Capital

Nepal

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)

etymology: name derives from the Kasthamandap temple that stood in Durbar Square; in Sanskrit, kastha means "wood" and mandapa means "pavilion"; the three-story structure was made entirely of wood, without iron nails or supports, and dated to the late 16th century; it collapsed during a 2015 earthquake

Citizenship

Nepal

citizenship by birth: yes

citizenship by descent only: yes

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 15 years

Legal system

Nepal

English common law and Hindu legal concepts; note - new criminal and civil codes came into effect on 17 August 2018

Suffrage

Nepal

18 years of age; universal

Area

Nepal

total: 147,181 sq km

land: 143,351 sq km

water: 3,830 sq km

Land use

Nepal

agricultural land: 28.8% (2018 est.)

arable land: 15.1% (2018 est.)

permanent crops: 1.2% (2018 est.)

permanent pasture: 12.5% (2018 est.)

forest: 25.4% (2018 est.)

other: 45.8% (2018 est.)

Location

Nepal

Southern Asia, between China and India

Age structure

Nepal

0-14 years: 26.32% (male 4,175,742/female 3,956,153)

15-64 years: 67.52% (male 10,016,748/female 10,846,101)

65 years and over: 6.16% (2023 est.) (male 930,510/female 974,189)

Birth rate

Nepal

17.3 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Death rate

Nepal

5.6 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Languages

Nepal

Nepali (official) 44.9%, Maithali 11.1%, Bhojpuri 6.2%, Tharu 5.9%, Tamang 4.9%, Bajjika 3.9%, Avadhi 3%, Nepalbhasha (Newari) 3%, Magar Dhut 2.8%, Doteli 1.7%, Urdu 1.4%, Yakthung/Limbu 1.2%, Gurung 1.1%, other 8.9%; note - 123 languages reported as mother tongue in 2021 national census; many in government and business also speak English (2021 est.)

major-language sample(s):
विश्व तथ्य पुस्तक,आधारभूत जानकारीको लागि अपरिहार्य स्रोत (Nepali)

The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Life expectancy at birth

Nepal

total population: 72.7 years (2023 est.)

male: 72 years

female: 73.4 years

Major urban areas - population

Nepal

1.571 million KATHMANDU (capital) (2023)

Median age

Nepal

total: 27.1 years (2023 est.)

male: 26 years

female: 28.1 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

Nepal

20.4 years (2016 est.)

note: data represents median age at first birth among women 25-49

Net migration rate

Nepal

-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)

Population distribution

Nepal

most of the population is divided nearly equally between a concentration in the southern-most plains of the Tarai region and the central hilly region; overall density is quite low

Population growth rate

Nepal

0.74% (2023 est.)

Total fertility rate

Nepal

1.88 children born/woman (2023 est.)

Urbanization

Nepal

urban population: 21.9% of total population (2023)

rate of urbanization: 3.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)

Education expenditures

Nepal

4.2% of GDP (2020 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

Nepal

total: 13 years

male: 13 years

female: 13 years (2020)

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

Nepal

-0.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)

Industrial production growth rate

Nepal

4.51% (2021 est.)

Labor force

Nepal

16.884 million (2021 est.)

note: severe lack of skilled labor

Population below poverty line

Nepal

25.2% (2011 est.)

Unemployment rate

Nepal

5.05% (2021 est.)

4.72% (2020 est.)

3.1% (2019 est.)

Public debt

Nepal

39.05% of GDP (2020 est.)

31.78% of GDP (2019 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Nepal

4.09% (2021 est.)

5.05% (2020 est.)

5.57% (2019 est.)

Exports

Nepal

$2.52 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$1.771 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$2.726 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Exports - partners

Nepal

India 68%, United States 10% (2019)

Imports

Nepal

$16.993 billion (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$10.694 billion (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

$13.836 billion (2019 est.) note: data are in current year dollars

Imports - partners

Nepal

India 70%, China 15% (2019)

Airports

Nepal

47 (2021)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions

Nepal

total: 1.27 million (2020 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 4 (2020 est.)

Internet users

Nepal

total: 15.6 million (2021 est.)

percent of population: 52% (2021 est.)

Railways

Nepal

total: 59 km (2018)

narrow gauge: 59 km (2018) 0.762-m gauge

Roadways

Nepal

total: 27,990 km (2016)

paved: 11,890 km (2016)

unpaved: 16,100 km (2016)

Telephones - fixed lines

Nepal

total subscriptions: 730,000 (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2021 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular

Nepal

total subscriptions: 38 million (2021 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 130 (2021 est.)

Disputes - international

Nepal

Nepal-China: China may have constructed 11 buildings in Nepal’s Humla region in 2021

Nepal-India: joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; the Kalapani issue resurfaced in November 2019 when India issued a new map showing the contested area within India’s borders and then built a new road in the region through Lipulekh pass, an area controlled by India but claimed by Nepal; Nepal countered by amending its constitution and issuing its own map showing the disputed area within its borders; the countries prime ministers briefly discussed the border dispute in April 2022; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of illegal cross-border activities