Statistical information Nepal 1990

Nepal in the World
Nepal - Introduction 1990
top of pageBackground: 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.
top of pageLocationGeographic coordinatesMap referenceAreaLand boundaries: 2,926 km total; China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline: none--landlocked
Maritime claims: none--landlocked
Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winter in south
Terrain: Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
ElevationNatural resources: quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential, scenic beauty; small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use: 17% arable land; NEGL% permanent crops; 13% meadows and pastures; 33% forest and woodland; 37% other; includes 2% irrigated
Irrigated landMajor riversMajor watersheds area km²Total water withdrawalTotal renewable water resourcesNatural hazardsGeographyNote: landlocked; strategic location between China and India
top of pagePopulation: 19,145,800 (July 1990), growth rate 2.4% (1990)
Nationality: noun--Nepalese (sing. and pl.; adjective--Nepalese
Ethnic groups: Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas, as well as many smaller groups
Languages: Nepali (official; 20 languages divided into numerous dialects
Religions: only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu (about 88% of population) and Buddhist groups; small groups of Muslims and Christians
Demographic profileAge structureDependency ratiosMedian agePopulation growth rateBirth rate: 39 births/1000 population (1990)
Death rate: 15 deaths/1000 population (1990)
Net migration rate: 0 migrants/1000 population (1990)
Population distributionUrbanizationMajor urban areasEnvironmentCurrent issues: contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks; deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution
Air pollutantsSex ratioMothers mean age at first birthMaternal mortality ratioInfant mortality rate: 99 deaths/1000 live births (1990)
Life expectancy at birth: 50 years male, 50 years female (1990)
Total fertility rate: 5.6 children born/woman (1990)
Contraceptive prevalence rateDrinking water sourceCurrent health expenditurePhysicians densityHospital bed densitySanitation facility accessHiv/AidsMajor infectious diseasesObesity adult prevalence rateAlcohol consumptionTobacco useChildren under the age of 5 years underweightEducation expendituresLiteracy: 20%
School life expectancy primary to tertiary educationYouth unemploymenttop of pageCountry name: conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
Government type: constitutional monarchy, but King Birendra exercises control over multitiered system of government
Capital: Kathmandu
Administrative divisions: 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural; Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Dependent areasIndependence: 1768, unified by Prithyi Narayan Shah
National holiday: Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)
Constitution: 16 December 1962
Legal system: based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
International law organization participationCitizenshipSuffrage: universal at age 21
Executive branch: Chief of State--King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January 1972, crowned King 24 February 1985; Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son of the King (born 21 June 1971; Head of Government--Prime Minister Marich Man Singh SHRESTHA (since 15 July 1986)
Legislative branch: Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat)
Political parties and leadersInternational organization participation: ADB, CCC, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representationIn the us: Ambassador Mohan Man SAINJU; Chancery at 2,131 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20,008; telephone (202) 667-4,550; there is a Nepalese Consulate General in New York; US--Ambassador Julia Chang BLOCH; Embassy at Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu; telephone p977o 411,179 or 412,718, 411,601
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 bears a white 12-pointed sun
National symbolsNational anthemNational heritagetop of pageEconomy overview: Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with a per capita income of only $158. Real growth averaged 4% in the 1980s until FY89, when it plunged to 1.5% because of the ongoing trade/transit dispute with India. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 90% of the population and accounting for 60% of GDP and about 75% of exports. Industrial activity is limited, and what there is involves the processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain). Apart from agricultural land and forests, the only other exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Despite considerable investment in the agricultural sector, production in the 1980s has not kept pace with the population growth of 2.7%, which has led to a reduction in exportable surpluses and balance-of-payments difficulties. Economic prospects for the 1990s remain grim.
Real gdp purchasing power parityReal gdp growth rateReal gdp per capitaGross national savingGdp composition by sector of origin
Gdp composition by end useGdp composition by sector of originAgriculture products: accounts for 60% of GDP and 90% of work force; farm products--rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, buffalo meat; not self-sufficient in food, particularly in drought years
Industries: small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette, textiles, cement, brick; tourism
Industrial production growth rate: - 4.5% (FY89 est.)
Labor force:
4,100,000; 93% agriculture, 5%
services, 2%
industry; severe lack of skilled labor
Unemployment rate: 5%; underemployment estimated at 25-40% (1987)
Youth unemploymentPopulation below poverty lineGini indexHousehold income or consumption by percentage shareDistribution of family income gini indexBudget: revenues $296 million; expenditures $635 million, including capital expenditures of $394 million (FY89 est.)
Taxes and other revenuesPublic debtRevenueFiscal year: 16 July-15 July
Inflation rate consumer pricesCentral bank discount rateCommercial bank prime lending rateStock of narrow moneyStock of broad moneyStock of domestic creditMarket value of publicly traded sharesCurrent account balanceExports: $374 million (f.o.b., FY89 est.), but does not include unrecorded border trade with India
Commodities: clothing, carpets, leather goods, grain
Partners: India 38%, US 23%, UK 6%, other Europe 9% (FY88)
Imports: $724 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.)
Commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10%
Partners: India 36%, Japan 13%, Europe 4%, US 1% (FY88)
Reserves of foreign exchange and goldDebt external: $1.3 billion (December 1989 est.)
Stock of direct foreign investment at homeStock of direct foreign investment abroadExchange rates: Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1--28.559 (January 1990), 27.189 (1989), 23.289 (1988), 21.819 (1987), 21.230 (1986), 18.246 (1985)
top of pageElectricityCapacity: 205,000 kW capacity; 535 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1989)
CoalPetroleumCrude oilRefined petroleumNatural gasCarbon dioxide emissionsEnergy consumption per capitaNepal - Communication 1990
top of pageTelephonesTelephone systemBroadcast mediaInternetBroadband fixed subscriptionstop of pageMilitary expendituresPercent of gdp: 2% of GDP, or $58 million (1989 est.)
Military and security forcesMilitary service age and obligationSpace programTerrorist groupsNepal - Transportation 1990
top of pageNational air transport systemCivil aircraft registration country code prefixAirports: 38 total, 38 usable; 5 with permanent-surface runways; none with runways over 3,659 m; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m; 9 with runways 1,220-2,439 m
HeliportsPipelinesRailwaysRoadwaysWaterwaysMerchant marinePorts and terminalsNepal - Transnational issues 1990
top of pageDisputes internationalRefugees and internally displaced personsIllicit drugs: illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets