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, gained traction and threatened 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. Following the November 2006 peace accord between the government and the Maoists, an interim constitution was promulgated and the Maoists were allowed to enter parliament in mid-January 2007. Constituent elections are planned for June 2007.
Location
Southern Asia, between China and India
Geographic coordinates
28 00 N, 84 00 E
Map references
Asia
Area
total
147,181 sq km
land
143,181 sq km
water
4,000 sq km
Area - comparative
slightly larger than Arkansas
Land boundaries
total
2,926 km
border countries
China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Terrain
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
Elevation extremes
lowest point
Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point
Mount Everest 8,850 m
Natural resources
quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use
arable land
16.07%
permanent crops
0.85%
other
83.08% (2005)
Irrigated land
11,700 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards
severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Environment - current issues
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
Environment - international agreements
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
Geography - note
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
Population
28,901,790 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure
0-14 years
38.3% (male 5,721,720/female 5,360,391)
15-64 years
57.9% (male 8,597,037/female 8,134,115)
65 years and over
3.8% (male 528,113/female 560,414) (2007 est.)
Median age
total
20.5 years
male
20.3 years
female
20.6 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate
2.132% (2007 est.)
Birth rate
30.46 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate
9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years
1.067 male(s)/female
15-64 years
1.057 male(s)/female
65 years and over
0.942 male(s)/female
total population
1.056 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate
total
63.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male
61.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female
65.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth
total population
60.56 years
male
60.78 years
female
60.33 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate
4.01 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
0.5% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
61,000 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths
3,100 (2003 est.)
Nationality
noun
Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective
Nepalese
Ethnic groups
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)
Religions
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
Languages
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 (2001 est.)
Literacy
definition
age 15 and over can read and write
total population
48.6%
male
62.7%
female
34.9% (2001 census)
Country name
conventional long and short form
Nepal
local long and short form
Nepal
Government type
parliamentary democracy
Capital
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)
Administrative divisions
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Independence
1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
National holiday
in 2006, Parliament abolished the birthday of King GYANENDRA (7 July) and Constitution Day (9 November) as national holidays
Constitution
9 November 1990; the government began working on an interim constitution in May 2006
Legal system
based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch
chief of state
Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 30 April 2006)
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
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition historically has been appointed prime minister by the monarch
Legislative branch
a 330 seat Interim Parliament was formed on 15 January 2007 following the promulgation of an interim constitution
elections: elections are planned for June 2007
election results: Interim Parliament seats by party - NC 85, CPN/M 83, CPN/UML 83, NC/D 48, RPP 9, NSP/AD 5, NWPP 4, People's Front Nepal (Amik Sherchan Group) 4, People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur K.C. Group) 3, UFL 3, People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur Ale Group) 2, NSP 1
Judicial branch
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)
Political parties and leaders
Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav Kumar NEPAL]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Pashupati Shumsher RANA] (also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP); Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP - Mandal [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party - Ananda Devi [Ananda DEVI]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]; Nepali Congress-Democratic [Sher Bahadur DEUBA]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA]; People's Front Nepal (Amik Sherchan Group); People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur Ale Group); People's Front Nepal (Chitra Bahadur K.C. Group); Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP [Surya Bahadur THAPA] (split from RPP in March 2005); Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal (merged with People's Front Nepal or PFN in 2002); United Leftist Front or UFL [C.P. MAINALI]
Political pressure groups and leaders
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
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
Economy - overview
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$41.18 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate)
$6.948 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate
1.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP)
$1,500 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector
agriculture
38%
industry
20%
services
42% (FY05/06 est.)
Labor force
11.11 million
note: severe lack of skilled labor (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation
agriculture
76%
industry
6%
services
18% (2004 est.)
Unemployment rate
42% (2004 est.)
Population below poverty line
31% (FY03/04)
Household income or consumption by percentage share
lowest 10%
2.6%
highest 10%
39.1% (2003-2004)
Distribution of family income - Gini index
37.7 (FY04/05)
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
8.6% (November 2006 est.)
Budget
revenues
$1.153 billion
expenditures
$1.927 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA (FY06/07)
gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer
Imports - partners
India 49%, China 12.4%, UAE 11.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.2%, Kuwait 4.4% (2006)
Debt - external
$3.07 billion (March 2006)
Economic aid - recipient
$533 million (FY04/05)
Currency (code)
Nepalese rupee (NPR)
Currency code
NPR
Exchange rates
Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 72.446 (2006), 72.16 (2005), 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003), 77.877 (2002)
Fiscal year
16 July - 15 July
Telephones - main lines in use
448,600 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular
248,800 (2005)
Telephone system
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)
Radio broadcast stations
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2000)
Radios
840,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations
1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)
Televisions
130,000 (1997)
Internet country code
.np
Internet hosts
17,789 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs)
6 (2000)
Internet users
175,000 (2005)
Airports
48 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways
total
10
over 3,047 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
7
under 914 m
2 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways
total
38
1,524 to 2,437 m
1
914 to 1,523 m
8
under 914 m
29 (2006)
Railways
total
59 km
narrow gauge
59 km 0.762-m gauge (2005)
Roadways
total
17,380 km
paved
9,886 km
unpaved
7,494 km (2004)
Military branches
Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service); Nepalese Police Force
Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Manpower available for military service
males age 18-49
6,107,091
females age 18-49
5,744,989 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service
males age 18-49
4.193 million
females age 18-49
3,853,102 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually
males age 18-49
308,031
females age 18-49
286,604 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP
1.6% (2006)
Disputes - international
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
Refugees and internally displaced persons
refugees (country of origin)
106,248 (Bhutan), 20,153 (Tibet/China)
IDPs
100,000-200,000 (ongoing conflict between government forces and Maoist rebels; displacement spread across the country) (2006)
Illicit drugs
illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West
