Nepal Facts

by countryaah · Published June 3, 2019 · Updated April 26, 2020

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.