View Intelligence Dossier Back to 2011 CSV Excel Print All Years

Communications

Broadcast media [time series]

state operates 2 television stations as well as national and regional radio stations; more than 60 independent radio stations and a small number of independent television stations (2007)

Internet country code [time series]

.np

Internet users (Internet hosts) [time series]

43,928 (2010) country comparison to the world: 91

Internet users [time series]

577,800 (2009) country comparison to the world: 116

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone service subscribership base only about 30 per 100 persons international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2008)

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

841,700 (2010) country comparison to the world: 87

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

9.196 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 74

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

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

Budget [time series]

revenues: $3 billion expenditures: $4.6 billion (FY10)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]

-10.1% of GDP (FY10) country comparison to the world: 195

Central bank discount rate [time series]

6% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 59 6.5% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]

8% (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 127 8% (31 December 2009 est.)

Current account balance [time series]

-$449 million (2010) country comparison to the world: 108 -$227.4 million (2009)

Debt - external [time series]

$4.5 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 117 $3.285 billion (2008)

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

47.2 (2008) country comparison to the world: 30 36.7 (1996)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with almost one-quarter 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 about 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 feasible capacity, but political instability hampers foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

2.525 billion kWh (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 132

Electricity - exports [time series]

0 kWh (2010 est.)

Electricity - imports [time series]

70 million kWh (2008 est.)

Electricity - production [time series]

2.6 billion kWh (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Exchange rates [time series]

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar - 72.56 (2010) 77.44 (2009) 65.21 (2008) 70.35 (2007) 72.446 (2006)

Exports [time series]

$901.9 million (2009) country comparison to the world: 155 $837.4 million (2008)

Exports - commodities [time series]

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

Exports - partners [time series]

India 61.7%, US 7.5%, Germany 4.6%, Bangladesh 4.1% (2010)

GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]

$15.84 billion (2010 est.)

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

$35.81 billion (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 102 $34.25 billion (2009 est.) $32.66 billion (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

agriculture: 32.8% industry: 14.4% services: 52.8% (2010 est.)

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

$1,200 (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 206 $1,200 (2009 est.) $1,200 (2008 est.) note: data are in 2010 US dollars

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

4.6% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 79 4.9% (2009 est.) 6.1% (2008 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA highest 10%: 40.6% (2008)

Imports [time series]

$5.016 billion (2009) country comparison to the world: 113 $4.266 billion (2009 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

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

Imports - partners [time series]

India 56.2%, China 22.5% (2010)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

1.8% (FY08) country comparison to the world: 136

Industries [time series]

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

10% (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 199 11.6% (2009 est.)

Investment (gross fixed) [time series]

3.5% of GDP (2020 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Labor force [time series]

18 million country comparison to the world: 32 note: severe lack of skilled labor (2009 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture: 75% industry: 7% services: 18% (2010 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]

$4.843 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 78 $5.485 billion (31 December 2009) $4.894 billion (31 December 2008)

Natural gas - consumption [time series]

0 cu m (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 210

Natural gas - exports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 153

Natural gas - imports [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 163

Natural gas - production [time series]

0 cu m (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108

Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]

0 cu m (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 175

Oil - consumption [time series]

20,000 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 129

Oil - exports [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 185

Oil - imports [time series]

13,740 bbl/day (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 135

Oil - production [time series]

0 bbl/day (2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 208

Oil - proved reserves [time series]

0 bbl (1 January 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 174

Population below poverty line [time series]

24.7% (2008)

Stock of broad money [time series]

$10.34 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 101 $8.508 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad [time series]

$NA

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]

$NA

Stock of domestic credit [time series]

$8.069 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 100 $6.695 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money [time series]

$3.175 billion (31 December 2010 est.) country comparison to the world: 108 $2.587 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Taxes and other revenues [time series]

18.9% of GDP (FY10) country comparison to the world: 163

Unemployment rate [time series]

46% (2008 est.) country comparison to the world: 190 42% (2004 est.)

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 147,181 sq km country comparison to the world: 94 land: 143,351 sq km water: 3,830 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, 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

Total water withdrawal (Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)) [time series]

total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%) per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000)

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]

11,680 sq km (2008)

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

Total renewable water resources [time series]

210.2 cu km (1999)

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]

15 January 2007 (interim Constitution); note - in April 2008, a Constituent Assembly was elected to draft and promulgate a new constitution by May 2010; the fourth and final deadline extended to May 2012

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal conventional short form: Nepal local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal local short form: Nepal

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200 FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Shankar Prasad SHARMA 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: President Ram Baran YADAV (since 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008) head of government: Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI (since 29 August 2011); Deputy Prime Ministers Bijay Kumar GACHCHADAR (since 29 August 2011) and Narayan Kaji SHRESTHA cabinet: cabinet was formed in May 2009 by a majority coalition made up of the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist, Nepali Congress, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Nepal-Democratic, and several smaller parties (For more information visit theWorld Leaders website) elections: president elected by Parliament; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; election last held on 21 July 2008; date of next election NA election results: Ram Baran YADAV elected president by the Constituent Assembly in a second round of voting on 21 July 2008; Ram Baran YADAV 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH 282

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 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 [time series]

federal democratic republic

Independence [time series]

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

International law organization participation [time series]

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation [time series]

ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (the president appoints the chief justice on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the chief justice appoints other judges on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)

Legal system [time series]

English common law and Hindu legal concepts

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral Constituent Assembly (601 seats; 240 members elected by direct popular vote, 335 by proportional representation, and 26 appointed by the Cabinet (Council of Ministers)) elections: last held on 10 April 2008 (next to be held NA) election results: percent of vote by party - CPN-M 38%, NC 19%, CPN-UML 18%,Madhesi People's Right Forum 9%, other 11%; seats by party - CPN-M 229, NC 115, CPN-UML 108, Madhesi People's Rights Forum 54, Terai Madhes Democratic Party 21, other smaller parties 74; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet are included in the totals above

National anthem(s) (National anthem) [time series]

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 [time series]

Republic Day, 29 May; Democracy Day, 24 April

National symbol(s) [time series]

rhododendron blossom

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

Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party [Keshav Prasad MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (inactive); Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist Leninist or CPN-ML [C.P. MAINALI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified [Raj Singh SHRIS]; Communist Party of Nepal-United [Chandra Dev JOSHI]; Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist or CPN-UML [Jhalanath KHANAL]; Dalit Janajati Party [Vishwendraman PASHWAN]; Federal Democratic National Forum; Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHHADAR]; Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]; Nepal Loktantrik Samajbadi Dal [Upendra GACHCHHADAR]; Nepal Pariwar Dal [Eknath DHAKAL]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party-Anandi Devi [Sarita GIRI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress or NC [Sushil KOIRALA]; Nepali Janata Dal [Harish Chandra SHA]; Newa Rastriya Party [Keshav Man SHAKYA]; Rastriya Janamorcha [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]; Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party [Pashupati Shumsher RANA]; Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal [Kamal THAPA]; Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]; Samajbadi Prajatantrik Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]; Terai Madhes Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]; Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA]

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

other: several small armed Madhesi groups along the southern border with India; a variety of groups advocating regional autonomy for individual ethnic groups

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal

Introduction

Background [time series]

In 1951, the Nepali 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. An insurgency led by Maoist extremists broke out in 1996. The ensuing ten-year civil war between insurgents and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and assumption of absolute power by the king. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a November 2006 peace accord and the promulgation of an interim constitution. Following a nation-wide election in April 2008, the newly formed Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a federal democratic republic and abolished the monarchy at its first meeting the following month. The Constituent Assembly elected the country's first president in July. The Maoists, who received a plurality of votes in the Constituent Assembly election, formed a coalition government in August 2008, but resigned in May 2009 after the president overruled a decision to fire the chief of the army staff. The Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist and the Nepali Congress party then formed a new coalition government with several smaller parties. In November 2011, Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARI and the leaders of the main political parties signed a formal agreement to begin the process of reintegrating the former Maoist combatants. Over the next year, the Constituent Assembly is scheduled to draft a new constitution and complete the government formation process.

Military

Manpower available for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 6,941,152 females age 16-49: 7,618,397 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service [time series]

males age 16-49: 5,260,878 females age 16-49: 5,947,512 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually [time series]

male: 380,172 female: 367,103 (2010 est.)

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

Nepal Army (2010)

Military expenditures [time series]

1.6% of GDP (2006) country comparison to the world: 92

Military service age and obligation [time series]

18 years of age for voluntary military service; 15 years of age for military training; no conscription (2011)

People and Society

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 34.6% (male 5,177,264/female 4,983,864) 15-64 years: 61.1% (male 8,607,338/female 9,344,537) 65 years and over: 4.4% (male 597,628/female 681,252) (2011 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

22.17 births/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 78

Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]

38.8% (2006) country comparison to the world: 7

Death rate [time series]

6.81 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 143

Drinking water source [time series]

improved: urban: 93% of population rural: 87% of population total: 88% of population unimproved: urban: 7% of population rural: 13% of population total: 12% of population (2008)

Education expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]

4.6% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 79

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]

0.4% (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 71

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

4,700 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 40

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

64,000 (2009 est.) country comparison to the world: 51

Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]

5.8% of GDP (2009) country comparison to the world: 116

Hospital bed density [time series]

5 beds/1,000 population (2006) country comparison to the world: 39

Infant mortality rate [time series]

total: 44.54 deaths/1,000 live births country comparison to the world: 55 male: 44.54 deaths/1,000 live births female: 44.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Languages [time series]

Nepali (official) 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 (2001 est.)

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 66.16 years country comparison to the world: 163 male: 64.94 years female: 67.44 years (2011 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 48.6% male: 62.7% female: 34.9% (2001 census)

Major urban areas - population (Major cities - population) [time series]

KATHMANDU (capital) 990,000 (2009)

Major infectious diseases [time series]

degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever (2009)

Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]

380 deaths/100,000 live births (2008) country comparison to the world: 38

Median age [time series]

total: 21.6 years male: 20.7 years female: 22.5 years (2011 est.)

Nationality [time series]

noun: Nepali (singular and plural) adjective: Nepali

Net migration rate [time series]

0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 61

Physician density (Physicians density) [time series]

0.21 physicians/1,000 population (2004) country comparison to the world: 150

Population [time series]

29,391,883 (July 2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 41

Population growth rate [time series]

1.596% (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 72

Religions [time series]

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)

Sanitation facility access [time series]

improved: urban: 51% of population rural: 27% of population total: 31% of population unimproved: urban: 49% of population rural: 73% of population total: 69% of population (2008)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) [time series]

total: 9 years male: 10 years female: 8 years (2003)

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.47 children born/woman (2011 est.) country comparison to the world: 85

Urbanization [time series]

urban population: 19% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 4.7% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities; approximately 106,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas (Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal since 1990

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): 107,803 (Bhutan); 20,153 (Tibet/China) IDPs: 50,000-70,000 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; displacement spread across the country) (2007)

Transportation

Airports [time series]

47 (2010) country comparison to the world: 93

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 1 (2010)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 31 (2010)

Railways [time series]

total: 59 km country comparison to the world: 130 narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2010)

Roadways [time series]

total: 17,282 km country comparison to the world: 118 paved: 10,142 km unpaved: 7,140 km (2007)