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Nepal, General Information, Language, Religion & people, Climate...
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Nepal
Introduction |
| Location |
| Nepal is a land-locked country bordering with
the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of
China in the north and surrounded by India in the east,
south and west. |
| Language |
| Nepali is the national language of Nepal.
Educated people understand and speak English as well. There
are hundreds of local dialects spoken by people from various
ethnic groups. |
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| Climate |
| Nepal has four major seasons, namely,(1) Winter:
December-February, (2) Spring: March-May, (3) Summer:
June-August and (4) Autumn: September-November. Nepal can be
visited all the year round. |
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| People
and Religion |
| Nepalese people are mainly divided into two
distinct groups, the Indo-Aryans and the Mangoloids (the Kirats). Before 2007 AD, Nepal
was regarded as the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. But after that the Government of Nepal has already announced the country to be secular country. The Hindu Temples and
Buddhist Shrines are scattered all over the Kingdom. Nepal
is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Herald of Peace, the Light of Asia. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians live together in harmony.
And other nature worshippers, too, exist here. |
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| Currency & Foreign exchange |
Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs.
1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000
denominations. Coins come in
Rs. 1, 2 , 5 and 10 denominations.
Foreign currencies must be
exchanged only through banks or authorized money
exchangers. The receipts of such transaction are
to be obtained and retained. Visitors can
exchange foreign currency at the foreign
exchange counter at the airport upon arrival.
Visitors other than the Indian nationals have to
make the payment in foreign
currency (non-Indian currency) in hotel, trekking agencies
or travel agencies and for air tickets. |
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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) |
Total renewable water resources: |
210.2 cu km (1999) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural): |
total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000) |
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.) |
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: |
constitutional monarchy |
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 (Unification lead by Prithvi Narayan SHAH) |
Constitution: |
9 November 1990; note - a new interim constitution was promulgated in January 2007; the November 2006 peace agreement calls for the election of a constituent assembly to draft a new permanent constitution |
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)
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: Constituent Assembly elections orginally scheduled for June 2007 are expected to be held on 10 April 2008
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]; 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 |
International organization participation: |
ADB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Suresh Chandra CHALISE
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general:
New York: |
Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission: Ambassador Nancy J. POWELL
embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 400-7200
FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272 |
Flag description: |
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 |
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: |
30.9% (2004) |
Household income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 40.6% (2004) |
Distribution of family income - Gini index: |
47.2 (2004) |
Inflation rate (consumer prices): |
8.6% (November 2006 est.) |
Budget: |
revenues: $1.153 billion
expenditures: $1.927 billion (FY06/07) |
Agriculture - products: |
rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat |
Industries: |
tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production |
Industrial production growth rate: |
2.2% (FY05/06) |
Electricity - production: |
2.511 billion kWh (2006) |
Electricity - production by source: |
fossil fuel: 8.5%
hydro: 91.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
Electricity - consumption: |
1.96 billion kWh (2006) |
Electricity - exports: |
101 million kWh (2006) |
Electricity - imports: |
266 million kWh (2006) |
Oil - production: |
0 bbl/day (2005 est.) |
Oil - consumption: |
11,550 bbl/day (2006 est.) |
Oil - exports: |
0 bbl/day (2004) |
Oil - imports: |
11,530 bbl/day (2006 est.) |
Exports: |
$830 million f.o.b.; note - does not include unrecorded border trade with India (2006) |
Exports - commodities: |
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain |
Exports - partners: |
India 67.9%, US 11.7%, Germany 4.7% (2006) |
Imports: |
$2.398 billion f.o.b. (2006) |
Imports - commodities: |
gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer |
Imports - partners: |
India 61.8%, China 3.8%, Indonesia 3.3% (2006) |
Economic aid - recipient: |
$427.9 million (2005) |
Debt - external: |
$3.07 billion (March 2006) |
Market value of publicly traded shares: |
$963.5 million (2005) |
Currency (code): |
Nepalese rupee (NPR) |
Currency code: |
NPR |
Exchange rates: |
Nepalese rupees per US dollar - NA (2007), 72.446 (2006), 72.16 (2005), 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003) |
Fiscal year: |
16 July - 15 July |
Telephones - main lines in use: |
595,800 (2006) |
Telephones - mobile cellular: |
1.042 million (2006) |
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: |
18,733 (2007) |
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): |
6 (2000) |
Internet users: |
249,400 (2006) |
Airports: |
47 (2007) |
Airports - with paved runways: |
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (2007) |
Airports - with unpaved runways: |
total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 30 (2007) |
Railways: |
total: 59 km
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2006) |
Roadways: |
total: 17,380 km
paved: 9,886 km
unpaved: 7,494 km (2004) |
Military branches: |
Nepalese Army, Armed Police Force (2008) |
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 |
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