ARCHIVE // NP // 2017

Nepal

2017 Edition — sovereign

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Communications
Broadcast media [time series]
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 [time series]
.np
Internet users [time series]
total: 5,716,419 | percent of population: 19.7% (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]
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 [time series]
total subscriptions: 858,237 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 85
Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]
total: 32,120,305 | subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 111 (July 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 52
Economy
Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]
pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
Budget [time series]
revenues: $4.886 billion | expenditures: $4.592 billion (2016 est.)
Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-) [time series]
1.4% of GDP (FY2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 17
Central bank discount rate [time series]
7% (30 October 2016) | 7% (30 October 2015) | country comparison to the world: 48
Commercial bank prime lending rate [time series]
8.9% (31 December 2016 est.) | 9.6% (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
Current account balance [time series]
$1.339 billion (2016 est.) | $2.447 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 80
Debt - external [time series]
$4.321 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.155 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 137
Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income (Distribution of family income - Gini index) [time series]
32.8 (2010) | 47.2 (2008 est.) | country comparison to the world: 109
Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]
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 [time series]
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 [time series]
$761.6 million (2016 est.) | $813.1 million (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 164
Exports - commodities [time series]
clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, jute goods
Exports - partners [time series]
India 56.6%, US 11.5%, Turkey 4% (2016)
Fiscal year [time series]
16 July - 15 July
GDP (official exchange rate) [time series]
$21.14 billion (2016 est.)
Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP (purchasing power parity)) [time series]
$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 [time series]
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 [time series]
agriculture: 29.2% | industry: 13.1% | services: 50% (2016 est.)
Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita (PPP)) [time series]
$2,500 (2016 est.) | $2,500 (2015 est.) | $2,500 (2014 est.) | note: data are in 2016 dollars | country comparison to the world: 197
Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]
0.4% (2016 est.) | 3.3% (2015 est.) | 6% (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 182
Gross national saving [time series]
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 [time series]
lowest 10%: 3.2% | highest 10%: 29.5% (2011)
Imports [time series]
$8.757 billion (2016 est.) | $6.511 billion (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 100
Imports - commodities [time series]
petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine
Imports - partners [time series]
India 70.1%, China 10.3% (2016)
Industrial production growth rate [time series]
-6.3% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 191
Industries [time series]
tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production
Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]
9.9% (2016 est.) | 7.9% (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 201
Labor force [time series]
15.6 million | note: severe lack of skilled labor (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 39
Labor force - by occupation [time series]
agriculture: 69% | industry: 12% | services: 19% (2014 est.)
Market value of publicly traded shares [time series]
$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 [time series]
25.2% (2011 est.)
Public debt [time series]
27.3% of GDP (2016 est.) | 25.2% of GDP (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold [time series]
$8.506 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $7.945 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 78
Stock of broad money [time series]
$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 [time series]
$NA
Stock of direct foreign investment - at home [time series]
$103 million (31 July 2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131
Stock of domestic credit [time series]
$17.98 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $14.92 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 92
Stock of narrow money [time series]
$4.871 billion (31 December 2016 est.) | $4.762 billion (31 December 2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 102
Taxes and other revenues [time series]
23.1% of GDP (FY2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129
Unemployment rate [time series]
3.3% (2013 est.) | 2.7% (2008 est.) | country comparison to the world: 34
Energy
Carbon dioxide emissions (Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy) [time series]
4.2 million Mt (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 131
Crude oil - exports [time series]
2.016 million bbl/day (1) | country comparison to the world: 7
Crude oil - imports [time series]
2.016 million bbl/day (1) | country comparison to the world: 6
Crude oil - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Crude oil - proved reserves [time series]
0 bbl (1 January 2017 es) | country comparison to the world: 176
Electricity - consumption [time series]
3.746 billion kWh (FY 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 129
Electricity - exports [time series]
3.25 million kWh (FY 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 93
Electricity - from fossil fuels [time series]
6.3% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 204
Electricity - from hydroelectric plants [time series]
89.8% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 10
Electricity - from nuclear fuels [time series]
0% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 156
Electricity - from other renewable sources [time series]
3.6% of total installed capacity (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 107
Electricity - imports [time series]
1.758 billion kWh (FY 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 57
Electricity - installed generating capacity [time series]
838,100 kW (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 134
Electricity - production [time series]
3.342 billion kWh (FY 2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 130
Electricity access [time series]
population without electricity: 6,600,000 | electrification - total population: 76% | electrification - urban areas: 97% | electrification - rural areas: 72% (2013)
Natural gas - consumption [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 117
Natural gas - exports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 159
Natural gas - imports [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 167
Natural gas - production [time series]
0 cu m (2013 est.) | country comparison to the world: 178
Natural gas - proved reserves [time series]
0 cu m (1 January 2014 es) | country comparison to the world: 180
Refined petroleum products - consumption [time series]
32,000 bbl/day (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 119
Refined petroleum products - exports [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 186
Refined petroleum products - imports [time series]
30,590 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 101
Refined petroleum products - production [time series]
0 bbl/day (2014 est.) | country comparison to the world: 183
Geography
Area [time series]
total: 147,181 sq km | land: 143,351 sq km | water: 3,830 sq km | country comparison to the world: 96
Area - comparative [time series]
slightly larger than New York state
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 [time series]
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 [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
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 mountains - on the borders with China and India respectively
Irrigated land [time series]
13,320 sq km (2012)
Land boundaries [time series]
total: 3,159 km | border countries (2): China 1,389 km, India 1,770 km
Land use [time series]
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 [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
Population distribution (Population - distribution) [time series]
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 [time series]
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with 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)
Citizenship [time series]
citizenship by birth: yes | citizenship by descent: yes | dual citizenship recognized: no | residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years
Constitution [time series]
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 [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 | 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 [time series]
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 [time series]
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 [time series]
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 (Flag description) [time series]
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 [time series]
federal parliamentary 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, 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 [time series]
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 [time series]
English common law and Hindu legal concepts
Legislative branch [time series]
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(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, 28 May (2008); note - marks the abdication of Gyanendra SHAH, the last Nepalese monarch, and the establishment of a federal republic
National symbol(s) [time series]
rhododendron blossom; national color: red
Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]
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 parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]
National Federation of Indigenous Nationalities | Tharu Kalyankari Sabha (Tharus rights advocacy group)
Suffrage [time series]
18 years of age; universal
Introduction
Background [time series]
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 and Security
Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]
Nepal Army (2012)
Military expenditures [time series]
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 [time series]
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2014)
People and Society
Age structure [time series]
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 [time series]
19.5 births/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 83
Children under the age of 5 years underweight [time series]
30.1% (2014) | country comparison to the world: 17
Contraceptive prevalence rate [time series]
49.6% (2014)
Death rate [time series]
5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 176
Dependency ratios [time series]
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 [time series]
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 expenditure (Education expenditures) [time series]
3.7% of GDP (2015) | country comparison to the world: 87
Ethnic groups [time series]
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 [time series]
0.2% (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 94
HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]
1,700 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 56
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]
32,000 (2016 est.) | country comparison to the world: 65
Health expenditure (Health expenditures) [time series]
5.8% of GDP (2014) | country comparison to the world: 110
Infant mortality rate [time series]
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 [time series]
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 [time series]
total population: 71 years | male: 70.4 years | female: 71.6 years (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 153
Literacy [time series]
definition: age 15 and over can read and write | total population: 63.9% | male: 76.4% | female: 53.1% (2015 est.)
Major infectious diseases [time series]
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 [time series]
KATHMANDU (capital) 1.183 million (2015)
Maternal mortality ratio (Maternal mortality rate) [time series]
258 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45
Median age [time series]
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 [time series]
20.1 years | note: median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2011 est.)
Nationality [time series]
noun: Nepali (singular and plural) | adjective: Nepali
Net migration rate [time series]
-2.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 168
Obesity - adult prevalence rate [time series]
4.1% (2016) | country comparison to the world: 187
Population [time series]
29,384,297 (July 2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 45
Population distribution [time series]
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 [time series]
1.16% (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 91
Religions [time series]
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 [time series]
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) [time series]
total: 12 years | male: 12 years | female: 13 years (2015)
Sex ratio [time series]
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 [time series]
2.12 children born/woman (2017 est.) | country comparison to the world: 103
Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) (Unemployment, youth ages 15-24) [time series]
total: 3.5% | male: 4.2% | female: 2.9% (2008 est.)
Urbanization [time series]
urban population: 19.4% of total population (2017) | rate of urbanization: 3.08% annual rate of change (2015-20 est.)
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international [time series]
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 [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): 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
Transportation
Airports [time series]
47 (2013) | country comparison to the world: 95
Airports - with paved runways [time series]
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 [time series]
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 [time series]
9N (2016)
National air transport system [time series]
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 [time series]
total: 53 km | narrow gauge: 53 km 0.762-m gauge (2014) | country comparison to the world: 131
Roadways [time series]
total: 27,990 km | paved: 11,890 km | unpaved: 16,100 km (2016) | country comparison to the world: 132