Today, let's visit
Nepal
Nepal is a country in Asia, home to about 28.1 million people. Its capital is Kathmandu.
It covers 140,800 square kilometres (54,363 square miles). That's slightly larger than New York State.
A little history
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.
What's it like there?
The weather is varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south.
- Location
-
Southern Asia, between China and India
- Size
-
Slightly larger than New York State
- Climate
-
Varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
- Landscape
-
- Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south
- Central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north
- Natural resources
-
- Quartz
- Water
- Timber
- Hydropower
- Scenic beauty
- Small deposits of lignite
- Copper
- Cobalt
- Iron ore
- Land use
-
Agricultural land 26.1%
Arable land 12.6%
Permanent crops 1%
Permanent pasture 12.5%
Forest 43.5%
Other 27.7%
2023 estimate
- Good to know
-
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
Who lives there?
About 28.1 million people live in Nepal, and the biggest city is Kathmandu.
- Largest cities
-
Kathmandu Capital 1,442,271 Pokhara 600,051 Bharatpur 369,377 Pātan 299,283 Birgañj 268,273 Biratnagar 244,750 Dhangaḍhi̇̄ 204,788 Hetauda 195,951 Janakpur 195,438 Butwāl 195,054 - 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 estimate
Note: 123 languages reported as mother tongue in 2021 national census; many in government and business also speak English
- Religions
-
Hindu 81.2% Buddhist 8.2% Muslim 5.1% Kirat 3.2% Christian 1.8% - Less than 1%: Prakriti
- Bon
- Jains
- Sikh
2021 estimate
- 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 estimate
Note: 141 caste/ethnic groups were reported in the 2021 national census
- Where people live
-
- 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
- Cities and towns
-
Urban population 21.9% of total population
2023
Rate of urbanization 3.09% annual rate of change
2020-25 estimate
- Reading and writing
-
Total population 68.7%
Male 79.8%
Female 59.4%
2019 estimate
- What people are called
-
Noun Nepali (singular and plural)
Adjective Nepali
Who's in charge?
Its government is a federal parliamentary republic.
- Leaders
-
Head of state President Ram Chandra Poudel (since 13 March 2023)
Head of government Prime Minister Sushila Karki (since 12 September 2025)
- Parliament
-
Legislature name Federal Parliament (Sanghiya Sansad)
Legislative structure Bicameral
Note: Violent student-led protests in early September 2025 led to the resignation of the Prime Minister; the President dissolved Parliament on 12 September 2015 following the swearing in of an interim prime minister and set elections for 5 March 2026; the major political parties have demanded reinstatement of the Parliament
- Courts
-
Highest court(s) Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and up to 20 judges)
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
Subordinate courts - High Court
- District courts
- Constitution
-
History - Several previous
- Latest approved by the Second Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, signed by the president and effective 20 September 2015
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
- Legal system
-
English common law and Hindu legal concepts
- Who can vote
-
- 18 years of age
- Universal
How does it make a living?
- In short
-
- Low-income South Asian economy
- Post-conflict fiscal federalism increasing stability
- COVID-19 hurt trade and tourism
- Widening current account deficits
- Environmentally fragile economy from earthquakes
- Growing Chinese relations and investments
- Industries
-
- Tourism
- Carpets
- Textiles
- Small rice
- Jute
- Sugar
- Oilseed mills
- Cigarettes
- Cement and brick production
- Farming
-
- Rice
- Vegetables
- Potatoes
- Sugarcane
- Maize
- Wheat
- Bison milk
- Milk
- Mangoes/guavas
- Bananas
2023
Note: Top ten agricultural products based on tonnage
- Exports
-
- Knotted carpets
- Garments
- Flat-rolled iron
- Synthetic fibers
- Palm oil
2023
Note: Top five export commodities based on value in dollars
- Sells most to
-
India 67% USA 12% Germany 3% China 2% UK 2% 2023
Note: Top five export partners based on percentage share of exports
- Imports
-
- Refined petroleum
- Natural gas
- Garments
- Iron reductions
- Broadcasting equipment
2023
Note: Top five import commodities based on value in dollars
- Buys most from
-
India 71% China 17% UAE 3% Singapore 2% Germany 1% 2023
Note: Top five import partners based on percentage share of imports
- Workforce
-
8.435 million
2024 estimate
Note: Number of people ages 15 or older who are employed or seeking work
- Below the poverty line
-
20.3%
2022 estimate
Note: % of population with income below national poverty line
- Electricity
-
Electrification - total population 91.3%
2022 estimate
Electrification - urban areas 97.7%
Electrification - rural areas 93.7%
- Government budget
-
Revenues $7.625 billion
Expenditures $9.1 billion
2021 estimate
Note: Central government revenues (excluding grants) and expenditures converted to US dollars at average official exchange rate for year indicated
Want to read more? Try the Wikipedia article, the Wikipedia portal or the Human Rights Watch report.
Have a great day!
I'll look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.
The more we all learn about the world, the better a place it becomes. Thank you for your curiosity!