Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
10.07 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Broadband - fixed subscriptions: total
1.44 million (2022 est.)
Communications: Broadcast media
state operates 3 TV stations, as well as national and regional radio stations; 117 television channels are licensed, 71 of which are cable TV, 3 are distributed through Direct-To-Home (DTH) system, and 4 are digital terrestrial; 736 FM radio stations are licensed, and at least 314 of those are community stations (2019)
Communications: Internet country code
.np
Communications: Internet users: percent of population
46.3% (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
1.38 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - fixed lines: total subscriptions
726,000 (2021 est.)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: subscriptions per 100 inhabitants
99.85 (2024, World Bank)
Communications: Telephones - mobile cellular: total subscriptions
29.6 million (2024 est.)
Economy: Agricultural products
rice, vegetables, potatoes, sugarcane, maize, wheat, bison milk, milk, mangoes/guavas, bananas (2023)
Economy: Budget: expenditures
$9.1 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Budget: revenues
$7.625 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2022
-$3.088 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2023
$146.66 million (2023 est.)
Economy: Current account balance: Current account balance 2024
$1.679 billion (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Debt - external: Debt - external 2023
$10.152 billion (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Exchange rates: Currency
Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2020
118.345 (2020 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2021
118.134 (2021 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2022
125.199 (2022 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2023
132.115 (2023 est.)
Economy: Exchange rates: Exchange rates 2024
133.727 (2024 est.)
Economy: Exports - commodities
knotted carpets, garments, flat-rolled iron, synthetic fibers, palm oil (2023)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2022
$2.106 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2023
$2.258 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Exports: Exports 2024
$4.016 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: exports of goods and services
8.8% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: government consumption
8.4% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: household consumption
84.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: imports of goods and services
33.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in fixed capital
23.6% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by end use: investment in inventories
6.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: agriculture
21.6% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: industry
12.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - composition, by sector of origin: services
54.4% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP - per capita (PPP)
$6,175 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (official exchange rate)
$45.490 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: GDP (purchasing power parity) - real
$156.293 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022
30 (2022 est.)
Economy: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income: Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2024
30.00 (2022, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: highest 10%
24.2% (2022, World Bank)
Economy: Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%
3.7% (2022, World Bank)
Economy: Imports - commodities
refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, iron reductions, broadcasting equipment (2023)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2022
$15.227 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2023
$13.877 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Imports: Imports 2024
$15.341 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Industrial production growth rate
0.1% (2024 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021
4.1% (2021 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022
7.7% (2022 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023
7.1% (2023 est.)
Economy: Inflation rate (consumer prices): Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2024
2.7% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Labor force
8,362,760 (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Population below poverty line
20.3% (2022, World Bank)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2021
39.9% of GDP (2021 est.)
Economy: Public debt: Public debt 2023
39.9% of GDP (2021, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022
$141.546 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023
$144.352 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP (purchasing power parity): Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024
$156.293 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2022
5.6% (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2023
2% (2023 est.)
Economy: Real GDP growth rate: Real GDP growth rate 2024
4.4% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2022
$4,800 (2022 est.)
Economy: Real GDP per capita: Real GDP per capita 2023
$4,900 (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2022
22% of GDP (2022 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2023
25.3% of GDP (2023 est.)
Economy: Remittances: Remittances 2024
26.0% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021
$9.639 billion (2021 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022
$9.319 billion (2022 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023
$12.456 billion (2023 est.)
Economy: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold: Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2024
$21.100 billion (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Taxes and other revenues
16.5% of GDP (2023, World Bank)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2022
10.9% (2022 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2023
10.7% (2023 est.)
Economy: Unemployment rate: Unemployment rate 2024
10.5% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): female
23.2% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): male
19.1% (2025, World Bank)
Economy: Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24): total
20.6% (2025, World Bank)
Energy: Coal: consumption
1.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: exports
100 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: imports
1.076 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: production
9,000 metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Coal: proven reserves
8 million metric tons (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - rural areas
94.2% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - total population
97.9% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity access: electrification - urban areas
99.7% (2024, World Bank)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: hydroelectricity
99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: solar
1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity generation sources: wind
0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: consumption
9.806 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: exports
1.1 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: imports
1.846 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: installed generating capacity
2.853 million kW (2023 est.)
Energy: Electricity: transmission/distribution losses
1.638 billion kWh (2023 est.)
Energy: Energy consumption per capita: Total energy consumption per capita 2023
6.604 million Btu/person (2023 est.)
Energy: Petroleum: refined petroleum consumption
71,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from coal and metallurgical coke
2.025 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: from petroleum and other liquids
9.332 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Carbon dioxide emissions: total emissions
11.357 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)
Environment: Climate
varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
Environment: Environmental issues
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); forest degradation; soil erosion; contaminated water from human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents; unmanaged solid waste; wildlife conservation; air pollution from vehicular emissions
Environment: International environmental agreements: party to
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
Environment: International environmental agreements: signed, but not ratified
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation
Environment: Land use: agricultural land
26.1% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
12.6% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Environment: Land use: forest
41.6% (2023, World Bank)
Environment: Land use: other
27.7% (2023 est.)
Environment: Particulate matter emissions
36.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)
Environment: Total renewable water resources
210.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: agricultural
9.32 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: industrial
29.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Total water withdrawal: municipal
147.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
3.09% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)
Environment: Urbanization: urban population
67.0% (2025, World Bank)
Environment: Waste and recycling: municipal solid waste generated annually
1.769 million tons (2024 est.)
Environment: Waste and recycling: percent of municipal solid waste recycled
4.6% (2022 est.)
Geography: Area - comparative
slightly larger than New York State
Geography: Area: land
143,351 sq km
Geography: Area: water
3,830 sq km
Geography: Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Geography: Elevation: highest point
Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m
Geography: Elevation: lowest point
Kanchan Kalan 70 m
Geography: Elevation: mean elevation
2,565 m
Geography: Geographic coordinates
28 00 N, 84 00 E
Geography: 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 mountains -- on the borders with China and India, respectively
Geography: Irrigated land
12,090 sq km (2022)
Geography: Land boundaries: border countries
China 1,389 km; India 1,770 km
Geography: Land boundaries: total
3,159 km
Geography: Land use: agricultural land
26.1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: arable land
arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent crops
permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: agricultural land: permanent pasture
permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: forest
43.5% (2023 est.)
Geography: Land use: other
27.7% (2023 est.)
Geography: Major aquifers
Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin
Geography: Major watersheds (area sq km): Indian Ocean drainage
Brahmaputra (651,335 sq km), Ganges (1,016,124 sq km), Indus (1,081,718 sq km)
Geography: Map references
Asia
Geography: Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Geography: Natural hazards
severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons
Geography: Population distribution
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 low
Geography: Terrain
Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north
Government: Administrative divisions
7 provinces ( pradesh , singular - pradesh ); Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, Koshi, Lumbini, Madhesh, Sudurpashchim
Government: Capital: etymology
the name comes from the Nepalese words kath (wooden) and mandu (temple), referring to the local temples that are often still built from wood
Government: Capital: geographic coordinates
27 43 N, 85 19 E
Government: Capital: time difference
UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by birth
yes
Government: Citizenship: citizenship by descent only
yes
Government: Citizenship: dual citizenship recognized
no
Government: Citizenship: residency requirement for naturalization
15 years
Government: Constitution: amendment process
proposed as a bill by either house of the Federal Parliament; bills affecting a state border or powers delegated to a state must be submitted to the affected state assembly; passage of such bills requires a majority vote of that state assembly membership; bills not requiring state assembly consent require at least two-thirds majority vote by the membership of both houses of the Federal Parliament; parts of the constitution on the sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, and sovereignty vested in the people cannot be amended
Government: Constitution: history
several previous; latest approved by the Second Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, signed by the president and effective 20 September 2015
Government: Country name: conventional short form
Nepal
Government: Country name: etymology
the name probably comes from the Sanskrit term nepala , from the words for "fly down" and "house," which would refer to the villages at the base of the mountains
Government: Country name: local long form
none
Government: Country name: local short form
Nepal
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission
Ambassador Dean R. THOMPSON (since October 2022)
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: email address and website
usembktm@state.gov https://np.usembassy.gov/
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: embassy
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: FAX
[977] (1) 400-7272
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: mailing address
6190 Kathmandu Place, Washington DC 20521-6190
Government: Diplomatic representation from the US: telephone
[977] (1) 423-4000
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chancery
2730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20007
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission
Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Sharad Raj ARAN (since November 2025)
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: consulate(s) general
New York
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: email address and website
info@nepalembassyusa.org https://us.nepalembassy.gov.np/
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: FAX
[1] (202) 667-5534
Government: Diplomatic representation in the US: telephone
[1] (202) 667-4550
Government: Executive branch: cabinet
Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet positions shared among Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre, and various coalition partners
Government: Executive branch: chief of state
President Ram Chandra POUDEL (since 13 March 2023)
Government: Executive branch: election results
2023: Ram Chandra POUDEL elected president; electoral college vote - Ram Chandra POUDEL (NC) 33,802, Subash Chandra NEMBANG (CPN-UML) 15,518
Government: Executive branch: election/appointment process
president indirectly elected by an electoral college of the Federal Parliament and the state assemblies for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term)
Government: Executive branch: expected date of next election
5 March 2026
Government: Executive branch: head of government
Prime Minister Sushila KARKI (since 12 September 2025)
Government: Executive branch: most recent election date
9 March 2023
Government: Flag
description: crimson red with a blue border, in the shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller upper triangle has a stylized white moon, and the larger lower triangle has a 12-pointed white sun meaning: red stands for the rhododendron (the national flower) and victory and bravery, and the blue border for peace and harmony; the two triangles are a combination of two pennants that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains, but today they refer to Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon stands for the serenity of the people, as well as Himalayan shade and cool weather, and the sun for the heat and higher temperatures in the rest of the country
Government: International law organization participation
has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
Government: International organization participation
ADB, BIMSTEC, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNSOM, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Government: Judicial branch: highest court(s)
Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and up to 20 judges)
Government: Judicial branch: judge selection and term of office
Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, a 5-member, high-level advisory body headed by the prime minister; other judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Council, a 5-member advisory body headed by the chief justice; the chief justice serves a 6-year term; judges serve until age 65
Government: Judicial branch: subordinate courts
High Court; district courts
Government: Legal system
English common law and Hindu legal concepts
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: chamber name
House of Representatives (Pratinidhi Sabha)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: electoral system
mixed system
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: expected date of next election
5 March 2026
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: most recent election date
11/20/2022
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: number of seats
275 (all directly elected)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: parties elected and seats per party
Nepali Congress (NC) (89); Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist, UML) (78); Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist Centre (CPN-MC) (32); Rastriya Swatantra Party (20); Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal (RPP) (14); People's Socialist Party, Nepal (12); Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) (10); Janamat Party (6); Democratic Socialist Party, Nepal (4); People's Freedom Party (3); Nepal Workers Peasants Party (1); Rastriya Janamorcha (1); Independents (5)
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: percentage of women in chamber
0%
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: scope of elections
full renewal
Government: Legislative branch - lower chamber: term in office
5 years
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: chamber name
National Assembly (Rastriya Sabha)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: expected date of next election
January 2026
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: most recent election date
1/25/2024
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: number of seats
59 (56 indirectly elected; 3 appointed)
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: percentage of women in chamber
37.3%
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: scope of elections
partial renewal
Government: Legislative branch - upper chamber: term in office
6 years
Government: Legislative branch: legislative structure
bicameral
Government: Legislative branch: legislature name
Federal Parliament (Sanghiya Sansad)
Government: National anthem(s): history
adopted 2007
Government: National anthem(s): lyrics/music
Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG
Government: National color(s)
red
Government: National heritage: selected World Heritage Site locales
Kathmandu Valley (c); Sagarmatha National Park (n); Chitwan National Park (n); Lumbini, Buddha Birthplace (c)
Government: National heritage: total World Heritage Sites
4 (2 cultural, 2 natural)
Government: National holiday
Constitution Day, 20 September (2015)
Government: National symbol(s)
rhododendron blossom
Government: Political parties
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) or CPN-MC Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) or CPN-UML Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Socialist) or CPN-US Janamat Party Janata Samajbaadi Party or JSP Loktantrik Samajwadi Party or LSP Naya Shakti Party, Nepal Nepali Congress or NC Nepal Mazdoor Kisan Party (Nepal Workers' and Peasants' Party) or NWPP Rastriya Janamorcha (National People's Front) Rastriya Prajatantra Party (National Democratic Party) or RPP Rastriya Swatantra Party or RSP
Government: Suffrage
18 years of age; universal
Introduction: Background
During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the principality of Gorkha united many of the other principalities and states of the sub-Himalayan region into a Nepali Kingdom. Nepal retained its independence after the Anglo-Nepalese War of 1814-16, and the subsequent peace treaty laid the foundations for two centuries of amicable relations between Britain and Nepal. In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of hereditary rule and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but it was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist-led insurgency broke out in 1996. During the ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces, the monarchy dissolved the cabinet and parliament. In 2001, Crown Prince DIPENDRA first massacred the royal family and then shot himself. His uncle GYANENDRA became king, and the monarchy reassumed absolute power the next year. A peace accord in 2006 led to the promulgation of an interim constitution in 2007. After a nationwide Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008, the newly formed CA declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, abolished the monarchy, and elected the country's first president. When the CA failed to draft a Supreme Court-mandated constitution, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. An interim government held elections in 2013, in which the Nepali Congress (NC) won the largest share of seats. In 2014, NC formed a coalition government with the second-place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (UML). Nepal's new constitution came into effect in 2015, at which point the CA became the Parliament and Khagda Prasad Sharma OLI the first post-constitution prime minister (2015-16). He resigned ahead of a no-confidence motion, and Parliament elected Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) leader Pushpa Kamal DAHAL as prime minister. The parties headed by OLI and DAHAL ran in coalition and swept the parliamentary elections in 2017, and OLI was sworn in as prime minister in 2018. OLI's efforts to dissolve parliament and hold elections were declared unconstitutional in 2021, and the opposition-supported NC leader Sher Bahadur DEUBA was named prime minister. The NC won a majority of seats in the parliamentary elections in 2022, but DAHAL then broke with the ruling coalition and partnered with OLI and the CPN-UML to become prime minister. DAHAL's first cabinet lasted about two months, until OLI withdrew his support over disagreements about ministerial assignments. In early 2023, DAHAL survived a vote of confidence and formed a coalition with the NC to remain prime minister.
Military and Security: Military - note
the Nepali Army is responsible for territorial defense, fulfilling Nepal's commitments to UN peacekeeping, and some domestic duties such as disaster relief/humanitarian assistance, social services, and nature conservation efforts; during the 10-year civil war that ended in 2006, it conducted counterinsurgency operations against Maoist guerrillas; the Army has a long history of supporting UN missions, having sent its first UN observers to Lebanon in 1958 and its first troop contingent to Egypt in 1974; as of 2025, 150,000 Nepali military personnel have deployed on over 40 UN missions; Nepal's key security partners are China, India, and the US the British began to recruit Nepalese citizens (Gurkhas) into the East India Company Army during the Anglo-Nepalese War (1814-1816); the Gurkhas subsequently were brought into the British Indian Army and by 1914, there were 10 Gurkha regiments, collectively known as the Gurkha Brigade; following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India, and Great Britain allowed for the transfer of the 10 regiments from the British Indian Army to the separate British and Indian armies; four regiments were transferred to the British Army, where they have since served continuously as the Brigade of Gurkhas; six Gurkha (aka Gorkha in India) regiments went to the new Indian Army; a seventh regiment was later added; Gurkhas are also recruited into the Singaporean Police and a special guard in the Sultanate of Brunei known as the Gurkha Reserve Unit (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security forces
Nepalese Armed Forces (Ministry of Defense): Nepali Army (includes Air Wing) Ministry of Home Affairs: Nepal Police, Nepal Armed Police Force (APF) (2025)
Military and Security: Military and security service personnel strengths
approximately 95,000 active Armed Forces (2025)
Military and Security: Military deployments
1240 Central African Republic (MINUSCA); 1,150 Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO); 440 Golan Heights (UNDOF); 875 Lebanon (UNIFIL); 225 Liberia (UNSMIL); 100 South Sudan/Sudan (UNISFA); 1,750 (plus about 200 police) South Sudan (UNMISS) (2025)
Military and Security: Military equipment inventories and acquisitions
the Army's inventory includes a mix of mostly older equipment largely of British, Chinese, Indian, Russian, and South African origin; in recent years, Nepal has received limited amounts of newer hardware from several countries, including China, Indonesia, Italy, and Russia (2025)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2020
1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2021
1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2022
1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2023
1% of GDP (2023 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2024
1% of GDP (2024 est.)
Military and Security: Military expenditures: Military Expenditures 2025
1.0% of GDP (2024, World Bank)
Military and Security: Military service age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; upper age limit varies; no conscription (2025)
People and Society: Age structure: 0-14 years
28.1% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 15-64 years
65.3% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Age structure: 65 years and over
6.6% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: beer
0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: other alcohols
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: spirits
0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: total
0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Alcohol consumption per capita: wine
0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)
People and Society: Birth rate
18.96 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Child marriage: men married by age 18
7% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 15
5.8% (2022)
People and Society: Child marriage: women married by age 18
34.9% (2022)
People and Society: Children under the age of 5 years underweight
18.3% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Contraceptive prevalence rate
57.2% (2022, World Bank)
People and Society: Current health expenditure
6.2% of GDP (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Currently married women (ages 15-49)
75.1% (2022 est.)
People and Society: Death rate
6.97 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: elderly dependency ratio
9.6 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: potential support ratio
10.4 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio
46.8 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Dependency ratios: youth dependency ratio
37.2 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: rural
rural: 91.6% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: total
93.6% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Drinking water source: improved: urban
urban: 90% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: rural
rural: 8.4% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: total
total: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Drinking water source: unimproved: urban
urban: 10% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% GDP)
3.7% of GDP (2024 est.)
People and Society: Education expenditure: Education expenditure (% national budget)
10.8% national budget (2025 est.)
People and Society: Ethnic groups
Chhettri 16.5%, Brahman-Hill 11.3%, Magar 6.9%, Tharu 6.2%, Tamang 5.6%, Bishwokarma 5%, Musalman 4.9%, Newar 4.6%, Yadav 4.2%, Rai 2.2%, Pariyar 1.9%, Gurung 1.9%, Thakuri 1.7%, Mijar 1.6%, Teli 1.5%, Yakthung/Limbu 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.4%, Koiri/Kushwaha 1.2%, other 20% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Gross reproduction rate
0.88 (2025 est.)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of GDP)
5.4% of GDP (2021)
People and Society: Health expenditure: Health expenditure (as % of national budget)
8% of national budget (2022 est.)
People and Society: Hospital bed density
0.54 (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: female
20.20 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: male
24.10 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Infant mortality rate: total
22.20 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Languages: Languages
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% (2021 est.)
People and Society: Languages: major-language sample(s)
विश्व तथ्य पुस्तक,आधारभूत जानकारीको लागि अपरिहार्य स्रोत (Nepali) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: female
72.14 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Life expectancy at birth: male
69.09 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: female
59.4% (2019, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: male
79.8% (2019, World Bank)
People and Society: Literacy: total population
68.7% (2019, World Bank)
People and Society: Major urban areas - population
1.571 million KATHMANDU (capital) (2023)
People and Society: Maternal mortality ratio
142.00 (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Median age: female
28.6 years
People and Society: Median age: male
26.5 years
People and Society: Mother's mean age at first birth
20.4 years (2016 est.)
People and Society: Nationality: adjective
Nepali
People and Society: Net migration rate
-4.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)
People and Society: Obesity - adult prevalence rate
4.1% (2016)
People and Society: Physician density
1.01 (2023, World Bank)
People and Society: Population
29,618,118 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population distribution
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 low
People and Society: Population growth rate
-0.1% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: female
15,487,908 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Population: male
14,130,210 (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: rural
rural: 89.2% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: total
86.0% (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: improved: urban
urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: rural
rural: 10.8% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: total
total: 9.3% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: Sanitation facility access: unimproved: urban
urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): female
14 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male
14 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total
14 years (2023 est.)
People and Society: Sex ratio: 0-14 years
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 15-64 years
0.93 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: 65 years and over
0.95 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: at birth
1.06 male(s)/female
People and Society: Sex ratio: total population
0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: female
7.6% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: male
40.3% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Tobacco use: total
22.9% (2025 est.)
People and Society: Total fertility rate
1.96 (2024, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: rate of urbanization
0.2% (2025, World Bank)
People and Society: Urbanization: urban population
67.0% (2025, World Bank)
Terrorism: Terrorist group(s)
Indian Mujahedeen
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: IDPs
50,000 (2007, UNHCR)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: refugees
19,613 (2025, UNHCR)
Transnational Issues: Refugees and internally displaced persons: stateless persons
475 (2025, UNHCR)
Transnational Issues: Trafficking in persons: tier rating
Tier 2 Watch List — the government did not demonstrate overall increasing efforts to eliminate trafficking compared with the previous reporting period, therefore Nepal remained on Tier 2 Watch List for the second consecutive year; for more details, go to: https://www.state.gov/reports/2025-trafficking-in-persons-report/nepal/
Transportation: Airports
51 (2025)
Transportation: Civil aircraft registration country code prefix
9N
Transportation: Heliports
14 (2025)
Transportation: Railways: narrow gauge
59 km (2018) 0.762-m gauge
Transportation: Railways: total
59 km (2018)
Warning: Some information might be outdated or incorrect, please check statistics before using(most of the economical stats are correct, its mostly the Population stats that are incorrect). Some dates are listed but some are missed, if you have any issues please report it to the Github at github.com.