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Communications

Internet country code [time series]

.np

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

17,789 (2006)

Internet users [time series]

175,000 (2005)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephone network domestic: NA international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

448,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

248,800 (2005)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $1.153 billion expenditures: $1.789 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (FY05/06)

Exchange rates (Currency (code)) [time series]

Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Debt - external [time series]

$3.34 billion (March 2005)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]

37.7 (FY04/05)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$424 million (FY00/01)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with almost one-third of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for 38% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Security concerns relating to the Maoist conflict have led to a decrease in tourism, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, its civil strife, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

1.85 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports [time series]

111 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports [time series]

241 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - production [time series]

2.565 billion kWh (2005)

Exchange rates [time series]

Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 71.368 (2005), 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003), 77.877 (2002), 74.949 (2001)

Exports [time series]

$822 million f.o.b.; note - does not include unrecorded border trade with India (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Exports - partners [time series]

India 53.7%, US 17.4%, Germany 7.1% (2005)

Fiscal year [time series]

16 July - 15 July

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$6.655 billion (2005 est.)

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

$39.14 billion (2005 est.)

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

agriculture: 38% industry: 21% services: 41% (2005 est.)

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

$1,400 (2005 est.)

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

2.7% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: 2.6% highest 10%: 39.1% (2003-2004)

Imports [time series]

$2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer

Imports - partners [time series]

India 47.5%, UAE 11.2%, China 10.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.9%, Kuwait 4.1% (2005)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

3.8% (FY04/05)

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

7.8% (October 2005 est.)

Labor force [time series]

10.4 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 76% industry: 6% services: 18%

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption [time series]

11,980 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports [time series]

NA bbl/day

Oil - imports [time series]

11,760 bbl/day NA bbl/day

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line [time series]

31% (2003-2004)

Unemployment rate [time series]

42% (2004 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 147,181 sq km land: 143,181 sq km water: 4,000 sq km

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 8,850 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

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

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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 [time series]

28 00 N, 84 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

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 - on the borders with China and India respectively

Irrigated land [time series]

11,700 sq km (2003)

Land boundaries [time series]

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

Land use [time series]

arable land: 16.07% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 83.08% (2005)

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, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Terrain [time series]

Tarai 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

Capital [time series]

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)

Constitution [time series]

9 November 1990

Country name [time series]

conventional long and short form: Nepal local long and short form: Nepal

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY embassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [977] (1) 411-1179 FAX: [977] (1) 441-9963

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

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (since 4 June 2001) head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 30 April 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Khadga Prasad OLI (since 2 May 2006) and Amik SHERCHAN since June 2006) cabinet: Cabinet historically appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; note - the prime minister selected the Cabinet in May 2006 in consultation with the political parties elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition historically has been appointed prime minister by the monarch

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 and constitutional monarchy

Independence [time series]

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

International organization participation [time series]

AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed by the monarch 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 in May 1999; note - Parliament was dissolved in May 2002 but was finally reconvened in April 2006 with most of the members that were elected in 1999 election results: House of Representatives (for 1999 parliament) - percent of vote by party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP (RPP) 10.4%, NSP 3.2%, Rastriya Jana Morcha 1.4%, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 0.8%, NWPP 0.5%, others 14.8%; seats by party - NC 113, CPN/UML 69, NDP 11, NSP 5, Rastriya Jana Morcha 5, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 1, NWPP 1; note - NC, NSP, and NDP have since each split into two parties

National holiday [time series]

Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)

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

Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav Kumar NEPAL, general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP (also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP) [Pashupati Shumsher RANA, chairman]; Nepali Congress-Democratic [Sher Bahadur DEUBA, president]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president, Sushil KOIRALA, vice president]; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP - Mandal [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL, party president]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party - Ananda Devi [Ananda DEVI, president]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; People's Front Nepal (Rastriya Jana Morcha) [Amik SHERCHAN, chairman]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA, chairman]; note - split from RPP in March 2005; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [leader NA]; note - merged with People's Front Nepal or PFN in 2002

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

Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI]; numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government. Citing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency and corruption, the king in February 2005 dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, imprisoned party leaders, and assumed power. The king's government subsequently released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency in May 2005, but the monarch retained absolute power until April 2006. After nearly three weeks of mass protests organized by the seven-party opposition and the Maoists, the king allowed parliament to reconvene on 28 April 2006.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 6,107,091 females age 18-49: 5,744,989 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 18-49: 4.193 million females age 18-49: 3,853,102 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually [time series]

males age 18-49: 308,031 females age 18-49: 286,604 (2005 est.)

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

Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service); Nepalese Police Force

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

1.5% (2005 est.)

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 38.7% (male 5,648,959/female 5,291,447) 15-64 years: 57.6% (male 8,365,526/female 7,925,941) 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 513,777/female 541,497) (2006 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

30.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate [time series]

9.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

0.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

3,100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

61,000 (2001 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 65.32 deaths/1,000 live births male: 63.56 deaths/1,000 live births female: 67.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Languages [time series]

Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census) note: many in government and business also speak English

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 60.18 years male: 60.43 years female: 59.91 years (2006 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.6% male: 62.7% female: 34.9% (2000-2004 est.)

Median age [time series]

total: 20.3 years male: 20.1 years female: 20.4 years (2006 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nepalese (singular and plural) adjective: Nepalese

Net migration rate [time series]

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Population [time series]

28,287,147 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

2.17% (2006 est.)

Religions [time series]

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census) note: only official Hindu state in the world

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

4.1 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

joint border commission continues to work on small disputed sections of boundary with India; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities

Illicit drugs [time series]

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 [time series]

refugees (country of origin): 104,915 (Bhutan) IDPs: 100,000-200,000 (ongoing conflict between government forces and Maoist rebels; displacement spread across the country) (2005)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

48 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 10 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 38 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 29 (2006)

Railways [time series]

total: 59 km narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2005)

Roadways [time series]

total: 15,905 km paved: 8,573 km unpaved: 7,332 km (2003)