Statistical information Nepal 2016

Nepal in the World

Nepal - Introduction 2016

During the late 18th-early 19th centuries the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepalese Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence following the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16 and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. (The Brigade of Gurkas continues to serve in the British Army to the present day.) 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. A peace accord in 2006 led to the promulgation of an interim constitution in 2007. 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. Nepal's new constitution came into effect in September 2015.

Nepal - Geography 2016

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Location: Southern Asia between China and India

Geographic coordinates: 28 00 N 84 00 E

Map reference: Asia

Area
Total: 147,181 km²
Land: 143,351 km²
Water: 3,830 km²
Rank: 94
Comparative: slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries
Total: 3,159 km
Border countries: (2) China 1389 km; India 1770 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

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

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

Elevation
Mean elevation: 2,565 m
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)

Natural resources: quartz water timber hydropower scenic beauty small deposits of lignite copper cobalt iron ore

Land use

Land use
Agricultural land: 28.8%

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

Forest: 25.4%
Other: 45.8%

Irrigated land: 13,320 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²

Total water withdrawal

Total renewable water resources

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

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

Nepal - People 2016

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Population: 29,033,914 (July 2016 est.)
Rank: 46
Growth rate: 1.24% (2016 est.)
Growth rate rank: 92
Below poverty line: 25.2% (2011 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Nepali
Adjective: Nepali

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

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

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

Demographic profile

Age structure

Age structure
0-14 years: 30.93%
15-24 years: 21.86%
25-54 years: 35.99%
55-64 years: 6.22%
65 years and over: 5.02% (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 61.8%
Youth dependency ratio: 52.9%
Elderly dependency ratio: 9%
Potential support ratio: 11.1%

Median age
Total: 23.6 years
Male: 22.4 years
Female: 24.8 years
Rank: 165

Population growth rate: 1.24% (2016 est.)
Rank: 92

Birth rate: 19.9 births/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 82

Death rate: 5.7 deaths/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 174

Net migration rate: -1.9 migrant(s)/1000 population (2016 est.)
Rank: 163

Population distribution

Urbanization
Urban population: 18.6% of total population
Rate of urbanization: 3.18% annual rate of change

Major urban areas
Population: KATHMANDU (capital) 1.183 million (2015)

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
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
International agreements signed but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.04 male/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male/female
15-24 years: 1 male/female
25-54 years: 0.82 male/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male/female
Total population: 0.95 male/female

Mothers mean age at first birth: 20.1
Note: median age at first birth among women 25-29

Maternal mortality ratio

Infant mortality rate
Total: 28.9 deaths/1000 live births
Male: 30.2 deaths/1000 live births
Female: 27.5 deaths/1000 live births
Rank: 66

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 70.7 years
Male: 70.1 years
Female: 71.3 years
Rank: 155

Total fertility rate: 2.18 children born/woman (2016 est.)
Rank: 99

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 49.7% (2011)

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.)

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 5 beds/1000 population (2006)

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.)

Hiv/Aids
Adult prevalence rate: 0.21% (2015 est.)
Adult prevalence rate rank: 97
People living with hivaids: 39,400 (2015 est.)
People living with hivaids rank: 63
Deaths: 2,300 (2015 est.)
Deaths rank: 50

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

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 2.9% (2014)
Rank: 189

Alcohol consumption

Tobacco use

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 30.1% (2014)
Rank: 17

Education expenditures: 4.7% of GDP (2014)
Rank: 87

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 63.9%
Male: 76.4%
Female: 53.1%

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 12 years
Male: 12 years
Female: 13 years

Youth unemployment

Nepal - Government 2016

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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
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

Government type: federal parliamentary republic

Capital
Name: Kathmandu
Geographic coordinates: 27 43 N 85 19 E
Time difference: UTC+5.75

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

Dependent areas

Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

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

Constitution: several previous; latest adopted 20 September 2015; amended January 2016

Legal system: English common law and Hindu legal concepts

International law organization participation: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship
Citizenship by birth: yes
Citizenship by descent: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Bidhya Devi BHANDARI ; Vice President Nanda Bahadar PUN (since 31 October 2015)
Head of government: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal DAHAL ; note - Prime Minister Khadga Prasad OLI resigned on 24 July 2016
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet dominated by the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist
Electionsappointments: president indirectly elected by the Constituency Assembly; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; president elected on 29 October 2015 ; prime minister indirectly elected by the Constituent Assembly
Election results: Bidhya Devi BHANDARI elected president; Constituent Assembly vote count - Bidhya Devi BHANDARI 327 Kul Bahadur GURUNG (NC) 214; BHANDARI is Nepal's first woman president

Legislative branch
Description: unicameral Constituent Assembly or Sambidhan Sabha 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
Election results: percent of vote by party - NC 26% CPN-UML 24% Unified Communist Party of Nepal 15% Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal 7%; other 28%; seats by party - NC 196 CPN-UML 175 UCPN(M) 80 Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal 24 other smaller parties 100

Judicial branch
Highest court: Supreme Court
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: Court of Appeal; district courts
Note: Nepal's judiciary was restructured under its 2007 Interim Constitution

Political parties and leaders
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:

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]

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

Diplomatic representation
In the us chief of mission: Ambassador Arjun Kumar KARKI
In the us chancery: 2,131 Leroy Place NW Washington DC 20,008
In the us telephone: [1] 667-4,550
In the us FAX: [1] 667-5,534
In the us consulate general: Cleveland New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Alaina B. TEPLITZ
From the us embassy: Maharajgunj Kathmandu
From the us mailing address: use embassy street address
From the us telephone: [977] 423-4,000
From the us FAX: [977] 400-7,272

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

National symbols: rhododendron blossom; national color: red

National anthem
Name: 'Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka'
Lyrics and 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

National heritage

Nepal - Economy 2016

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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 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.

Real gdp purchasing power parity:

$70.09 billion (2015 est.)
$67.81 billion (2014 est.)
$64.35 billion (2013 est.)

Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 98

Real gdp growth rate:

3.4% (2015 est.)
5.4% (2014 est.)
4.1% (2013 est.)

Rank: 113

Real gdp per capita:

$2,500 (2015 est.)
$2,400 (2014 est.)
$2,300 (2013 est.)

Note: data are in 2015 US dollars
Rank: 198

Gross national saving:

50.5% of GDP (2015 est.)
36.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
38.9% of GDP (2013 est.)

Rank: 6

Gdp composition by sector of origin

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 78.4%
Government consumption: 11%
Investment in fixed capital: 27.7%
Investment in inventories: 12.9%
Exports of goods and services: 11.7%
Imports of goods and services: -41.7%

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 29.4%
Industry: 13.8%
Services: 49.4%

Agriculture products: pulses rice corn wheat sugarcane jute root crops; milk water buffalo meat

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

Industrial production growth rate: 1.5% (2015 est.)
Rank: 124

Labor force: 15.2 million
Note: severe lack of skilled labor
Rank: 39
By occupation agriculture: 69%
By occupation industry: 12%
By occupation services: 19%

Labor force

Unemployment rate:

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

Rank: 200

Youth unemployment

Population below poverty line: 25.2% (2011 est.)

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share
Lowest 10: 3.2%
Highest 10: 29.5%

Distribution of family income gini index:

32.8 (2010)
47.2 (2008 est.)

Rank: 105

Budget
Revenues: $4.394 billion
Expenditures: $4.179 billion
Surplus or deficit: 1% of GDP (2015 est.)
Surplus or deficit rank: 21

Taxes and other revenues: 20.6% of GDP (2015 est.)
Rank: 154

Public debt:

30% of GDP (FY 2012/13 est.)
32% of GDP (2013 est.) (FY11/12)

Rank: 141

Revenue

Fiscal year: 16 July - 15 July

Inflation rate consumer prices:

7.9% (2015 est.)
8.4% (2014 est.)

Rank: 195

Central bank discount rate:

8% (31 July 2015)
8% (31 July 2014)

Rank: 40

Commercial bank prime lending rate:

9.8% (31 December 2015 est.)
10.6% (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 83

Stock of narrow money:

$4.762 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$3.567 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 101

Stock of broad money:

$17.83 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$16.36 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 92

Stock of domestic credit:

$14.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$13.97 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 95

Market value of publicly traded shares:

$11.81 billion (31 October 2015 est.)
$9.574 billion (31 October 2014 est.)
$5.235 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Rank: 71

Current account balance:

$1.067 billion (2015 est.)
$908 million (2014 est.)

Rank: 36

Exports:

$813.1 million (2015 est.)
$1.022 billion (2014 est.)

Rank: 165
Commodities: clothing pulses carpets textiles juice jute goods
Partners: India 61.3% US 9.4% (2015)

Imports:

$6.511 billion (2015 est.)
$7.581 billion (2014 est.)

Rank: 115
Commodities: petroleum products machinery and equipment gold electrical goods medicine
Partners: India 61.5% China 15.4% (2015)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.945 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$6.034 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 77

Debt external:

$4.609 billion (31 December 2015 est.)
$4.01 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Rank: 132

Stock of direct foreign investment at home: $103 million (31 July 2013 est.)
Rank: 119

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad: $N/A

Exchange rates:

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -
102.405 (2015 est.)
97.55 (2014 est.)
99.53 (2013 est.)
85.2 (2012 est.)
74.02 (2011 est.)

Nepal - Energy 2016

Nepal - Communication 2016

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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 846,940
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3
Fixed lines rank: 85
Mobile cellular total: 27.516 million
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 87
Mobile cellular rank: 52

Telephone system
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 (2015)

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
Users total: 5.547 million
Users percent of population: 17.6%
Users rank: 80

Broadband fixed subscriptions

Nepal - Military 2016

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Military expenditures:

NA% (2012)
1.41% of GDP (2011)

Military and security forces

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2014)

Space program

Terrorist groups

Nepal - Transportation 2016

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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 4
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 15
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 510,341
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4,536,371 mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9N (2016)

Airports: 47 (2013)
Rank: 95
With paved runways total: 11
With paved runways over 3047 m: 1
With paved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 3
With paved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With paved runways under 914 m: 1
With unpaved runways total: 36
With unpaved runways 15-24 to 2437 m: 1
With unpaved runways 914 to 1523 m: 6
With unpaved runways under 914 m: 29

Heliports

Pipelines

Railways
Total: 53 km
Narrow gauge: 53 km 0.762-m gauge
Rank: 131

Roadways
Total: 10,844 km
Paved: 4,952 km
Unpaved: 5,892 km
Rank: 132

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals

Nepal - Transnational issues 2016

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Disputes international: joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India including the 400 km² 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 and internally displaced persons
Refugees: 15,000 (Tibet/China) (2015); just over 14,000 (Bhutan) (2016)
IDPs: 40,700 (2015)
Stateless persons: undetermined ; note - the UNHCR is working with the Nepali Government to address the large number of individuals lacking citizenship certificates in Nepal; 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 drugs: illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West