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Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture-products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $536 million expenditures: $818 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY96/97 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa

Debt - external (Debt-external) [time series]

$2.6 billion (1997 est.)

Economic aid [time series]

recipient: ODA, $411 million (FY97/98)

Economic overview (Economy-overview) [time series]

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with more than half of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Production of textiles and carpets has expanded recently and accounted for about 80% of foreign exchange earnings in the past two years. Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Agricultural production is growing by about 5% on average as compared with annual population growth of 2.5%. Since May 1991, the government has been moving forward with economic reforms particularly those that encourage trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements in order to simplify investment procedures. The government has also been cutting expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. More recently, however, political instability - five different governments over the past few years-has hampered Kathmandu's ability to forge consensus to implement key economic reforms. Nepal has considerable scope for accelerating economic growth by exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas where there has recently been foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other areas will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The international community's role of funding more than 60% of Nepal's development budget and more than 28% of total budgetary expenditures will likely continue as a major ingredient of growth.

Electricity - capacity (Electricity-capacity) [time series]

292,000 kW (1995)

Electricity - consumption per capita (Electricity-consumption per capita) [time series]

48 kWh (1996 est.)

Electricity - production (Electricity-production) [time series]

980 million kWh (1996)

Exchange rates [time series]

Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1-63.265 (January 1998), 58.010 (1997), 56.692 (1996), 51.890 (1995), 49.398 (1994), 48.607 (1993)

Exports [time series]

total value: $419 million (f.o.b., 1997 est.) but does not include unrecorded border trade with India commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain partners: India, US, Germany, UK

Fiscal year [time series]

16 July-15 July Communications

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$31.1 billion (1997 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP-composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 40% industry: 21% services: 39% (1997 est.)

Real GDP per capita (GDP-per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity-$1,370 (1997 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP-real growth rate) [time series]

4.2% (1997 est.)

Imports [time series]

total value: $1.6 billion (c.i.f., 1997 est.) commodities: petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10% partners: India, Singapore, Japan, Germany

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

14.7% (FY94/95 est.)

Industries [time series]

tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production

Inflation rate (consumer prices) (Inflation rate-consumer price index) [time series]

7.5% (1997 est.)

Labor force [time series]

total: 10 million (1996 est.) by occupation: agriculture 81%, services 16%, industry 3% note: severe lack of skilled labor

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 88, FM 1, shortwave 0

Radios [time series]

690,000 (1992 est.)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service domestic: NA international: radiotelephone communications; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones) [time series]

115,911 (1996 est.)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

9 (1996 est.)

Televisions [time series]

45,000 (1992 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

NA%; substantial underemployment (1996)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 140,800 sq km land: 136,800 sq km water: 4,000 sq km

Area - comparative (Area-comparative) [time series]

slightly larger than Arkansas

Climate [time series]

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

Coastline [time series]

0 km (landlocked)

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m

Environment - current issues (Environment-current issues) [time series]

the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and cutting down trees to expand agricultural land without replanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution (use of contaminated water presents human health risks)

International environmental agreements (Environment-international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Geographic coordinates [time series]

28 00 N, 84 00 E

Geography - note (Geography-note) [time series]

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks

Irrigated land [time series]

8,500 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 17% permanent crops: 0% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 42% other: 26% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southern Asia, between China and India

Map references [time series]

Asia

Maritime claims [time series]

none (landlocked)

Natural hazards [time series]

severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

Natural resources [time series]

quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Terrain [time series]

Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

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

Constitution [time series]

9 November 1990

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal conventional short form: Nepal

Data code [time series]

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK embassy: Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [977] (1) 411179

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to the throne 31 January 1972 following the death of his father King MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24 February 1975); Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 15 April 1998); note-Prime Minister KOIRALA-the country's seventh prime minister since 1991-replaces Prime Minister Surya Bahadur THAPA, who served from October 1997 until April 1998, when he resigned as part of a power-sharing agreement with his coalition partners cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the king on the recommendation of the prime minister elections: none; the king is a constitutional monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the king

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 667-5534 consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[977] (1) 419963

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

Government type [time series]

parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991

Independence [time series]

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

International organization participation [time series]

AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFCTU, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIBH, UNMOP, UNPREDEP, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice is appointed by the king on recommendation of the Constitutional Council, the other judges are appointed by the king on the recommendation of the Judicial Council

Legal system [time series]

based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: House of Representatives-last held 15 November 1994 (next to be held by 15 November 1999) election results: House of Representatives-percent of vote by party-NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats by party - CPN/UML 88, NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP 4, Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party 3, independents 7

Capital (National capital) [time series]

Kathmandu

National holiday [time series]

Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist (CPN/UML), Man Mohan ADHIKARI, party president, Madhar KUMAR, general secretary; Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president, Daranath Rana DHATT, general secretary; National Democratic Party (NDP; also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP), Surya Bahadur THAPA; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, Gajendra Narayan SINGH, president; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chair

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure (Military expenditures-dollar figure) [time series]

$36 million (FY92/93)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures-percent of GDP) [time series]

1.2% (FY92/93)

Military manpower - availability (Military manpower-availability) [time series]

males age 15-49: 5,739,283 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service (Military manpower-fit for military service) [time series]

males: 2,983,449 (1998 est.)

Military manpower - military age (Military manpower-military age) [time series]

17 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually (Military manpower-reaching military age annually) [time series]

males: 275,582 (1998 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 42% (male 5,087,855; female 4,779,941) 15-64 years: 55% (male 6,655,865; female 6,387,255) 65 years and over: 3% (male 392,141; female 395,364) (July 1998 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

35.66 births/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Death rate [time series]

10.44 deaths/1,000 population (1998 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas

Infant mortality rate [time series]

75.98 deaths/1,000 live births (1998 est.)

Languages [time series]

Nepali (official), 20 other languages divided into numerous dialects

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 57.89 years male: 58.04 years female: 57.74 years (1998 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 27.5% male: 40.9% female: 14% (1995 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nepalese (singular and plural) adjective: Nepalese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1998 est.)

People - note (People-note) [time series]

refugee issue over the presence in Nepal of approximately 91,000 Bhutanese refugees, 90% of whom are in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps

Population [time series]

23,698,421 (July 1998 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.52% (1998 est.)

Religions [time series]

Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981) note: only official Hindu state in the world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and Buddhist groups

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female (1998 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.87 children born/woman (1998 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international (Disputes-international) [time series]

with Bhutan over 91,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal

Illicit drugs [time series]

illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West NETHERLANDS

Transportation

Airports [time series]

45 (1997 est.)

Airports - with paved runways (Airports-with paved runways) [time series]

total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (1997 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways (Airports-with unpaved runways) [time series]

total: 40 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 29 (1997 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 7,700 km paved: 3,196 km unpaved: 4,504 km (1996 est.)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

none

Railways [time series]

total: 101 km; note-all in Kosi close to Indian border narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge