Map of Nepal | Geography | People | Government | Economy | Energy | Communication
Military | Transportation | Transnational Issues | Year: Guide1989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 | More stats

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Background:


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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
Comparative: slightly larger than New York state
Country comparison total: 3,159 km
Country comparison border countries: (2) China 1,389 km; India 1,770 km

Land boundaries
Total: 3,159 km
Border countries: (2) China 1,389 km; India 1,770 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
Highest point: Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m
Lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
Mean elevation: 2,565 m

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

Land use
Agricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land arable land: 15.1% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land permanent pasture: 12.5% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land forest: 25.4% (2018 est.)
Agricultural land other: 45.8% (2018 est.)

Irrigated land: 13,320 km² (2012)

Major rivers

Major watersheds area km²: Indian Ocean drainage: Brahmaputra (651,335 km²), Ganges (1,016,124 km²), Indus (1,081,718 km²)

Total water withdrawal
Municipal: 150 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Industrial: 30 million cubic meters (2020 est.)
Agricultural: 9.32 billion cubic meters (2020 est.)

Total renewable water resources: 210.2 billion m³ (2020 est.)

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


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Population
Distribution: most of the population is divided nearly equally between a concentration in the southern-most plains of the Tarai region and the central hilly region; overall density is quite low
Total: 31,122,387
Male: 15,240,643
Female: 15,881,744 (2024 est.)
Growth rate: 0.7% (2024 est.)

Nationality
Noun: Nepali (singular and plural)
Adjective: Nepali

Ethnic groups: Chhettri 16.5%, Brahman-Hill 11.3%, Magar 6.9%, Tharu 6.2%, Tamang 5.6%, Bishwokarma 5%, Musalman 4.9%, Newar 4.6%, Yadav 4.2%, Rai 2.2%, Pariyar 1.9%, Gurung 1.9%, Thakuri 1.7%, Mijar 1.6%, Teli 1.5%, Yakthung/Limbu 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.4%, Koiri/Kushwaha 1.2%, other 20% (2021 est.)
Note: 141 caste/ethnic groups were reported in the 2021 national census

Languages: Nepali (official) 44.9%, Maithali 11.1%, Bhojpuri 6.2%, Tharu 5.9%, Tamang 4.9%, Bajjika 3.9%, Avadhi 3%, Nepalbhasha (Newari) 3%, Magar Dhut 2.8%, Doteli 1.7%, Urdu 1.4%, Yakthung/Limbu 1.2%, Gurung 1.1%, other 8.9% (2021 est.)
Major-language samples: विश्व तथ्य पुस्तक,आधारभूत जानकारीको लागि अपरिहार्य स्रोत (Nepali); Gheos World Guide, the indispensable source for basic information.
Note: 123 languages reported as mother tongue in 2021 national census; many in government and business also speak English

Religions: Hindu 81.2%, Buddhist 8.2%, Muslim 5.1%, Kirat 3.2%, Christian 1.8%, other 0.5% (2021 est.)

Demographic profile

Age structure
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 4,125,244/female 3,909,135)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 10,153,682/female 10,957,011)
65 years and over: 6.4% (2024 est.) (male 961,717/female 1,015,598)

Dependency ratios
Total dependency ratio: 54.9
Youth dependency ratio: 45.5
Elderly dependency ratio: 9.4
Potential support ratio: 10.7 (2021 est.)

Median age
Total: 27.6 years (2024 est.)
Male: 26.5 years
Female: 28.6 years

Population growth rate: 0.7% (2024 est.)

Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Death rate: 5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Net migration rate: -4.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2024 est.)

Population distribution: most of the population is divided nearly equally between a concentration in the southern-most plains of the Tarai region and the central hilly region; overall density is quite low

Urbanization
Urban population: 21.9% of total population (2023)
Rate of urbanization: 3.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Major urban areas
Population: 1.571 million KATHMANDU (capital) (2023)

Environment
Current issues: deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); forest degradation; soil erosion; contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); unmanaged solid-waste; wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
International agreements party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
International agreements signed but not ratified: Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation

Air pollutants
Particulate matter emissions: 36.43 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Carbon dioxide emissions: 9.11 megatons (2016 est.)
Methane emissions: 41.15 megatons (2020 est.)

Sex ratio
At birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
Total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mothers mean age at first birth: 20.4 years (2016 est.)
Note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Maternal mortality ratio: 174 deaths/100,000 live births (2020 est.)

Infant mortality rate
Total: 24 deaths/1,000 live births (2024 est.)
Male: 25.2 deaths/1,000 live births
Female: 22.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth
Total population: 73 years (2024 est.)
Male: 72.2 years
Female: 73.7 years

Total fertility rate: 1.85 children born/woman (2024 est.)

Contraceptive prevalence rate: 46.7% (2019)

Drinking water source
Improved urban: 92.7% of population
Unimproved rural: 5.6% of population
Unimproved total: 5.9% of population (2020 est.)
Unimproved urban: 7.3% of population

Current health expenditure

Physicians density

Hospital bed density: 0.3 beds/1,000 population (2012)

Sanitation facility access
Improved urban: 95.1% of population
Improved rural: 85.7% of population
Improved total: 87.7% of population
Unimproved urban: 4.9% of population
Unimproved rural: 14.3% of population
Unimproved total: 12.3% of population (2020 est.)

Hiv/Aids

Major infectious diseases

Obesity adult prevalence rate: 4.1% (2016)

Alcohol consumption
Per capita total: 0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita beer: 0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita wine: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita spirits: 0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
Per capita other alcohols: 0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use
Total: 30.4% (2020 est.)
Male: 47.9% (2020 est.)
Female: 12.8% (2020 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.7% (2022)

Education expenditures: 4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 71.2%
Male: 81%
Female: 63.3% (2021)

School life expectancy primary to tertiary education
Total: 13 years
Male: 13 years
Female: 13 years (2020)

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 20.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 23.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment


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Country name
Conventional long form: none
Conventional short form: Nepal
Local long form: none
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 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Etymology: name derives from the Kasthamandap temple that stood in Durbar Square; in Sanskrit, kastha means 'wood' and mandapa means 'pavilion'; the three-story structure was made entirely of wood, without iron nails or supports, and dated to the late 16th century; it collapsed during a 2015 earthquake

Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (pradesh, singular - pradesh); Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, Koshi, Lumbini, Madhesh, Sudurpashchim

Dependent areas

Independence: 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

National holiday: Constitution Day, 20 September (2015)
Note: marks the promulgation of Nepal’s constitution in 2015 and replaces the previous 28 May Republic Day as the official national day in Nepal; the Gregorian day fluctuates based on Nepal’s Hindu calendar

Constitution
History: several previous; latest approved by the Second Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, signed by the president and effective 20 September 2015
Amendments: proposed as a bill by either house of the Federal Parliament; bills affecting a state border or powers delegated to a state must be submitted to the affected state assembly; passage of such bills requires a majority vote of that state assembly membership; bills not requiring state assembly consent require at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of the Federal Parliament; parts of the constitution on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty vested in the people cannot be amended; amended 2016, 2020

Legal system: English common law and Hindu legal concepts
Note: new criminal and civil codes came into effect on 17 August 2018

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 only: yes
Dual citizenship recognized: no
Residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Ram Chandra POUDEL (since 13 March 2023)
Head of government: Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma OLI (since 15 July 2024)
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet split between Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre, and various coalition partners
Elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of the Federal Parliament and of the state assemblies for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 March 2023 (next to be held in 2,028)
Election results: 2023: Ram Chandra POUDEL elected president; electoral college vote - Ram Chandra POUDEL (NC) 33,802, Subash Chandra NEMBANG (CPN-UML) 15,518; 2018: Bidhya Devi BHANDARI reelected president; electoral vote - Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (CPN-UML) 39,275, Kumari Laxmi RAI (NC) 11,730

Legislative branch
Description: bicameral Federal Parliament consists of: National Assembly (59 seats; 56 members, including at least 3 women, 1 Dalit, 1 member with disabilities, or 1 minority indirectly elected by an electoral college of state and municipal government leaders, and 3 members, including 1 woman, nominated by the president of Nepal on the recommendation of the government; members serve 6-year terms with renewal of one-third of the membership every 2 years), House of Representatives (275 seats statutory, current 272; 165 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 110 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed-list proportional representation vote, with a threshold of 3% overall valid vote to be allocated a seat; members serve 5-year terms)
Note: the House of Representatives was dissolved on 22 May 2021, but on 13 July, the Supreme Court directed its reinstatement
Elections: National Assembly - last held on 25 January 2024 (next to be held in January 2026), House of Representatives - last held on 20 November 2022 (next to be held in November 2,027)
Elections results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - CPN-MC 17, NC 16, CON-UML 10, CPN-US 8, other 5, nominated members 3; composition - men 37, women 22, percentage women 37.3%, House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NC 89, CPN-UML 78, CPN-MC 32, RSP 20, RPP 14, PSP-N 12, CPN (Unified Socialist) 10, Janamat Party 6, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party 4, other 10; composition - men 182, women 90, percentage women 33.1%; total Federal Parliament percentage women 33.5%

Judicial branch
Highest courts: Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and up to 20 judges)
Judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, a 5-member, high-level advisory body headed by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Judicial Council, a 5-member advisory body headed by the chief justice; the chief justice serves a 6-year term; judges serve until age 65
Subordinate courts: High Court; district courts

Political parties and leaders: Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) or CPN-MC, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN-UML, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) or CPN-US, Janamat Party, Janata Samajbaadi Party or JSP, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party or LSP, Naya Shakti Party, Nepal, Nepali Congress or NC, Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party (Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party) or NWPP, Rastriya Janamorcha (National People's Front), Rastriya Prajatantra Party (National Democratic Party) or RPP, Rastriya Swatantra Party or RSP

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, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation
In the us: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Kumar Raj KHAREL (since 26 June 2024)
In the us chancery: 2,730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20,007
In the us telephone: [1] (202) 667-4,550
In the us fax: [1] (202) 667-5,534
In the us email address and website: info@nepalembassyusa.org; [link]
In the us consulates general: New York
From the us chief of mission: Ambassador Dean R. THOMPSON (since October 2022)
From the us embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
From the us mailing address: 6,190 Kathmandu Place, Washington DC 20,521-6,190
From the us telephone: [977] (1) 423-4,000
From the us fax: [977] (1) 400-7,272
From the us email address and website: usembktm@state.gov; [link]

Flag description: crimson 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' (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

National heritage
Total world heritage sites: 4 (2 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected world heritage site locales:


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Economy overview: low-income South Asian economy; post-conflict fiscal federalism increasing stability; COVID-19 hurt trade and tourism; widening current account deficits; environmentally fragile economy from earthquakes; growing Chinese relations and investments

Real gdp purchasing power parity: $144.31 billion (2023 est.); $141.546 billion (2022 est.); $134 billion (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Real gdp growth rate: 1.95% (2023 est.); 5.63% (2022 est.); 4.84% (2021 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: $4,700 (2023 est.); $4,600 (2022 est.); $4,500 (2021 est.)
Note: data in 2021 dollars

Gross national saving

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 85.9% (2023 est.)
Government consumption: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 25.1% (2023 est.)
Investment in inventories: 6.6% (2023 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 7% (2023 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -34.7% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 21.2% (2023 est.)
Industry: 12.1% (2023 est.)
Services: 55.4% (2023 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

Agriculture products: rice, vegetables, potatoes, sugarcane, maize, wheat, bison milk, milk, mangoes/guavas, fruits (2022)
Note: top ten agricultural products based on tonnage

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

Industrial production growth rate: 1.38% (2023 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 8.937 million (2023 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 10.69% (2023 est.); 10.92% (2022 est.); 12.32% (2021 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate ages 15 24 total: 20.4% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 male: 18.7% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 female: 23.3% (2023 est.)
Rate ages 15 24 note: % of labor force ages 15-24 seeking employment

Population below poverty line

Gini index

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Distribution of family income gini index

Budget
Revenues: $7.625 billion (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $7.163 billion (2021 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenses converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 17.49% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Public debt: 39.92% of GDP (2021 est.)
Note: central government debt as a % of GDP

Revenue
From forest resources: 0.45% of GDP (2018 est.)
From coal: 0% of GDP (2018 est.)

Fiscal year

Inflation rate consumer prices: 7.11% (2023 est.); 7.65% (2022 est.); 4.15% (2021 est.)
Note: annual % change based on consumer prices

Central bank discount rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

Stock of narrow money

Stock of broad money

Stock of domestic credit

Market value of publicly traded shares

Current account balance: $939.38 million (2023 est.); -$2.518 billion (2022 est.); -$5.363 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - net trade and primary/secondary income in current dollars

Exports: $2.999 billion (2023 est.); $2.733 billion (2022 est.); $2.52 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: India 67%, US 11%, Germany 3%, Turkey 2%, UK 2% (2022)
Partners note: top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
Commodities: palm oil, soybean oil, garments, synthetic fibers, knotted carpets (2022)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $14.098 billion (2023 est.); $15.462 billion (2022 est.); $16.993 billion (2021 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Partners: India 64%, China 13%, UAE 3%, Indonesia 2%, US 2% (2022)
Partners note: top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
Commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, gold, rice, soybean oil (2022)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: $12.456 billion (2023 est.); $9.319 billion (2022 est.); $9.639 billion (2021 est.)
Note: holdings of gold (year-end prices)/foreign exchange/special drawing rights in current dollars

Debt external: $5.677 billion (2022 est.)
Note: present value of external debt in current US dollars

Stock of direct foreign investment at home

Stock of direct foreign investment abroad

Exchange rates:


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Electricity
Access electrification total population: 91.3% (2022 est.)
Access electrification urban areas: 97.7%
Access electrification rural areas: 93.7%
Installed generating capacity: 2.389 million kW (2022 est.)
Consumption: 9.327 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Exports: 347.784 million kWh (2022 est.)
Imports: 1.601 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.738 billion kWh (2022 est.)
Generation sources solar: 1.4% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 98.5% of total installed capacity (2022 est.)

Coal
Production: 15,000 metric tons (2022 est.)
Consumption: 1.095 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Imports: 1.015 million metric tons (2022 est.)
Proven reserves: 8 million metric tons (2022 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 62,000 bbl/day (2022 est.)

Crude oil

Refined petroleum

Natural gas

Carbon dioxide emissions: 10.515 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 2.179 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 8.336 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2022 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 5.881 million Btu/person (2022 est.)


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Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 726,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 38.213 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2021 est.)

Telephone system

Broadcast media

Internet

Broadband fixed subscriptions


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Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.); 1.6% of GDP (2019 est.)

Military and security forces: Nepalese Armed Forces (Ministry of Defense): Nepali Army (includes Air Wing); Ministry of Home Affairs: Nepal Police, Nepal Armed Police Force (2024)
Note: the Nepal Police are responsible for enforcing law and order across the country; the Armed Police Force is responsible for combating terrorism, providing security during riots and public disturbances, assisting in natural disasters, and protecting vital infrastructure, public officials, and the borders; it also conducts counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations and would assist the Army in the event of an external invasion

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription (2023)
Note: as of 2023, about 7,000 women served in the Nepalese Armed Forces

Space program

Terrorist groups: Indian Mujahedeen
Note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide


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National air transport system
Number of registered air carriers: 6 (2020)
Inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers: 39
Annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers: 3,296,953 (2018)
Annual freight traffic on registered air carriers: 4.66 million (2018) mt-km

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix: 9N

Airports: 51 (2024)

Heliports: 14 (2024)

Pipelines

Railways

Roadways
Total: 64,500 km (2020)

Waterways

Merchant marine

Ports and terminals


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Disputes international

Refugees and internally displaced persons
Refugees country of origin: 12,540 (Tibet/China), 6,365 (Bhutan) (mid-year 2022)
Stateless persons: undetermined (mid-year 2021)

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; destination country for Indian-produced heroin smuggled in for domestic consumption