2015 Edition

Background

In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoists broke out in 1996. The ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and the re-assumption of absolute power by the king in 2002. 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 late 2006 peace accord and the 2007 promulgation of an interim constitution. Following a nationwide Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008, the newly formed CA declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, abolished the monarchy, and elected the country's first president. After the CA failed to draft a constitution by a May 2012 deadline set by the Supreme Court, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. Months of negotiations ensued until March 2013 when the major political parties agreed to create an interim government headed by then-Chief Justice Khil Raj REGMI with a mandate to hold elections for a new CA. Elections were held in November 2013, in which the Nepali Congress won the largest share of seats in the CA and in February 2014 formed a coalition government with the second place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist and with Nepali Congress President Sushil KOIRALA as prime minister. The new government failed to meet its January 2015 deadline for a new constitution primarily due to continuing disagreement over federal restructuring.

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 (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level)

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

334.7 cu m/yr (2006)

total

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

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 mountains - on the borders with China and India respectively

Irrigated land

11,680 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries

border countries (2)

China 1,389 km, India 1,770 km

total

3,159 km

Land use

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

agricultural land

28.8%

forest

25.4%

other

45.8% (2011 est.)

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 with rugged Himalayas in north

Total renewable water resources

210.2 cu km (2011)

Age structure

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.)

Birth rate

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

Child labor - children ages 5-14

percentage

34% (2008 est.)

total number

2,467,549

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

29.1% (2011)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

49.7% (2011)

Death rate

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

Dependency ratios

elderly dependency ratio

9%

potential support ratio

11.1% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

61.8%

youth dependency ratio

52.9%

Drinking water source

urban: 90.9% of population

rural: 91.8% of population

total: 91.6% of population

urban: 9.1% of population

rural: 8.2% of population

total: 8.4% of population (2015 est.)

Education expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2010)

Ethnic groups

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.)

Health expenditures

6% of GDP (2013)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

2,600 (2014 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

38,800 (2013 est.)

Hospital bed density

5 beds/1,000 population (2006)

Infant mortality rate

female

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

male

39.24 deaths/1,000 live births

total

39.14 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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.)

Life expectancy at birth

female

68.92 years (2015 est.)

male

66.18 years

total population

67.52 years

Literacy

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

53.1% (2015 est.)

male

76.4%

total population

63.9%

Major infectious diseases

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)

Major urban areas - population

KATHMANDU (capital) 1.183 million (2015)

Median age

female

24 years (2015 est.)

male

22.8 years

total

23.4 years

Nationality

adjective

Nepali

noun

Nepali (singular and plural)

Net migration rate

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

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

2.9% (2014)

Population

31,551,305 (July 2015 est.)

Population growth rate

1.79% (2015 est.)

Religions

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

Sanitation facility access

urban: 56% of population

rural: 43.5% of population

total: 45.8% of population

urban: 44% of population

rural: 56.5% of population

total: 54.2% of population (2015 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

female

12 years (2011)

male

12 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

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

at birth

1.04 male(s)/female

total population

0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.24 children born/woman (2015 est.)

Urbanization

rate of urbanization

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

urban population

18.6% of total population (2015)

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

several previous; latest approved by the Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, entered into force 20 September 2015 (2015)

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 Peter W. BODDE (since 10 September 2012)

embassy

Maharajgunj, Kathmandu

FAX

[977] (1) 400-7272

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[977] (1) 423-4000

Diplomatic representation in the US

chancery

2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008

chief of mission

Ambassador Arjun Kumar KARKI (since 18 May 2015)

consulate(s) general

Cleveland (OH), New York

FAX

[1] (202) 667-5534

telephone

[1] (202) 667-4550

Executive branch

cabinet

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

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; Constituent Assembly vote count in second round - Ram Baran YADAV (Nepali Congress) 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH (UCPN(M)) 282

elections/appointments

president indirectly elected by the Constituency Assembly; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; president elected on 21 July 2008 (next election NA); prime minister indirectly elected by the Constituent Assembly

head of government

Prime Minister Sushil KOIRALA (since 11 February 2014)

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 law organization participation

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

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

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

note

Nepal's judiciary was restructured under its 2007 Interim Constitution

subordinate courts

appellate and district courts

Legal system

English common law and Hindu legal concepts

Legislative branch

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

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

elections

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

National anthem

lyrics/music

Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG

name

"Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)

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

National holiday

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

National symbol(s)

rhododendron blossom; national color: red

Political parties and leaders

Akhanda Nepal Party [Kumar KHADKA]

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

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist or UML [Jhalanath KHANAL]

Communist Party of Nepal (United) [Chandra Dev JOSHI]

Dalit Janajati Party [Bishwendra PASHWAN]

Federal Socialist Party [Ashok RAI]

Jana Jagaran 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 [Raj Kishore YADAV]

Madhes Samata Party Nepal [Meghraj SAHANI]

National Madhes Socialist Party [Sharat Singh BHANDARI]

Nepal Pariwar Dal [Ek Nath DHAKAL]

Nepal Workers and Peasants Party [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]

Nepali Congress [Sushil KOIRALA]

Nepali Janata Dal [Hari Charan SAH]

Nepa Rastriya Party [Keshav Man SHAKYA]

Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]

Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]

Rastriya Prajatantra Party [Surya Bahadur THAPA]

Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal [Kamal THAPA]

Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]

Samajbadi Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]

Sanghiya Sadbhavana Party [Anil JHA]

Sanghiye Lokatantrik Rastriya Manch [Rukmini CHAUDARY]

Terai Madhes Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]

Terai Madhes 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 PRACHANDA]

note

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

Political pressure groups and leaders

other

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

expenditures

$3.834 billion (2014 est.)

revenues

$4.085 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

Central bank discount rate

8% (31 October 2014)

8% (31 December 2013)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.9% (31 December 2014 est.)

12.4% (31 December 2013 est.)

Current account balance

$908 million (2014 est.)

$805.7 million (2013 est.)

Debt - external

$3.549 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.648 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.8 (2010)

47.2 (2008 est.)

Economy - overview

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 22%-25% of GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for more than 70% 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 commercially feasible capacity, but political uncertainty and a difficult business climate have hampered foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, persistent power shortages, underdeveloped transportation infrastructure, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The lack of political consensus in the past several years has delayed national budgets and prevented much-needed economic reform, although the government passed a full budget in 2013 and 2014. Nepal and India signed trade and investment agreements in 2014 that will increase Nepal’s hydropower potential.

Exchange rates

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -

97.4 (2014 est.)

93 (2013 est.)

85.2 (2012 est.)

74.02 (2011 est.)

73.16 (2010 est.)

Exports

$1.124 billion (2014 est.)

$991.5 million (2013 est.)

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

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

Fiscal year

16 July - 15 July

GDP - composition, by end use

(2014 est.)

exports of goods and services

13.9%

government consumption

11.2%

household consumption

78.1%

imports of goods and services

-40.3%

investment in fixed capital

23.1%

investment in inventories

13.9%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture

30.7%

industry

13.6%

services

55.7% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,400 (2014 est.)

$2,300 (2013 est.)

$2,200 (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

5.5% (2014 est.)

3.9% (2013 est.)

4.8% (2012 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$19.64 billion (2014 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$66.78 billion (2014 est.)

$63.31 billion (2013 est.)

$60.96 billion (2012 est.)

note

data are in 2014 US dollars

Gross national saving

33.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

33.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

34.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

highest 10%

29.5% (2011)

lowest 10%

3.2%

Imports

$7.282 billion (2014 est.)

$6.502 billion (2013 est.)

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

India 57%, China 29.6% (2014)

Industrial production growth rate

2.7% (2014 est.)

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

8.4% (2014 est.)

10.2% (2013 est.)

Labor force

14.76 million

note

severe lack of skilled labor (2012 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture

75%

industry

7%

services

18% (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$9.671 billion (31 October 2014 est.)

$5.812 billion (31 October 2013 est.)

$5.235 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Population below poverty line

25.2% (2011 est.)

Public debt

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

32% of GDP (FY 2011/12 est.) (FY11/12)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$5.439 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$4.434 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

Stock of broad money

$14.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.55 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$103 million (31 July 2013 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$13.35 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$11.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$3.808 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.356 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

Unemployment rate

46% (2008 est.)

42% (2004 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

3.638 million Mt (2012 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - imports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

Electricity - consumption

2.832 billion kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - exports

31 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

7.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

92.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - from other renewable sources

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

Electricity - imports

721 million kWh (2011 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

746,000 kW (2011 est.)

Electricity - production

3.431 billion kWh (2012 est.)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2012 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

19,260 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

21,960 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

Broadcast media

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)

Internet country code

.np

Internet users

percent of population

12.1% (2014 est.)

total

3.8 million

Radio broadcast stations

AM 6, FM 80, shortwave 4 (2008)

Telephone system

domestic

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

general assessment

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

international

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

Telephones - fixed lines

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

3 (2014 est.)

total subscriptions

840,000

Telephones - mobile cellular

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

75 (2014 est.)

total

23.2 million

Television broadcast stations

9 (plus 9 repeaters) (2008)

Airports

47 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

1,524 to 2,437 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

6

over 3,047 m

1

total

11

under 914 m

1 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

29 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

1

914 to 1,523 m

6

total

36

Railways

narrow gauge

53 km 0.762-m gauge (2014)

total

53 km

Roadways

paved

4,952 km

total

10,844 km

unpaved

5,892 km (2010)

Manpower available for military service

females age 16-49

7,618,397 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

6,941,152

Manpower fit for military service

females age 16-49

5,947,512 (2010 est.)

males age 16-49

5,260,878

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

female

367,103 (2010 est.)

male

380,172

Military branches

Nepal Army (2012)

Military expenditures

NA% (2012)

1.41% of GDP (2011)

NA% (2010)

Military service age and obligation

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

Disputes - international

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

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

IDPs

59,433 (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)

refugees (country of origin)

23,059 (Bhutan); 15,000 (Tibet/China) (2014)

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; 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