Nepal

Broadcast media

state operates 3 TV stations, as well as national and regional radio stations; 88 independent TV channels are registered with only 25 in regular operation; 672 FM radio stations are licensed with 588 operational (2016)

Internet country code

.np

Internet users

total: 5,716,419 | percent of population: 19.7% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Telephone system

general assessment: mountainous topography hinders development of telecom infrastructure; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network | domestic: mobile service has been extended to all 75 districts covering 90% of Nepal’s land area; disparity between high coverage in cities and coverage available in underdeveloped rural regions | international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave and fiber landlines to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

total subscriptions: 858,237 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Telephones - mobile cellular

total: 32,120,305 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52

Agriculture - products

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

Budget

revenues: $4.886 billion | expenditures: $4.592 billion (2016 est.)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

1.4% of GDP (FY2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17

Central bank discount rate

7% (30 October 2016) | 7% (30 October 2015) | country comparison to the world: 48

Commercial bank prime lending rate

8.9% (31 December 2016 est.) | 9.6% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

Current account balance

$1.339 billion (2016 est.) | $2.447 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80

Debt - external

$4.321 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.155 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137

Distribution of family income - Gini index

32.8 (2010) | 47.2 (2008 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109

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 30% of GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for almost two-thirds of the population but accounting for only 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.

Exchange rates

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - | 107.384 (2016 est.) | 107.38 (2015 est.) | 102.41 (2014 est.) | 99.53 (2013 est.) | 85.2 (2012 est.)

Exports

$761.6 million (2016 est.) | $813.1 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164

Exports - commodities

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

Exports - partners

India 56.6%, US 11.5%, Turkey 4% (2016)

Fiscal year

16 July - 15 July

GDP (official exchange rate)

$21.14 billion (2016 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$71.82 billion (2016 est.) | $70.62 billion (2015 est.) | $67.62 billion (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 96

GDP - composition, by end use

household consumption: 82.8% | government consumption: 11.6% | investment in fixed capital: 28.8% | investment in inventories: 6.7% | exports of goods and services: 9.5% | imports of goods and services: -39.4% (2016 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

agriculture: 29.2% | industry: 13.1% | services: 50% (2016 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$2,500 (2016 est.) | $2,500 (2015 est.) | $2,500 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 197

GDP - real growth rate

0.4% (2016 est.) | 3.3% (2015 est.) | 6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182

Gross national saving

40% of GDP (2016 est.) | 44% of GDP (2015 est.) | 45.7% of GDP (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 11

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.2% | highest 10%: 29.5% (2011)

Imports

$8.757 billion (2016 est.) | $6.511 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100

Imports - commodities

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

Imports - partners

India 70.1%, China 10.3% (2016)

Industrial production growth rate

-6.3% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191

Industries

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

9.9% (2016 est.) | 7.9% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201

Labor force

15.6 million | note: severe lack of skilled labor (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39

Labor force - by occupation

agriculture: 69% | industry: 12% | services: 19% (2014 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$14.03 billion (30 April 2016 est.) | $11.81 billion (31 October 2015 est.) | $9.574 billion (31 October 2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 68

Population below poverty line

25.2% (2011 est.)

Public debt

27.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 25.2% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$8.506 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $7.945 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78

Stock of broad money

$22.19 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $18.99 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$103 million (31 July 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Stock of domestic credit

$17.98 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $14.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92

Stock of narrow money

$4.871 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.762 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102

Taxes and other revenues

23.1% of GDP (FY2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Unemployment rate

3.3% (2013 est.) | 2.7% (2008 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

4.2 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131

Crude oil - exports

2.016 million bbl/day (1) | country comparison to the world: 7

Crude oil - imports

2.016 million bbl/day (1) | country comparison to the world: 6

Crude oil - production

0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Crude oil - proved reserves

0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 176

Electricity - consumption

3.746 billion kWh (FY 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129

Electricity - exports

3.25 million kWh (FY 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93

Electricity - from fossil fuels

6.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

89.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156

Electricity - from other renewable sources

3.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107

Electricity - imports

1.758 billion kWh (FY 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57

Electricity - installed generating capacity

838,100 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134

Electricity - production

3.342 billion kWh (FY 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130

Electricity access

population without electricity: 6,600,000 | electrification - total population: 76% | electrification - urban areas: 97% | electrification - rural areas: 72% (2013)

Natural gas - consumption

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159

Natural gas - imports

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167

Natural gas - production

0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178

Natural gas - proved reserves

0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 180

Refined petroleum products - consumption

32,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119

Refined petroleum products - exports

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186

Refined petroleum products - imports

30,590 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101

Refined petroleum products - production

0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183

Area

total: 147,181 sq km | land: 143,351 sq km | water: 3,830 sq km | country comparison to the world: 96

Area - comparative

slightly larger than New York state

Climate

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

Coastline

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation

mean elevation: 2,565 m | elevation extremes: lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m | highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level)

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

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

13,320 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

total: 3,159 km | border countries (2): China 1,389 km, India 1,770 km

Land use

agricultural land: 28.8% | arable land 15.1%; permanent crops 1.2%; permanent pasture 12.5% | 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

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

Terrain

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

Administrative divisions

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

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)

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years

Constitution

history: several previous; latest adopted 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 January 2016 (2017)

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

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Alaina B. TEPLITZ (since 7 October 2015) | embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu | mailing address: use embassy street address | telephone: [977] (1) 423-4000 | FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Arjun Kumar KARKI (since 18 May 2015) | chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 | telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550 | FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534 | consulate(s) general: Cleveland (OH), New York

Executive branch

head of state: President Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (since 29 October 2015); Vice President Nanda Bahadar PUN (since 31 October 2015) | head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA; Deputy Prime Ministers Bijay Kumar GACHHADAR, Krishna Bahadur MAHARA, Gopal Man SHRESTHA; note - Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal DAHAL resigned on 25 May 2017 as part of a rotational power-sharing arrangement between the CPN-MC and NC | cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet dominated by the CPN-MC and the NC | 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); prime minister indirectly elected by the Federal Parliament | election results: Bidhya Devi BHANDARI elected president; Constituent Assembly vote - Bidhya Devi BHANDARI (CPN-UML) 327, Kul Bahadur GURUNG (NC) 214; BHANDARI is Nepal's first woman president

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

Government type

federal parliamentary 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 20 judges) | judge selection and term of office: the Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, a 5-member,high-level advisory body headed by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Council, a 5-member advisory body headed by the chief justice; the chief justice term of office is 6 years; judges serve until age 65 | subordinate courts: High Court; Court of Appeal; district courts | note: Nepal's judiciary was restructured under its 2007 Interim Constitution

Legal system

English common law and Hindu legal concepts

Legislative branch

description: bicameral Federal Parliament (per the new constitution but not implemented as of March 2017) consists of the 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) and the House of Representatives (275 seats; 165 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 110 members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by party-list proportional representation vote; members serve 5-year terms) | elections: last held for the second Constituent Assembly on 19 November 2013 (first election for the Federal Parliament to be held 26 November 2017) | election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NC 196, CPN-UML 175, CPN-MC 80, Madhesi parties 42, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal 24, RPP 13, Sadhavanna Party 6, CPN-ML 5, Federal Socialist Party 5, Nepal Workers and Peasants Party 4, other 49, independent 2

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 holiday

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

National symbol(s)

rhododendron blossom; national color: red

Political parties and leaders

note: 164 political parties are registered with the Election Commission of Nepal as of early 2017; 122 political parties participated in the 19 November 2013 election and the 30 parties listed below were elected to serve in the Constituent Assembly; however only 26 of the 30 are considered "national" parties | Akhanda Nepal Party [Kumar KHADKA] | Bahujan Shakti Party [Bishwendra PASHWAN] | Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) or CPN-MC [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as Comrade PRACHANDA] | Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist Leninist or CPN-ML [C.P. MAINALI] | Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist or CPN-UML [Khadga Prasad Sharma OLI] | Communist Party of Nepal (United) or CPN (United) [Jaydev JOSHI] | Dalit Janajati Party Nepal [Yashoda Kumari LAMA] | Federal Limbuwan State Council or FLSC [Kumar LINGDEN] | Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV] | Federal Socialist Party [Ashok RAI] | Jana Jagaran Party Nepal (Awareness 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-Republican [Raj Kishore YADAV] | Madhesh 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 or NC [Bahadur DEUBA] | Nepali Janata Dal [Hari Charan SHAH] | Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal [Chitra Bahadur K.C.] | Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA] | Rastriya Prajatantra Party or RPP [Kamal THAPA] | Sadhbhawana Party [Rajendra MAHATO] | Samajwadi Janata Party [Prem Bahadur SINGH] | Sanghiya Sadbhavana Party [Anil Kumar JHA] | Sanghiya Loktantrik Rastriya Manch [Rukmini CHAUDHARY] | Terai Madhesh Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR] | Terai-Madhesh Sadbhavana Party-Nepal [Mahendra YADAV] | Tharuhat Terai Party Nepal [Bhanuram CHAUDARY]

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities | Tharu Kalyankari Sabha (Tharus rights advocacy group)

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Background

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 Gurkhas 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, at which point the CA became the Legislature Parliament. Khagda Prasad Sharma OLI served as the first post-constitution prime minister from October 2015-August 2016, when a new coalition led by Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal DAHAL (aka “Prachanda”) took over the premiership. The constitution provides for a transitional period during which three sets of elections – local, provincial, and national – must take place before 21 January 2018. The government scheduled local elections, the first in 20 years, for May 2017.

Military branches

Nepal Army (2012)

Military expenditures

1.52% of GDP (2016) | 1.54% of GDP (2015) | 1.63% of GDP (2014) | 1.54% of GDP (2013) | 1.43% of GDP (2012)

Military service age and obligation

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

Age structure

0-14 years: 30.2% (male 4,610,861/female 4,264,580) | 15-24 years: 21.73% (male 3,220,431/female 3,164,292) | 25-54 years: 36.58% (male 4,847,427/female 5,900,442) | 55-64 years: 6.32% (male 897,999/female 959,405) | 65 years and over: 5.17% (male 753,771/female 765,089) (2017 est.)

Birth rate

19.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

30.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 17

Contraceptive prevalence rate

49.6% (2014)

Death rate

5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176

Dependency ratios

total dependency ratio: 61.4 | youth dependency ratio: 52.5 | elderly dependency ratio: 8.8 | potential support ratio: 11.3 (2015 est.)

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

3.7% of GDP (2015) | country comparison to the world: 87

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.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.2% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94

HIV/AIDS - deaths

1,700 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

32,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65

Health expenditures

5.8% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 110

Infant mortality rate

total: 27.9 deaths/1,000 live births | male: 29.2 deaths/1,000 live births | female: 26.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 67

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

total population: 71 years | male: 70.4 years | female: 71.6 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 63.9% | male: 76.4% | female: 53.1% (2015 est.)

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 (2016)

Major urban areas - population

KATHMANDU (capital) 1.183 million (2015)

Maternal mortality rate

258 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

Median age

total: 24.1 years | male: 22.8 years | female: 25.3 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 165

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.1 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011 est.)

Nationality

noun: Nepali (singular and plural) | adjective: Nepali

Net migration rate

-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.1% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 187

Population

29,384,297 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45

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

Population growth rate

1.16% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91

Religions

Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other 0.5%, unspecified 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)

total: 12 years | male: 12 years | female: 13 years (2015)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female | 0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female | 15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female | 25-54 years: 0.82 male(s)/female | 55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female | 65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female | total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.12 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 3.5% | male: 4.2% | female: 2.9% (2008 est.)

Urbanization

urban population: 19.4% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.08% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)

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 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

refugees (country of origin): 13,509 (Tibet/China) (2016); 9,804 (Bhutan) (2017) | IDPs: 50,000 (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) (2016) | stateless persons: undetermined (2016); 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 Lhotshampa) 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

Airports

47 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 95

Airports - with paved runways

total: 11 | over 3,047 m: 1 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 | 914 to 1,523 m: 6 | under 914 m: 1 (2017)

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 36 | 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 | 914 to 1,523 m: 6 | under 914 m: 29 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9N (2016)

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 (2015)

Railways

total: 53 km | narrow gauge: 53 km 0.762-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 131

Roadways

total: 27,990 km | paved: 11,890 km | unpaved: 16,100 km (2016) | country comparison to the world: 132