

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)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.5% (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

5,000 (2007 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

70,000 (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate

female

46.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2010 est.)

male

45.97 deaths/1,000 live births

total

46 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

67.05 years (2010 est.)

male

64.62 years

total population

65.81 years

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write

female

34.9% (2001 census)

male

62.7%

total population

48.6%

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk

high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever

vectorborne disease

Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever (2009)

Median age

female

22.1 years (2010 est.)

male

20.2 years

total

21.2 years

Nationality

adjective

Nepalese

noun

Nepalese (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

-1.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2010 est.)

Population

28,951,852 (July 2010 est.)

Population growth rate

1.419% (2010 est.)

Religions

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

8 years (2003)

male

10 years

total

9 years

Sex ratio

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female

total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2010 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.53 children born/woman (2010 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

4.9% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)

urban population

17% of total population (2008)

Administrative divisions

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

Capital

geographic coordinates

27 43 N, 85 19 E

name

Kathmandu

time difference

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

Constitution

15 January 2007 (interim Constitution); note - in April 2008, a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft and promulgate a new constitution by May 2010, but the deadline has been extended to May 2011

Country name

conventional long form

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

conventional short form

Nepal

local long form

Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal

local short form

Nepal

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

Ambassador Scott H. DELISI

embassy

Maharajgunj, Kathmandu

FAX

[977] (1) 400-7272

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[977] (1) 400-7200

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Shankar Prasad SHARMA

consulate(s) general

New York

FAX

[1] (202) 667-5534

telephone

[1] (202) 667-4550

Executive branch

cabinet

cabinet was formed in May 2009 by a majority coalition made up of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, Nepali Congress, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Nepal-Democratic, and several smaller parties (For more information visit the World Leaders website )

chief of state

President Ram Baran YADAV (since 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008)

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

elections

president elected by Parliament; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; election last held on 21 July 2008; date of next election NA

head of government

vacant; Prime Minister Madhav Kumar NEPAL resigned on 30 June 2010 but leads a caretaker government

Flag description

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

Government type

federal democratic republic

Independence

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

International organization participation

ADB, BIMSTEC, 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, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch

Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (the president appoints the chief justice on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the chief justice appoints other judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)

Legal system

based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch

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))

election results

percent of vote by party - CPN-M 38%, NC 19%, CPN-UML 19%,Madhesi People's Right Forum 9%, Terai Madhes Democratic Party and Sadbhawana Party 5%, other 15%; seats by party - CPN-M 220, NC 110, CPN-UML 103, Madhesi People's Rights Forum 52, Terai Madhes Democratic Party 20, Sadbhawana Party 9, other smaller parties 56; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet and are included in the seat totals above

elections

last held on 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA)

National anthem

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

name

"Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)

National holiday

Republic Day, 29 May; Democracy Day, 24 April

Political parties and leaders

Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Keshav Prasad MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (inactive); Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist Leninist or CPN-ML [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified [Raj Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal-United [Chandra Dev JOSHI]; Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist or CPN-UML [Jhalanath KHANAL]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN]; Federal Democratic National Forum; Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHHADAR]; Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]; Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [Upendra GACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar Dal [Eknath DHAKAL]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party-Anandi Devi [Sarita GIRI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress or NC [Sushil KOIRALA]; Nepali Janata Dal [Harish Chandra SHA]; Newa Rastriya Party [Keshav Man SHAKYA]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]; Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party [Pashupati Shumsher RANA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA]; Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]; Terai Madhes Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]; Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA]

Political pressure groups and leaders

other

several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for individual ethnic groups

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Central bank discount rate

6.5% (31 December 2010) 6.5% (31 December 2009)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8% (31 December 2009 est.) 8% (31 December 2008 est.)

Current account balance

-$449 million (2010) $537 million (2009)

Debt - external

$4.5 billion (2009) $3.285 billion (2008)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

47.2 (2008) 36.7 (1996)

Economy - overview

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with almost 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 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 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.

Electricity - consumption

2.243 billion kWh (2007 est.)

Electricity - exports

0 kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity - imports

213 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production

2.6 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 72.56 (2010), 77.44 (2009), 65.21 (2008), 70.35 (2007), 72.446 (2006)

Exports

$849 million (2009) $907 million (2008)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

India 65.6%, US 8%, Bangladesh 6.04%, Germany 5% (2009)

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

33%

industry

15%

services

52% (FY09 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$1,200 (2010 est.) $1,200 (2009 est.) $1,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

3.5% (2010 est.) 4.7% (2009 est.) 5.3% (2008 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$15.11 billion (2010 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$35.31 billion (2010 est.) $34.11 billion (2009 est.) $32.58 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 6% highest 10%: 40.6% (2008)

Imports

$5.26 billion (2009) $4.1 billion (2008)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

India 57%, China 13% (2009)

Industrial production growth rate

1.8% (FY08)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.6% (September 2010) 13.2% (2009 est.)

Labor force

18 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

75%

industry

7%

services

18% (2004 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$5.2 billion (31 December 2010) $5.485 billion (31 December 2009) $4.894 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2009 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)

Oil - consumption

18,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - imports

16,920 bbl/day (2007 est.)

Oil - production

0 bbl/day (2009 est.)

Oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

24.7% (2008)

Stock of broad money

$10.01 billion (July 2010) $10.67 billion (July 2009)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$NA

Stock of domestic credit

$9 billion (July 2010) $7.7 billion (July 2009)

Stock of narrow money

$3.03 billion (July 2010) $2.72 billion (July 2009)

Unemployment rate

46% (2008 est.) 42% (2004 est.)

Broadcast media

state operates 2 television stations as well as national and regional radio stations; more than 60 independent radio stations and a small number of independent television stations (2007)

Internet country code

.np

Internet hosts

43,928 (2010)

Internet users

577,800 (2009)

Telephone system

domestic

combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone service subscribership base only about 30 per 100 persons

general assessment

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

international

country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)

Telephones - main lines in use

820,500 (2009)

Telephones - mobile cellular

7.618 million (2009)

Airports

47 (2010)

Airports - with paved runways

total

11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 31 (2010)

Railways

narrow gauge

59 km 0.762-m gauge (2008)

total

59 km

Roadways

paved

10,142 km

total

17,282 km

unpaved

7,140 km (2007)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 6,699,614 females age 16-49: 7,388,240 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 5,053,600 females age 16-49: 5,730,116 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

361,848 (2010 est.)

male

374,882

Military branches

Nepal Army (2010)

Military expenditures

1.6% of GDP (2006)

Military service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for military training; no conscription (2010)

Disputes - international

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; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal since 1990

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West page last updated on January 20, 2011 ======================================================================

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country) (2007)

refugees (country of origin)

107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153 (Tibet/China)