Nepal Facts, Map, Population, GDP

Capital

Kathmandu

Population

31,334,402 (2025 est.)

Area

147,181 sq km

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

🧭 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.

🗺️ Geography

Location

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates

28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references

Asia

Area — total

147,181 sq km

Area — land

143,351 sq km

Area — water

3,830 sq km

Area - comparative

Slightly larger than New York State

Land boundaries — total

3,159 km

Land boundaries — border countries

China 1,389 km; India 1,770 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 with rugged Himalayas in north

Elevation — highest point

Mount Everest (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level) 8,849 m

Elevation — lowest point

Kanchan Kalan 70 m

Elevation — mean elevation

2,565 m

Natural resources

Quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use — agricultural land

26.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

43.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

27.7% (2023 est.)

Irrigated land

12,090 sq km (2022)

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)

Major aquifers

Indus-Ganges-Brahmaputra Basin

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

Natural hazards

Severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

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

👥 People and Society⬆️ Top

Population — total

31,334,402 (2025 est.)

Population — male

15,352,706

Population — female

15,981,696

Nationality — noun

Nepali (singular and plural)

Nationality — adjective

Nepali

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.)

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.)

Languages — major-language sample(s)

विश्व तथ्य पुस्तक,आधारभूत जानकारीको लागि अपरिहार्य स्रोत (Nepali) The World Factbook, the indispensable source for basic information.

Religions

Hindu 81.2%, Buddhist 8.2%, Muslim 5.1%, Kirat 3.2%, Christian 1.8%; less than 1%: Prakriti, Bon, Jains, Sikh (2021 est.)

Age structure — 0-14 years

25.8% (male 4,125,244/female 3,909,135)

Age structure — 15-64 years

67.8% (male 10,153,682/female 10,957,011)

Age structure — 65 years and over

6.4% (2024 est.) (male 961,717/female 1,015,598)

Dependency ratios — total dependency ratio

46.8 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — youth dependency ratio

37.2 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — elderly dependency ratio

9.6 (2025 est.)

Dependency ratios — potential support ratio

10.4 (2025 est.)

Median age — total

28.1 years (2025 est.)

Median age — male

26.5 years

Median age — female

28.6 years

Population growth rate

0.66% (2025 est.)

Birth rate

16.66 births/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Death rate

5.62 deaths/1,000 population (2025 est.)

Net migration rate

-4.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2025 est.)

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

Urbanization — urban population

21.9% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Major urban areas - population

1.571 million KATHMANDU (capital) (2023)

Sex ratio — at birth

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 0-14 years

1.06 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 15-64 years

0.93 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — 65 years and over

0.95 male(s)/female

Sex ratio — total population

0.96 male(s)/female (2024 est.)

Mother's mean age at first birth

20.4 years (2016 est.)

Maternal mortality ratio

142 deaths/100,000 live births (2023 est.)

Infant mortality rate — total

23.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2025 est.)

Infant mortality rate — male

25.2 deaths/1,000 live births

Infant mortality rate — female

22.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth — total population

73 years (2024 est.)

Life expectancy at birth — male

72.2 years

Life expectancy at birth — female

73.7 years

Total fertility rate

1.82 children born/woman (2025 est.)

Gross reproduction rate

0.88 (2025 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: urban

Urban: 90% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: rural

Rural: 91.6% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — improved: total

Total: 91.2% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: urban

Urban: 10% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: rural

Rural: 8.4% of population (2022 est.)

Drinking water source — unimproved: total

Total: 8.8% of population (2022 est.)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of GDP)

5.4% of GDP (2021)

Health expenditure — Health expenditure (as % of national budget)

8% of national budget (2022 est.)

Physician density

1.01 physicians/1,000 population (2023)

Hospital bed density

0.4 beds/1,000 population (2021 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: urban

Urban: 96.1% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: rural

Rural: 89.2% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — improved: total

Total: 90.7% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: urban

Urban: 3.9% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: rural

Rural: 10.8% of population (2022 est.)

Sanitation facility access — unimproved: total

Total: 9.3% of population (2022 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.1% (2016)

Alcohol consumption per capita — total

0.36 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — beer

0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — wine

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — spirits

0.13 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Alcohol consumption per capita — other alcohols

0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)

Tobacco use — total

22.9% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — male

40.3% (2025 est.)

Tobacco use — female

7.6% (2025 est.)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

18.3% (2022 est.)

Currently married women (ages 15-49)

75.1% (2022 est.)

Child marriage — women married by age 15

5.8% (2022)

Child marriage — women married by age 18

34.9% (2022)

Child marriage — men married by age 18

7% (2022)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% GDP)

3.7% of GDP (2024 est.)

Education expenditure — Education expenditure (% national budget)

10.8% national budget (2025 est.)

Literacy — total population

68.7% (2019 est.)

Literacy — male

79.8% (2019 est.)

Literacy — female

59.4% (2019 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — total

14 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — male

14 years (2023 est.)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education) — female

14 years (2023 est.)

🌿 Environment⬆️ Top

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

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

International environmental agreements — signed, but not ratified

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban, Marine Life Conservation

Climate

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

Land use — agricultural land

26.1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: arable land

Arable land: 12.6% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent crops

Permanent crops: 1% (2023 est.)

Land use — agricultural land: permanent pasture

Permanent pasture: 12.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — forest

43.5% (2023 est.)

Land use — other

27.7% (2023 est.)

Urbanization — urban population

21.9% of total population (2023)

Urbanization — rate of urbanization

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

Carbon dioxide emissions — total emissions

11.357 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from coal and metallurgical coke

2.025 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions — from petroleum and other liquids

9.332 million metric tonnes of CO2 (2023 est.)

Particulate matter emissions

36.9 micrograms per cubic meter (2019 est.)

Waste and recycling — municipal solid waste generated annually

1.769 million tons (2024 est.)

Waste and recycling — percent of municipal solid waste recycled

4.6% (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — municipal

147.6 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — industrial

29.5 million cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total water withdrawal — agricultural

9.32 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

Total renewable water resources

210.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.)

🏛️ Government⬆️ Top

Country name — conventional long form

None

Country name — conventional short form

Nepal

Country name — local long form

None

Country name — local short form

Nepal

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 type

Federal parliamentary republic

Capital — name

Kathmandu

Capital — geographic coordinates

27 43 N, 85 19 E

Capital — time difference

UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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

Administrative divisions

7 provinces (pradesh, singular - pradesh); Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali, Koshi, Lumbini, Madhesh, Sudurpashchim

Legal system

English common law and Hindu legal concepts

Constitution — history

Several previous; latest approved by the Second Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, signed by the president and effective 20 September 2015

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

International law organization participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

Citizenship — citizenship by birth

Yes

Citizenship — citizenship by descent only

Yes

Citizenship — dual citizenship recognized

No

Citizenship — residency requirement for naturalization

15 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch — chief of state

President Ram Chandra POUDEL (since 13 March 2023)

Executive branch — head of government

Prime Minister Sushila KARKI (since 12 September 2025)

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

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)

Executive branch — most recent election date

9 March 2023

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

Executive branch — expected date of next election

5 March 2026

Legislative branch — legislature name

Federal Parliament (Sanghiya Sansad)

Legislative branch — legislative structure

Bicameral

Legislative branch - lower chamber — chamber name

House of Representatives (Pratinidhi Sabha)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — number of seats

275 (all directly elected)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — electoral system

Mixed system

Legislative branch - lower chamber — scope of elections

Full renewal

Legislative branch - lower chamber — term in office

5 years

Legislative branch - lower chamber — most recent election date

11/20/2022

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)

Legislative branch - lower chamber — percentage of women in chamber

0%

Legislative branch - lower chamber — expected date of next election

5 March 2026

Legislative branch - upper chamber — chamber name

National Assembly (Rastriya Sabha)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — number of seats

59 (56 indirectly elected; 3 appointed)

Legislative branch - upper chamber — scope of elections

Partial renewal

Legislative branch - upper chamber — term in office

6 years

Legislative branch - upper chamber — most recent election date

1/25/2024

Legislative branch - upper chamber — percentage of women in chamber

37.3%

Legislative branch - upper chamber — expected date of next election

January 2026

Judicial branch — highest court(s)

Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and up to 20 judges)

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

Judicial branch — subordinate courts

High Court; district courts

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

Diplomatic representation in the US — chief of mission

Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Sharad Raj ARAN (since November 2025)

Diplomatic representation in the US — chancery

2730 34th Place NW, Washington, DC 20007

Diplomatic representation in the US — telephone

[1] (202) 667-4550

Diplomatic representation in the US — FAX

[1] (202) 667-5534

Diplomatic representation in the US — email address and website

Info@nepalembassyusa.org https://us.nepalembassy.gov.np/

Diplomatic representation in the US — consulate(s) general

New York

Diplomatic representation from the US — chief of mission

Ambassador Dean R. THOMPSON (since October 2022)

Diplomatic representation from the US — embassy

Maharajgunj, Kathmandu

Diplomatic representation from the US — mailing address

6190 Kathmandu Place, Washington DC 20521-6190

Diplomatic representation from the US — telephone

[977] (1) 423-4000

Diplomatic representation from the US — FAX

[977] (1) 400-7272

Diplomatic representation from the US — email address and website

Usembktm@state.gov https://np.usembassy.gov/

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

Independence

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

National holiday

Constitution Day, 20 September (2015)

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

National symbol(s)

Rhododendron blossom

National color(s)

Red

National anthem(s) — title

"Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)

National anthem(s) — lyrics/music

Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG

National anthem(s) — history

Adopted 2007

National heritage — total World Heritage Sites

4 (2 cultural, 2 natural)

National heritage — selected World Heritage Site locales

Kathmandu Valley (c); Sagarmatha National Park (n); Chitwan National Park (n); Lumbini, Buddha Birthplace (c)

💹 Economy⬆️ Top

Economic overview

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

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2024

$149.643 billion (2024 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2023

$144.352 billion (2023 est.)

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) — Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2022

$141.546 billion (2022 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2024

3.7% (2024 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2023

2% (2023 est.)

Real GDP growth rate — Real GDP growth rate 2022

5.6% (2022 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2024

$5,000 (2024 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2023

$4,900 (2023 est.)

Real GDP per capita — Real GDP per capita 2022

$4,800 (2022 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$42.914 billion (2024 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2023

7.1% (2023 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2022

7.7% (2022 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices) — Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2021

4.1% (2021 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — agriculture

21.9% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — industry

11.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin — services

55.2% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — household consumption

86.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — government consumption

7.4% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in fixed capital

24.3% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — investment in inventories

6.1% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — exports of goods and services

7.6% (2024 est.)

GDP - composition, by end use — imports of goods and services

-32.9% (2024 est.)

Agricultural products

Rice, vegetables, potatoes, sugarcane, maize, wheat, bison milk, milk, mangoes/guavas, bananas (2023)

Industries

Tourism, carpets, textiles, small rice, jute, sugar, oilseed mills, cigarettes, cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate

0.1% (2024 est.)

Labor force

8.435 million (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2024

10.8% (2024 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2023

10.7% (2023 est.)

Unemployment rate — Unemployment rate 2022

10.9% (2022 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — total

20.8% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — male

19.3% (2024 est.)

Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24) — female

23.6% (2024 est.)

Population below poverty line

20.3% (2022 est.)

Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income — Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2022

30 (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — lowest 10%

3.7% (2022 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share — highest 10%

24.2% (2022 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2024

33.1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2023

25.3% of GDP (2023 est.)

Remittances — Remittances 2022

22% of GDP (2022 est.)

Budget — revenues

$7.625 billion (2021 est.)

Budget — expenditures

$9.1 billion (2021 est.)

Public debt — Public debt 2021

39.9% of GDP (2021 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

17.5% (of GDP) (2021 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2024

$1.954 billion (2024 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2023

$146.66 million (2023 est.)

Current account balance — Current account balance 2022

-$3.088 billion (2022 est.)

Exports — Exports 2024

$3.744 billion (2024 est.)

Exports — Exports 2023

$2.258 billion (2023 est.)

Exports — Exports 2022

$2.106 billion (2022 est.)

Exports - partners

India 67%, USA 12%, Germany 3%, China 2%, UK 2% (2023)

Exports - commodities

Knotted carpets, garments, flat-rolled iron, synthetic fibers, palm oil (2023)

Imports — Imports 2024

$17.777 billion (2024 est.)

Imports — Imports 2023

$13.877 billion (2023 est.)

Imports — Imports 2022

$15.227 billion (2022 est.)

Imports - partners

India 71%, China 17%, UAE 3%, Singapore 2%, Germany 1% (2023)

Imports - commodities

Refined petroleum, natural gas, garments, iron reductions, broadcasting equipment (2023)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2023

$12.456 billion (2023 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2022

$9.319 billion (2022 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold — Reserves of foreign exchange and gold 2021

$9.639 billion (2021 est.)

Debt - external — Debt - external 2023

$5.719 billion (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Currency

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2024

133.727 (2024 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2023

132.115 (2023 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2022

125.199 (2022 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2021

118.134 (2021 est.)

Exchange rates — Exchange rates 2020

118.345 (2020 est.)

⚡ Energy⬆️ Top

Electricity access — electrification - total population

91.3% (2022 est.)

Electricity access — electrification - urban areas

97.7%

Electricity access — electrification - rural areas

93.7%

Electricity — installed generating capacity

2.853 million kW (2023 est.)

Electricity — consumption

9.806 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — exports

1.1 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — imports

1.846 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity — transmission/distribution losses

1.638 billion kWh (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — solar

1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — wind

0.1% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Electricity generation sources — hydroelectricity

99% of total installed capacity (2023 est.)

Coal — production

9,000 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — consumption

1.091 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — exports

100 metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — imports

1.076 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Coal — proven reserves

8 million metric tons (2023 est.)

Petroleum — refined petroleum consumption

71,000 bbl/day (2023 est.)

Energy consumption per capita — Total energy consumption per capita 2023

6.604 million Btu/person (2023 est.)

📡 Communications⬆️ Top

Telephones - fixed lines — total subscriptions

726,000 (2021 est.)

Telephones - fixed lines — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (2022 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — total subscriptions

29.6 million (2024 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

100 (2024 est.)

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)

Internet country code

.np

Internet users — percent of population

56% (2023 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — total

1.44 million (2022 est.)

Broadband - fixed subscriptions — subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

5 (2022 est.)

🚚 Transportation⬆️ Top

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

9N

Airports

51 (2025)

Heliports

14 (2025)

Railways — total

59 km (2018)

Railways — narrow gauge

59 km (2018) 0.762-m gauge

🛡️ Military and Security⬆️ Top

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 expenditures — Military Expenditures 2024

1% of GDP (2024 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2023

1% of GDP (2023 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2022

1.1% of GDP (2022 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2021

1.3% of GDP (2021 est.)

Military expenditures — Military Expenditures 2020

1.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

Military and security service personnel strengths

Approximately 95,000 active Armed Forces (2025)

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 service age and obligation

18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; upper age limit varies; no conscription (2025)

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 - 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)

🚨 Terrorism⬆️ Top

Terrorist group(s)

Indian Mujahedeen

🌐 Transnational Issues⬆️ Top

Refugees and internally displaced persons — refugees

19,874 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — IDPs

18,671 (2024 est.)

Refugees and internally displaced persons — stateless persons

467 (2024 est.)

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/