Nepal

constitutional monarchy, but King Birendra exercises control over multitiered system of governmentIndependence 1768, unified by Prithyi Narayan Shah

Nepal as the 1990 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 68 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.

field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe open editionEach field below ends in its editions, 1990 to 2025. Point at a year above to follow it down.

CapitalKathmandu

Area140,800 km2

Populationas each edition published it

19.15 million July 1990 · 31.33m in 2025

Population growth% a year

Not in this edition 2.43% in 1993

Median ageyears

Not in this edition 19.7 yrs in 2003

Life expectancyyears at birth

Not in this edition 51.98 yrs in 1993

Fertility ratechildren per woman

5.6 children per woman 1990 · 1.82 in 2025

Infant mortalitydeaths per 1,000 live births

99 deaths per 1,000 live births 1990 · 23.4 in 2025

GDP per capitaeach edition's own dollars

Not in this edition $170 in 1993

GDP real growth% a year

Not in this edition 3.1% in 1993

Geography

11 fields

Land useshare of 140,800 km2

arable land 17%meadows and pastures 13%forest and woodland 33%other 37%NEGL% permanent crops; includes 2% irrigated

Total area

140,800km2

land area: 136,800 km2Comparative area: slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries

2,926km total

China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Climate

varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winter in south

Terrain

Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Natural resources

quartz, water, timber, hydroelectric potential, scenic beauty; small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Environment

contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks;
deforestation;
soil erosion;
water pollution

Note

landlocked; strategic location between China and India

People

14 fields

Population

19,145,800

(July 1990), growth rate 2.4% (1990)

Per 1,000 population(1990)

Birth

39Death

15Net migration

Literacy

20%

Nationality

noun--Nepalese (sing. and pl.); adjective--Nepalese

Ethnic divisions

Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus, Sherpas, as well as many smaller groups

Religion

only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu (about 88% of population) and Buddhist groups; small groups of Muslims and Christians

Language

Nepali (official); 20 languages divided into numerous dialects

Labor force

4,100,000;
93% agriculture, 5% services, 2% industry;
severe lack of skilled labor

Organized labor

Teachers' Union, not officially recognized

Government

Constitutional monarchy, but King Birendra exercises control over multitiered system of government

18 fields

National Assembly, 112 seats, elected 12 May 1986one dot, one seat

(140 total, 112 elected) independents 112

Type

constitutional monarchy, but King Birendra exercises control over multitiered system of government

Administrative divisions

14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Legal system

based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday

Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)

Executive branch

monarch, chairman of the Council of State, Council of State, prime minister

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (Rashtriya Panchayat)

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat) Chief of State--King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (since 31 January 1972, crowned King 24 February 1985);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, son of the King (born 21 June 1971);
Head of Government--Prime Minister Marich Man Singh SHRESTHA (since 15 July 1986)

Political parties and leaders

all political parties outlawed but operate more or less openly; Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Ganesh Man Singh, K. P. Bhattarai, G. P. Koirala

Suffrage

universal at age 21 National Assembly--last held on 12 May 1986 (next to be held May 1991);
results--all independents since political parties are officially banned;
seats--(140 total, 112 elected) independents 112

Communists

Communist Party of Nepal (CPN); factions include V. B. Manandhar, Man Mohan Adhikari/Sahana Pradhan, Bharat Raj Joshi, Rai Majhi, Tulsi Lal, Krishna Raj Burma

Other political or pressure groups

numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital;
Indian merchants in Tarai and capital;
several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups operating from north India

Member of

ADB, CCC, Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, NAM, SAARC, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation

Ambassador Mohan Man SAINJU;
Chancery at 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington DC 20008;
telephone (202) 667-4550;
there is a Nepalese Consulate General in New York;
US--Ambassador Julia Chang BLOCH;
Embassy at Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu;
telephone [977] 411179 or 412718, 411601

Flag

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

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with a per capita income of only $158.

17 fields

GDP, purchasing power parity

$2.9billion

per capita $158; real growth rate 1.5% (FY89)

Inflation, consumer prices

8.1%

(FY89 est.)

Unemployment rate

underemployment estimated at 25-40% (1987)

External debt

$1.3billion

(December 1989 est.)

Imports $724 million (c.i.f., FY89 est.)commodities, where a share is given

petroleum products

20%fertilizer

11%machinery

10%

; partners--India 36%, Japan 13%, Europe 4%, US 1% (FY88)

Budget

Revenues

$296 millionExpenditures

$635 million

expenditures, including capital expenditures of $394 million (FY89 est.)

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with a per capita income of only $158. Real growth averaged 4% in the 1980s until FY89, when it plunged to 1.5% because of the ongoing trade/transit dispute with India. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 90% of the population and accounting for 60% of GDP and about 75% of exports.

Industrial activity is limited, and what there is involves the processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain). Apart from agricultural land and forests, the only other exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and tourism. Despite considerable investment in the agricultural sector, production in the 1980s has not kept pace with the population growth of 2.7%, which has led to a reduction in exportable surpluses and balance-of-payments difficulties. Economic prospects for the 1990s remain grim.

Exports

$374 million (f.o.b., FY89 est.), but does not include unrecorded border trade with India;
commodities--clothing, carpets, leather goods, grain;
partners--India 38%, US 23%, UK 6%, other Europe 9% (FY88)

Industrial production

growth rate - 4.5% (FY89 est.)

Electricity

205,000 kW capacity; 535 million kWh produced, 30 kWh per capita (1989)

Industries

small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills;
cigarette, textiles, cement, brick;
tourism

Agriculture

accounts for 60% of GDP and 90% of work force;
farm products--rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops, milk, buffalo meat;
not self-sufficient in food, particularly in drought years

Illicit drugs

illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets

Aid

US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-88), $285 million;
Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1980-87), $1.8 billion;
OPEC bilateral aid (1979-89), $30 million;
Communist countries (1970-88), $273 million

Currency

Nepalese rupee (plural--rupees); 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa

Exchange rates

Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1--28.559 (January 1990), 27.189 (1989), 23.289 (1988), 21.819 (1987), 21.230 (1986), 18.246 (1985)

Fiscal year

16 July-15 July

Communications

5 fields

Airports, 38 total, 38 usable

permanent-surface runways

5runways over 3,659 m

nonerunways 2,440-3,659 m

1runways 1,220-2,439 m

Networkskm

Highways

5,958Railroads

Highways: (1986); 2,645 km paved, 815 km gravel or crushed stone, 2,257 km improved and unimproved earth; also 241 km of seasonally motorable tracks · Railroads: (1985), all 0.762-meter narrow gauge; all in Tarai close to Indian border; 10 km from Raxaul to Birganj is government owned

Railroads

52 km (1985), all 0.762-meter narrow gauge;
all in Tarai close to Indian border;
10 km from Raxaul to Birganj is government owned

Highways

5,958 km total (1986);
2,645 km paved, 815 km gravel or crushed stone, 2,257 km improved and unimproved earth;
also 241 km of seasonally motorable tracks