Nepal, state of Asia, mostly located in the Himalayas; 147,181 km2, 28.1 million residents (2019).Nepal borders the north to China, but is otherwise surrounded by India. The capital is Kathmandu (1 million residents, 2011).
Country facts
- Nepal Adhirajya
- Country abbreviation: NP
- Area: 147 181 km2
- Population (2019): 28.1 million residents
- Capital: Kathmandu
- Main language: nepali
- State: Republic
- Head of State: Bidhya Devi Bhandari (President)
- Head of Government: Sher Bahadur Deuba
- Per capita GDP (2018): US $ 1,026
- GNI per capita (2018): US $ 960
- Currency unit: 1 Nepali rupee = 100 paisas
- Currency code: NPR
- Country Number (Telephony): 977
- Internet domain name: np
- Time difference compared to Sweden: +4: 45
Nature
- Land use: forest (42%), agricultural land (17%), other (41%)
- Highest mountain: Mount Everest (8,848 m above sea level)
Population
- Population density (2019): 191 residents per km2
- Natural population growth (2019): 1.4%; birthrate 20 ‰, deathrate 6 ‰
- Age structure (2019): 0-14 years (32%), 15-64 (62%), 65- (6%)
- Life expectancy (2019): men 69 years, women 72 years
- Infant mortality (2019): 29 per 1,000 live births
- Population forecast 2050: 35 million residents
- HDI (2017): 0.574 (place 149 of 189)
- Urbanization rate (2019): 20%
- Most populous city (2011): Kathmandu (1 million residents)
Business
- Industry’s contribution to GDP (2017): agriculture (27%), industry (14%), service (59%)
- Exports of goods (2017): US $ 819 million
- Main export products: clothing, vegetables, carpets
- Main exporting countries: India, USA, Turkey
- Imports of goods (2017): USD 10,000 million
- Main import products: oil products, machinery, gold
- Main importing countries: India, China
- Railway network (2018): 60 km
Nepal is for the most part on the southern slope of the Himalayas. However, the southernmost part of the country reaches a narrow zone into the Ganga plain. The altitude conditions strongly affect Nepal’s climate, which varies from tropical monsoon climate to mountainous polar climate. After the 2008 election, a constitutional assembly voted to abolish the monarchy. Then a process was also initiated that will lead to a new constitution. For the time being, however, a provisional constitution applies from 2007. It states that Nepal must have a parliamentary governing body, a multi-party system and an independent judiciary. It guarantees freedom of the press and speech and prohibits the death penalty.
Nepal is one of the least industrialized, least urbanized and poorest countries in the world. More than 90% of the working population are employed in agriculture. The manufacturing industry is very small and mainly located to the Kathmandu valley as well as the eastern and middle Tarai. The country’s economy is dependent on foreign aid. from neighboring India. An increasingly important source of income is increasing tourism.
Nepal Map
