Background: During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence after 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. In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of hereditary rule and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but it was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist-led insurgency broke out in 1996. During the ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces, the monarchy dissolved the cabinet and parliament. In 2001, Crown Prince DIPENDRA first massacred the royal family and then shot himself. His brother GYANENDRA became king, and the monarchy reassumed absolute power the next year. A peace accord in 2006 led to the promulgation of an interim constitution in 2007. After 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. When the CA failed to draft a Supreme Court-mandated constitution, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. An interim government held elections in 2013, in which the Nepali Congress (NC) won the largest share of seats. In 2014, NC formed a coalition government with the second-place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML). Nepal's new constitution came into effect in 2015, at which point the CA became the Parliament and Khagda Prasad Sharma OLI the first post-constitution prime minister (2015-16). He resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion, and Parliament elected Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) leader Pushpa Kamal DAHAL as prime minister. The parties headed by OLI and DAHAL ran in coalition and swept the parliamentary elections in 2017, and OLI was sworn in as prime minister in 2018. OLI's efforts to dissolve parliament and hold elections were declared unconstitutional in 2021, and the opposition-supported NC leader Sher Bahadur DEUBA was named prime minister. The NC won a majority of seats in the parliamentary elections in 2022, but DAHAL then broke with the ruling coalition and partnered with OLI and the CPN-UML to become prime minister. DAHAL's first cabinet lasted about two months, until OLI withdrew his support over disagreements about ministerial assignments. In early 2023, DAHAL survived a vote of confidence and formed a coalition with the NC to remain prime minister.

Area
Total: 147,181 km²
Land: 143,351 km²
Water: 3,830 km²
Comparative: slightly larger than New York State

Land boundaries
Total: 3,159 km
Border countries (2): (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

Land use
Agricultural land: 26.1% (2023 est.)
Arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Forest: 43.5% (2023 est.)
Other: 27.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land: 12,090 km² (2022)

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

Population
Total: 31,122,387 (2024 est.)
Male: 15,240,643
Female: 15,881,744
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 low
Growth rate: 0.7% (2024 est.)

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 sample(s): ; विश्व तथ्य पुस्तक,आधारभूत जानकारीको लागि अपरिहार्य स्रोत (Nepali); The World Factbook, 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.)

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: 47.4 (2024 est.)
Youth dependency ratio: 38.1 (2024 est.)
Elderly dependency ratio: 9.4 (2024 est.)
Potential support ratio: 10.7 (2024 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.)

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 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)

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.)

Maternal mortality ratio: 142 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 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.)

Drinking water source
Urban: 10% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 8.4% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access
Urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
Rural: 10.8% of population (2022 est.)
Total: 9.3% of population (2022 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight: 18.3% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 10.8% (2024 est.); 10.7% (2023 est.); 10.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

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: the name comes from the Nepalese words kath (wooden) and mandu (temple), referring to the local temples that are often still built from wood

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

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

Executive branch
Chief of state: President Ram Chandra POUDEL (since 13 March 2023)
Head of government: Prime Minister Sushila KARKI; note - KARKI was sworn in as interim prime minister on 12 September 2025 after Khadga Prasad Sharma OLI resigned on 9 September following violent protests; KARKI will serve until elections are held in March 2026
Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet positions shared among Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre, and various coalition partners
Election/appointment process: president indirectly elected by an electoral college of the Federal Parliament and the state assemblies for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Most recent election date: 9 March 2023
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
Expected date of next election: 5 March 2026

Legislative branch
Legislature name: Federal Parliament (Sanghiya Sansad)
Legislative structure: bicameral
Note: violent student-led protests in early September 2025 led to the resignation of the Prime Minister; the President dissolved Parliament on 12 September 2015 following the swearing in of an interim prime minister and set elections for 5 March 2026; the major political parties have demanded reinstatement of the Parliament

Flag description: crimson red with a blue border, in the shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller upper triangle has a stylized white moon, and the larger lower triangle has a 12-pointed white sun

National anthem
Title: 'Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka' (Hundreds of Flowers)
Lyrics/music: Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG
History: adopted 2007

National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites: 4 (2 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales:

Real gdp growth rate: 3.7% (2024 est.); 2% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Real gdp per capita: 3.7% (2024 est.); 2% (2023 est.); 5.6% (2022 est.)
Note: annual GDP % growth based on constant local currency

Gdp composition by end use
Household consumption: 86.3% (2024 est.)
Government consumption: 7.4% (2024 est.)
Investment in fixed capital: 24.3% (2024 est.)
Investment in inventories: 6.1% (2024 est.)
Exports of goods and services: 7.6% (2024 est.)
Imports of goods and services: -32.9% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to rounding or gaps in data collection

Gdp composition by sector of origin
Agriculture: 21.9% (2024 est.)
Industry: 11.4% (2024 est.)
Services: 55.2% (2024 est.)
Note: figures may not total 100% due to non-allocated consumption not captured in sector-reported data

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

Industrial production growth rate: 0.1% (2024 est.)
Note: annual % change in industrial value added based on constant local currency

Labor force: 8.435 million (2024 est.)
Note: number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work

Unemployment rate: 10.8% (2024 est.); 10.7% (2023 est.); 10.9% (2022 est.)
Note: % of labor force seeking employment

Youth unemployment
Rate (ages 15-24): 10.8% (2024 est.); 10.7% (2023 est.); 10.9% (2022 est.)
Rate (ages 15-24) note: % of labor force seeking employment

Budget
Revenues: $7.625 billion (2021 est.)
Expenditures: $9.1 billion (2021 est.)
Note: central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated

Taxes and other revenues: 17.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)
Note: central government tax revenue as a % of GDP

Exports: $3.744 billion (2024 est.); $2.258 billion (2023 est.); $2.106 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - exports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: knotted carpets, garments, flat-rolled iron, synthetic fibers, palm oil (2023)
Commodities note: top five export commodities based on value in dollars

Imports: $17.777 billion (2024 est.); $13.877 billion (2023 est.); $15.227 billion (2022 est.)
Note: balance of payments - imports of goods and services in current dollars
Commodities: refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, iron reductions, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Commodities note: top five import commodities based on value in dollars

Electricity
Installed generating capacity: 2.853 million kW (2023 est.)
Consumption: 9.806 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Exports: 1.1 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.846 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Transmission/distribution losses: 1.638 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Access electrification - total population: 91.3% (2022 est.)
Access electrification - urban areas: 97.7%
Access electrification - rural areas: 93.7%
Generation sources solar: 1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources wind: 0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Generation sources hydroelectricity: 99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal
Production: 9,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Consumption: 1.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Exports: 100 metric tons (2023 est.)
Imports: 1.076 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Proven reserves: 8 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum
Refined petroleum consumption: 71,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions: 11.357 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From coal and metallurgical coke: 2.025 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)
From petroleum and other liquids: 9.332 million metric tonnes of CO&sub2; (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita: 6.604 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

Telephones
Fixed lines total subscriptions: 726,000 (2021 est.)
Fixed lines subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2022 est.)
Mobile cellular total subscriptions: 38.2 million (2021 est.)
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 127 (2021 est.)

Internet
Users percent of population: 56% (2023 est.)

Broadband fixed subscriptions
Total: 1.44 million (2022 est.)
Subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 5 (2022 est.)

Military expenditures: 1% of GDP (2024 est.); 1% of GDP (2023 est.); 1.1% of GDP (2022 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2021 est.); 1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Airports: 51 (2025)

Heliports: 14 (2025)

Railways
Total: 59 km (2018)
Narrow gauge: 59 km (2018) 0.762-m gauge