(1.

) Physical features of Nepal In short: 'Unique bio-diversit

Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers and stretches 145-241 kilometers north to
south and 850 kilometers west to east. The country is located between India in the south and
China in the north, at latitudes 26 and 30 degrees north and longitudes 80 and 88 degrees east.
Nepal is topographically divided into three regions: The Himalaya to the north, the hills
consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia hills in the middle and the Terai to the
south. Elevations are varid in the country.
The highest point is Mt. Everest (8,848m) in the north and the lowest point (70 m above sea
level) is located at Kechana Kalan of Jhapa Disttrict. Altitude increases as you travel south to
north. Int eh north temperatures are below 40 degrees Celsius and in the Terai, temperatures
rise to 40 degrees Celsius in the summer. During June July and August, the kingdom is
influenced by monsoon clouds.

CULTURE OF NEPAL
Customs and traditions differ from one part of Nepal to another. The capital
city Kathmandu enjoys a rich tapestry of cultures blending to form a national
identity. Kathmandu Valley has served as the country’s cultural metropolis since the
unification of Nepal in the 18th Century. A prominent factor in a Nepali’s everyday
life is religion. Adding color to the lives of Nepalis are festivals the year round which
they celebrate with much pomp and ceremony. Food plays an important role in the
celebration of these festivals.

Religion
Nepal was declared a secular country by the Parliament on 18th May 2006.
Religions practiced in Nepal are: Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Jainism,
Sikhism, Bon, ancestor worship and animism. The majority of Nepalis are either
Hindus or Buddhists and these two religions have co-existed in harmony through
centuries.

Buddha is widely worshipped by both Buddhists and Hindus of Nepal. The five
Dhyani Buddhas; Vairochana, Akshobhaya, Rathasambhava, Amitabha and
Amoghasiddhi represent the five basic elements: earth, fire, water, air and ether.
Buddhist philosophy conceives these deities to be the manifestations of Sunya or
absolute void. Mahakaala and Bajrayogini are Buddhist deities of the Vajrayan sect
worshipped by Hindus as well.

Nepali Hindus worship the ancient Vedic gods. Bramha the Creator, Vishnu the
Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer as the Supreme Hindu Trinity. People pray to the
Shiva Linga or the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva in most Shiva temples. Shakti, the
dynamic element in the female counterpart of Shiva, is highly revered and feared
and some of the names given to her are: Mahadevi, Mahakali, Bhagabati and
Ishwari. Kumari, the Virgin Goddess, also represents Shakti. Other popular deities
are Ganesh for luck, Saraswati for knowledge, Lakshmi for wealth and Hanuman for
protection. Krishna, believed to be the human incarnation of Lord Vishnu is also
worshipped widely. Hindu holy scriptures: Bhagawat Gita, Ramayan and
Mahabharat are widely read in Nepal. Vedas, Upanishads and other holy scriptures
are read by learned Brahmin Pundits during special occasions.

Customs

The diversity in Nepal in terms of ethnicity again makes room for various sets of
customs. Most of these customs go back to the Hindu, Buddhist or other religious
traditions. Among them, the rules of marriage are particularly interesting.
Traditional marriages call for deals arranged by parents after the boy or girl come
of age.
The slaughter of cows is illegal in Nepal. The cow is considered a Universal Mother,
symbolizing motherhood, charity, and pity. To respect it is to put into practice the
concept of Ahimsa, which in Sanskrit literally means "non-violence", an important
component of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Before entering a temple or a
house, you will often be asked to take off your shoes, so as not to pollute the pure
interiors with your stained soles. Some temples are forbidden to non-Hindus. The
right hand, considered pure, is used to eat, pay, give and receive. If rural Nepal is
mostly agrarian, some aspects of the urban life carry the glitz and glamour of the
ultra-modern world..

Food: Food habits differ from region to region and much of Nepali food has been
influenced by Indian and Tibetan styles of cooking. However the Newar people have
their unique cuisine which is vast and nutritious. The Thakalis also have a distinct
cuisine although the staples are the same daal and bhat which most Nepali people
eat. The regular Nepali meal is daal (lentil soup), bhat (boiled rice) and tarkari
(curried vegetables), often accompanied by achar (pickle). Curried meat is very
popular, but for many it is saved for special occasions. Momos (steamed or fried
dumplings) deserve a mention as one of the most popular snacks among Nepalis.
Rotis (flat bread) and dhedo (boiled flour) are also the staple diet in some homes.

Economy of Nepal
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Economy of Nepal

Kathmandu, the financial centre of Nepal

Currency Nepalese rupee (NPR, रू)

Fiscal year 16 July - 15 July

Trade organizations WTO and SAFTA

Country group Developing/Emerging[1]

Low-income economy[2]

Statistics

Population  28,087,871 (2018)[3]

GDP  $29.813 billion (nominal, 2019)[4]

 $94.419 billion (PPP, 2019)[4]

GDP growth 8.2% (16/17) 6.7% (17/18)

7.1% (18/19e) 6.4% (19/20f)[5]
GDP per capita  $1,048 (nominal, 2019 est.)[4]

 $3,318 (PPP, 2019 est.)[4]

GDP by sector Agriculture: 27%

Industry: 13.5%

Services: 59.5%

(2017 est.)[6]
Inflation (CPI) 4.150% (2018)[4]
Population 25.2% (2010)[7]
below poverty line
15.0% on less than $1.90/day (2010)[8]
Gini coefficient 32.8 medium (2010)[9]
Human Development  0.579 medium (2018)[10] (147th)
Index
0.430 IHDI (2018)[11]
Labour force  16,711,782 (2019)[12][note 1]

34.2 employment rate (2017)[13]

Labour force by agriculture: 69%
occupation
industry: 12%

services: 19%

(2015 est.)[6]

Unemployment 3% (2017 est.)[6]

Main industries tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed

mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production[6]

Ease-of-doing-business  94th (easy, 2020)[14]
rank

External

Exports  $818.7 million (2017 est.)[6]

Export goods clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, jute goods[6]
 Main export partners  India 53.1%

 United States 11.8%
 Turkey 7.2%

(2017)[6]

Imports  $10 billion (2017 est.)[6]

Import goods petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold,

electrical goods, medicine[6]

Main import partners  India 70.2%

 China 7.5%

(2017)[6]
FDI stock $103 million (31 July 2013 est.)[6]

Abroad: NA[6]
Current account  −$93 million (2017 est.)[6]
Gross external debt  $5.849 billion (31 December 2017 est.)[6]

Public finances
Public debt  26.4% of GDP (2017 est.)[6]
Budget balance −0.1% (of GDP) (2017 est.)[6]

Revenues 5.925 billion (2017 est.)[6]

Expenses 5.945 billion (2017 est.)[6]

Foreign reserves  $9.091 billion (31 December 2017 est.)[6]

Main data source: CIA World Fact Book

All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

Economic development in Nepal has been complicated and affected by the constant change in
political scenarios which has ranged from monarchy to being ruled by the Communist party in 2019.
An isolated, agrarian society until the mid-20th century, Nepal entered the modern era in 1951
without schools, hospitals, roads, telecommunications, electric power, industry, or civil service. The
country has, however, made progress toward sustainable economic growth since the 1950s and
opened the country to economic liberalization leading to economic growth and improvement in living
standards than compared to the past. The biggest challenges faced by the country in achieving
higher economic development are the frequent changes in political leadership as well as corruption.
Nepal has used a series of five-year plans in an attempt to make progress in economic
development. It completed its ninth economic development plan in 2002; its currency has been
made convertible, and 17 state enterprises have been privatised. Foreign aid to Nepal accounts for
more than half of the development budget. Government priorities over the years have been the
development of transportation and communication facilities, agriculture, and industry. Since 1975,
improved government administration and rural development efforts have been emphasised.
Agriculture remains Nepal's principal economic activity, employing about 65% of the population and
providing 31.7% of GDP. Only about 20% of the total area is cultivable; another 40.7% is forested
(i.e., covered by shrubs, pastureland and forest); most of the rest is mountainous. Fruits and
vegetables (apples, pears, tomatoes, various salads, peach, nectarine, potatoes), as well as rice and
 wheat are the main food crops. The lowland Terai region produces an agricultural surplus, part of
which supplies the food-deficient hill areas.
GDP is heavily dependent on remittances (9.1%) of foreign workers. Subsequently, economic
development in social services and infrastructure in Nepal has not made dramatic progress. A
countrywide primary education system is under development, and Tribhuvan University has several
campuses. Although eradication efforts continue, malaria had been controlled in the fertile but
previously uninhabitable Terai region in the south. Kathmandu is linked to India and nearby hill
regions by road and an expanding highway network. The capital was almost out of fuel and transport
of supplies caused by a crippling general strike in southern Nepal on 17 February 2008. [15]
Major towns are connected to the capital by telephone and domestic air services. The export-
oriented carpet and garment industries have grown rapidly in recent years and together now account
for approximately 70% of merchandise exports.
The Cost of Living Index in Nepal is comparatively lower than many countries but not the least. The
quality of life has declined to much less desirous value in recent years. [16] Nepal was ranked 54th
worst of 81 ranked countries (those with GHI > 5.0) on the Global Hunger Index in 2011,
between Cambodia and Togo. Nepal's current score of 19.5 is better than in 2010 (20.0) and much
improved than its score of 27.5 in 1990.[17]

Contents

 1Foreign investments and taxation

 2Imports and exports
 3Resources
 4Macro-economic trend
 5Statistics
 6References
 7External links

Foreign investments and taxation[edit]

Huge numbers of Small Foreign Investments come to Nepal via the Non Resident Nepali, who are
investing in shopping malls, plazas, real estate, tourism, etc. Nepal has a huge capacity for
hydroelectricity. Accordingly, a large number of foreign companies are in line, but political instability
has stopped the process at the same time as it's growing on its own. Nepal has entered into
agreements for avoidance of double taxation (all in credit method) with 10 countries (PSRD) since
2000. Similarly, it has Investment protection agreements with 5 countries (PSRD) since 1983. In
2014, Nepal restricted the Foreign aid by setting a minimum limit for foreign grants, soft and
commercial loans from its development partners.[18]

Imports and exports[edit]

A proportional representation of Nepal's exports.

Nepal's merchandise trade balance has improved somewhat since 2000 with the growth of the
carpet and garment industries. In the fiscal year 2000-2001, exports posted a greater increase (14%)
than imports (4.5%), helping bring the trade deficit down by 4% from the previous year to $749
million. Recently, the European Union has become the largest buyer of ready-made garments; fruits
and vegetables (mostly apples, pears, tomatoes, various salads, peach, nectarine, potatoes, rice)
from Nepal. Exports to the EU accounted for 46.13 percent of the country’s garment exports. [19]
The annual monsoon rain, or lack of it, strongly influences economic growth. From 1996 to 1999,
real GDP growth averaged less than 4%. The growth rate recovered in 1999, rising to 6% before
slipping slightly in 2001 to 5.5%.
Strong export performance, including earnings from tourism, and external aid have helped improve
the overall balance of payments and increase international reserves. Nepal receives substantial
amounts of external assistance from the United Kingdom,[20][21][22] the United States, Japan, Germany,
and the Scandinavian countries.
Several multilateral organisations such as the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and
the UN Development Programme also provide assistance. In June 1998, Nepal submitted its
memorandum on a foreign trade regime to the World Trade Organization and in May 2000 began
direct negotiations on its accession.

Resources[edit]

Tourists trekking in Annapurna region in western Nepal. Tourism plays a vital role in Nepal's economy.

Progress has been made in exploiting Nepal's natural resources, tourism and hydroelectricity. With

eight of the world's 10 highest mountain peaks, including Mount Everest at 8,848 m. In the early
1990s, one large public sector project and a number of private projects were planned; some have
been completed. The most significant private sector financed hydroelectric projects currently in
operation are the Khimti Khola (60 MW) and the Bhote Koshi Project (36 MW). The project is still
undergoing and has dependency on China, India and Japan to take the further steps.
Nepal has 83,000 MW of theoretical and 42,133 MW of technically/financially viable hydroelectric
potential, however the total installed capacity, at present, is mere 730.47 MW. [23]
The environmental impact of Nepal's hydroelectric Own calendar (Bikram Sambat) New year in mid-
April projects has been limited by the fact that most are "run-of-the-river" with only one storage
project undertaken to date. The largest hydroelectric plant under consideration is the West Seti
Dam (750 MW) storage project dedicated to exports to be built by the private sector. Negotiations
with India for a power purchase agreement have been underway for several years, but agreement
on pricing and financing remains a problem. Currently demand for electricity is increasing at 8-10% a
year whereas Nepal's option to have agreement with India will make this fulfilment against demand.
Population pressure on natural resources is increasing. Over-population is already straining the
"carrying capacity" of the middle hill areas, particularly the Kathmandu Valley, resulting in the
depletion of forest cover for crops, fuel, and fodder and contributing to erosion and flooding.
Although steep mountain terrain makes exploitation difficult, mineral surveys have found small
deposits of limestone, magnesite, zinc, copper, iron, mica, lead, and cobalt.
The development of hydroelectric power projects also cause some tension with local indigenous
groups, recently[when?] empowered by Nepal's ratification of ILO Convention 169.[24]

Macro-economic trend[edit]
This is a chart of trend of gross domestic product of Nepal at market prices estimated by the
International Monetary Fund and EconStats with figures in millions of Nepali Rupees. [citation needed]

Year Gross domestic product

196
3,870
0

196
5,602
5

197
8,768
0

197
16,571
5

198
23,350
0
198
46,586
5

199
103,415
0

199
219,174
5

200
379,488
0

Ye 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
ar 80 85 90 95 00 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

GD 6.0 20 28 38 40 43 47 52 55 59 62 67 70 71 78
9. 14. 49. 84.
P .9 .7 .4 .9 .4 .0 .5 .5 .2 .6 .6 .6 .8 .5
2 86 39 56 37
in $ Bln 0 5 5 7 9 5 8 0 3 7 2 2 2 9
Bl Bln Bln Bln
(PP Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl Bl
P)
. n. . . .
n. n. n. n. n. n. n. n. n. n. n. n. n. n.

GD
P
per 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2,
cap 40 59 76 97 1,8 2,8
21 50 57 65 77 94 03 14 23 38 46 47 67
ita 4 0 7 7 53 42
1 0 9 9 7 6 1 2 9 7 4 7 9
in
$ (P
PP)

GD
P −2. 6. 14. 3. 6. 3. 3. 3. 6. 4. 3. 4. 4. 6. 3. 0. 8.
gro 4.5  6.7 
3  1  4  5  1  5  4  4  1  8  4  8  1  0  3  6  2 
wth % %
% % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
(rea
l)

Infl 9.8  4. 8.9  7. 3. 4. 8. 6. 6. 12. 9. 9. 8. 9. 9. 7. 9. 4. 4.2 

atio % 1  % 7  4  5  0  2  7  6  6  6  3  9  0  2  9  5  %
n
(in
 Per
cent % % % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
)

Go
v.
deb 27.
t 58  51  49  43  42  39  34  32  34  32  28  25  27  27 
... ... ... ... 4 
(Pct % % % % % % % % % % % % % %
%
. of
GD
P)

The following table shows the main economic indicators in 1980–2018. [25]

Statistics[edit]
GDP: purchasing power parity - $84.37 Billion (2018 est.)[26][dubious  –  discuss]
GDP - real growth rate: 21.77% (2017)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity (current international $) - $2700 (2017 est.) GDP -
composition by sector:
agriculture: 17%
industry: 13.5%
services: 60.5% (2017 est.)
tourism: 9%
Population below poverty line: 21.6% (2017/2018)[27]

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1995–96)
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 4.5% (2017)
Labour force: 4 million (2016 est.) [Citation needed.]
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 19%, services 69%, industry 12% (2014 est.)
Unemployment rate: 3.2% (2017 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $5.954 billion
expenditures: $5.974 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (2017 est.)
Industries: tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and
brick production
Industrial production growth rate: 10.9% (2017 est.):
Electricity - production: 41,083 GWh (2017)
Electricity - production by source:
fossil fuel: 7.5%
hydro: 91.5%
nuclear: 0.3%
other: 0.7% (2001)
Available energy:6257.73 GWh (2017) NEA HYDRO:2290.78 GWh (2014) NEA THERMAL:9.56
GWh (2014) purchase(total):2331.17 GWh (2014) India(purchase):2175.04 GWh
(2017) Nepal(IPP):1258.94 GWh (2014)
Electricity - consumption: 4,776.53 GWh (2017)
Electricity - exports: 856 GWh (2001) Electricity - imports: 12 GWh (2001)
Oil - production: 0 barrels per day (0 m3/d) (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: 1,600 barrels per day (250 m3/d) 2001
Agriculture - products: Fruits and vegetables
(mostly: apples, pears, tomatoes, peaches, nectarines, potatoes, rice, maize, wheat, sugarcane, root
crops, milk, and buffalo meat.
Exports: $1.34 billion f.o.b., but does not include unrecorded border trade with India (2017 est.)
Exports - commodities: carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
Exports - partners: India 56.6%, US 11.5%, Turkey 4% (2016 est.)
Imports: $1.03 billion f.o.b. (2017 est.)
Imports - commodities: gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, electrical goods,
medicine
Imports - partners: India 70.1%, China 10.3%, UAE 2.6%, Singapore 2.1%, Saudi Arabia 1.2%.
(2016 est.)
Debt - external: $5.948 billion (2017 est.)
Economic aid - recipient: $424 million (FY 00/01)
Currency: 1 Nepali rupee (NPR) = 100 paisa
Fiscal year: 16 July - 15 July

Geography of Nepal
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Geography of Nepal (ने पाल)

Continent Asia

Region Southern Asia

coordinates =  28°00′N 84°00′E

Area Ranked 93rd

 • Total 147,181 km2 (56,827 sq mi)

 • Land 92.94%

 • Water 7.06%

Coastline 0 km (0 mi)

Borders Total land borders:

2,926 km (1,818 mi)

China (PRC):

1,236 km (768 mi)

India:

1,690 km (1,050 mi)

Highest point Mount Everest

8,848 m (29,029 ft)

Lowest point Mukhiyapatti Musharniya

59 m (194 ft)
 Longest river Karnali

Largest lake Rara Lake

Nepal measures about 880 kilometers (547 mi) along its Himalayan axis by 150 to 250 kilometers
(93 to 155 mi) across. Nepal has an area of 147,181 square kilometers (56,827 sq mi).
Nepal is landlocked by India on three sides and China's Tibet Autonomous Region to the north. West
Bengal's narrow Siliguri Corridor or Chicken's Neck separate Nepal and Bangladesh. To the east
are India and Bhutan. Nepal depends on India for goods transport facilities and access to the Indian
Ocean, even for most goods imported from China.

Contents

 1Landform regions
o 1.1Terai Region
o 1.2Hilly
o 1.3Himal
o 1.4Trans-Himalayan Region
 2Climate
o 2.1Altitudinal belts
o 2.2Seasons
 3Environment
o 3.1Environmental issues
 4River systems
o 4.1River management
 5Area
 6Resources and land use
 7Land cover
o 7.1Forests
 8Boundaries
o 8.1Border crossings with India
o 8.2Border crossings with Tibet Autonomous Region, China
 9See also
 10References
 11External links

Landform regions[edit]
For a country of its size, Nepal has tremendous geographic diversity. It rises from as low as 59
metres (194 ft) elevation in the tropical Terai—the northern rim of the Gangetic Plain, beyond the
perpetual snow line to some 90 peaks over 7,000 metres (22,966 ft) including Earth's highest 8,848
metres (29,029 ft) Mount Everest or Sagarmatha. In addition to the continuum from tropical warmth
to cold comparable to polar regions, average annual precipitation varies from as little as 160
millimetres (6.3 in) in the rainshadow north of the Himalayas to as much as 5,500 millimetres
(216.5 in) on windward slopes.[1]
Along a south-to-north transect, Nepal can be divided into three belts: Terai, Pahad and Himal. In
the other direction, it is divided into three major river systems, from east to
west: Koshi, Gandaki/Narayani and Karnali (including the Mahakali/Sarda along the western border),
all tributaries of the Ganges river. The Ganges-Yarlung Zangbo/Brahmaputra watershed largely
coincides with the Nepal-Tibet border, however several Ganges tributaries rise inside Tibet.
Terai Region[edit]
Main articles: Terai and Inner Terai Valleys of Nepal
Terai is a low land region containing some hill ranges. Looking out for its coverage, it covers 17% of
the total area of Nepal. The Terai (also spelled Tarai) region begins at the Indian border and
includes the southernmost part of the flat, intensively farmed Gangetic Plain called the Outer Terai.
By the 19th century, timber and other resources were being exported to India. Industrialization based
on agricultural products such as jute began in the 1930s and infrastructure such as roadways,
railways and electricity were extended across the border before it reached Nepal's Pahad region.
The Outer Terai is culturally more similar to adjacent parts of India's Bihar and Uttar Pradesh than to
the Pahad of Nepal. Nepali is taught in schools and often spoken in government offices, however the
local population mostly uses Maithali, Bhojpuri and Tharu languages.
The Outer Terai ends at the base of the first range of foothills called the Siwaliks or Churia. This
range has a densely forested skirt of coarse alluvium called the bhabhar. Below the bhabhar, finer,
less permeable sediments force groundwater to the surface in a zone of springs and marshes.
In Persian, terai refers to wet or marshy ground. Before the use of DDT this was
dangerously malarial. Nepal's rulers used this for a defensive frontier called the char kose
jhadi (four kos forest, one kos equaling about three kilometers or two miles).
Above the Bhabhar belt, the Siwaliks rise to about 700 metres (2,297 ft) with peaks as high as 1,000
metres (3,281 ft), steeper on their southern flanks because of faults known as the Main Frontal
Thrust. This range is composed of poorly consolidated, coarse sediments that do not retain water or
support soil development so there is virtually no agricultural potential and sparse population.
In several places beyond the Siwaliks there are dūn valleys called Inner Terai. These valleys have
productive soil but were dangerously malarial except to indigenous Tharu people who had genetic
resistance. In the mid-1950s DDT came into use to suppress mosquitos and the way was open to
settlement from the land-poor hills, to the detriment of the Tharu.
The Terai ends and the Pahad begin at a higher range of foothills called the Mahabharat Range.
Hilly[edit]
Hilly is a mountain region which does not generally contain snow. It is situated south of the Himal.
This region begins at the Mahabharat Range (Lesser Himalaya) where a fault system called
the Main Boundary Thrust creates an escarpment 1,000 to 1,500 metres (3,000 to 5,000 ft) high, to a
crest between 1,500 and 2,700 metres (5,000 and 9,000 ft). It covers 68% of the total area of Nepal.
These steep southern slopes are nearly uninhabited, thus an effective buffer between languages
and culture in the Terai and Hilly. Hindu Paharis mainly populate river and stream bottoms that
enable rice cultivation and are warm enough for winter/spring crops of wheat and potato. The
increasingly urbanized Kathmandu and Pokhara valleys fall within the Hill region. Newars are
an indigenous ethnic group with their own Tibeto-Burman language. The Newar were originally
indigenous to the Kathmandu valley but have spread into Pokhara and other towns alongside
urbanized Pahari.
Other indigenous Janajati ethnic groups -— natively speaking highly localized Tibeto-Burman
languages and dialects -— populate hillsides up to about 2,500 metres (8,000 ft). This group
includes Magar and Kham Magar west of Pokhara, Gurung south of the
Annapurnas, Tamang around the periphery of Kathmandu Valley and Rai, Koinch
Sunuwar and Limbu further east. Temperate and subtropical fruits are grown as cash
crops. Marijuana was grown and processed into Charas (hashish) until international pressure
persuaded the government to outlaw it in 1976. There is increasing reliance on animal husbandry
with elevation, using land above 2,000 metres (7,000 ft) for summer grazing and moving herds to
lower elevations in winter. Grain production has not kept pace with population growth at elevations
above 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) where colder temperatures inhibit double cropping. Food deficits drive
emigration out of the Pahad in search of employment.
The Hilly ends where ridges begin substantially rising out of the temperate climate zone
into subalpine zone above 3,000 metres (10,000 ft).
Himal[edit]

Perspective view of the Himalayas and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over
the Tibetan Plateau. (annotated version)

Himal is a mountain region containing snow. The Mountain Region or Parbat begins where high
ridges (Nepali: ले क; lekh) begin substantially rising above 3,000 metres (10,000 ft) into
the subalpine and alpine zone which are mainly used for seasonal pasturage. By geographical view,
it covers 15% of the total area of Nepal. A few tens kilometers further north the high Himalaya
abruptly rise along the Main Central Thrust fault zone above the snow line at 5,000 to 5,500 metres
(16,400 to 18,000 ft). Some 90 of Nepal's peaks exceed 7,000 metres (23,000 ft) and eight exceed
8,000 metres (26,247 ft) including Mount Everest at 8,848 metres (29,029 ft) and Kanchenjunga at
8,598 metres (28,209 ft).
Unlike the Mahabharats, the Himalayas are not continuous across Nepal. Instead, there are some
20 subranges including the Kanchenjunga massif along the Sikkim border, Mahalangur
Himal around Mt. Everest. Langtang north of Kathmandu, Annapurna and Manaslu north of Pokhara,
then Dhaulagiri further west with Kanjiroba north of Jumla and finally Gurans Himal in the far west.

Nepal’s highest mountains[2]

Mountain Height Section Location
Mount Everest     Khumjung VDC, Solukhumbu District,
  8,848 m     29,029 ft   Khumbu Mahalangur
(Highest in world) Sagarmatha Zone (Nepal-China Border)
    Lelep VDC / Yamphudin VDC, Taplejung
Kangchenjunga
8,586 m 28,169 ft   Northern Kanchenjunga District,
(3rd highest)
Mechi Zone (Nepal-Sikkim Border)
Lhotse     Khumjung VDC, Solukhumbu District,
8,516 m 27,940 ft Everest Group
(4th highest) Sagarmatha Zone (Nepal-China Border)
Makalu     Makalu VDC, Sankhuwasabha District,
8,462 m 27,762 ft Makalu Mahalangur
(5th highest) Kosi Zone (Nepal-China Border)
 Cho Oyu     Khumjung VDC, Solukhumbu District,
8,201 m 26,906 ft Khumbu Mahalangur
(6th highest) Sagarmatha Zone (Nepal-China Border)
Dhaulagiri     Mudi VDC / Kuinemangale VDC,
8,167 m 26,795 ft Dhaulagiri
(7th highest) Myagdi District, Dhawalagiri Zone
    Samagaun VDC, Gorkha
Manaslu
8,156 m 26,759 ft Mansiri District / Dharapani VDC,
(8th highest)
Manang District, Gandaki Zone
    Ghandruk VDC, Kaski District,
Annapurna
8,091 m 26,545 ft Annapurna Gandaki Zone / Narchyang VDC,
(10th highest)
Myagdi District, Dhawalagiri Zone

Trans-Himalayan Region[edit]
The main watershed between the Brahmaputra (called Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet) and
the Ganges system (including all of Nepal) actually lies north of the highest ranges. Alpine, often
semi-arid valleys—including Humla, Jumla, Dolpo, Mustang, Manang and Khumbu—cut between
Himalayan sub ranges or lie north of them.
Some of these valleys historically were more accessible from Tibet than Nepal and are populated by
people with Tibetan affinities called Bhotiya or Bhutia including the famous Sherpas in Kumbu valley
near Mount Everest. With Chinese cultural hegemony in Tibet itself, these valleys have become
repositories of traditional ways. Valleys with better access from the hill regions to the south are
culturally linked to Nepal as well as Tibet, notably the Kali Gandaki Gorge where Thakali culture
shows influences in both directions.
Permanent villages in the mountain region stand as high as 4,500 metres (15,000 ft) with summer
encampments even higher. Bhotiyas graze yaks, grow cold-tolerant crops such
as potatoes, barley, buckwheat and millet. They traditionally traded across the mountains, e.g.,
Tibetan salt for rice from lowlands in Nepal and India. Since trade was restricted in the 1950s they
have found work as high altitude porters, guides, cooks and other accessories to tourism and
alpinism.

Climate[edit]
Nepal map of Köppen climate classification zones

Altitudinal belts[edit]

Satellite image of Nepal in October 2002

Nepal's latitude is about the same as that of the United States state of Florida, however with
elevations ranging from less than 100 meters (300 ft) to over 8,000 meters (26,000 ft) and
precipitation from 160 millimeters (6 in) to over 5,000 millimeters (16 ft) the country has eight climate
zones from tropical to perpetual snow.[3]
The tropical zone below 1,000 meters (3,300 ft) experiences frost less than once per decade. It can
be subdivided into lower tropical (below 300 meters or 1,000 ft.) with 18% of the nation's land area)
and upper (18% of land area) tropical zones. The best mangoes and well as papaya and banana are
largely confined to the lower zone. Other fruit such as litchee, jackfruit, citrus and mangoes of lower
quality grow in the upper tropical zone as well. Winter crops include grains and vegetables typically
grown in temperate climates. The Outer Terai is virtually all in the lower tropical zone. Inner Terai
valleys span both tropical zones. The Sivalik Hills are mostly upper tropical. Tropical climate zones
extend far up river valleys across the Middle Hills and even into the Mountain regions.
The subtropical climate zone from 1,000 to 2,000 meters (3,300 to 6,600 ft) occupies 22% of
Nepal's land area and is the most prevalent climate of the Middle Hills above river valleys. It
experiences frost up to 53 days per year, however, this varies greatly with elevation, proximity to
high mountains and terrain either draining or ponding cold air drainage. Crops
include rice, maize, millet, wheat, potato, stone fruits and citrus.
The great majority of Nepal's population occupies the tropical and subtropical climate zones. In the
Middle Hills, upper-caste Hindus are concentrated in tropical valleys which are well suited for rice
cultivation while Janajati ethnic groups mostly live above in the subtropical zone and grow other
grains more than rice.
The Temperate climate zone from 2,000 to 3,000 meters (6,600 to 9,800 ft) occupies 12% of
Nepal's land area and has up to 153 annual days of frost. It is encountered in higher parts of the
Middle Hills and throughout much of the Mountain region. Crops include cold-tolerant rice, maize,
wheat, barley, potato, apple, walnut, peach, various cole, amaranthus and buckwheat.
The Subalpine zone from 3,000 to 4,000 meters (9,800 to 13,100 ft) occupies 9% of Nepal's land
area, mainly in the Mountain and Himalayan regions. It has permanent settlements in the Himalaya,
but further south it is only seasonally occupied as pasture for sheep, goats, yak and hybrids in
warmer months. There are up to 229 annual days of frost here. Crops include barley,
potato, cabbage, cauliflower, amaranthus, buckwheat and apple. Medicinal plants are also gathered.
The Alpine zone from 4,000 to 5,000 meters (13,100 to 16,400 ft) occupies 8% of the country's land
area. There are a few permanent settlements above 4,000 meters. There is virtually no plant
cultivation although medicinal herbs are gathered. Sheep, goats, yaks and hybrids are pastured in
warmer months.
Above 5,000 meters the climate becomes Nival and there is no human habitation or even seasonal
use.
Arid and semi-arid land in the rainshadow of high ranges have a Transhimalayan climate.
Population density is very low. Cultivation and husbandry conform to subalpine and alpine patterns
but depend on snowmelt and streams for irrigation.
Precipitation generally decreases from east to west with increasing distance from the Bay of Bengal,
source of the summer monsoon. Eastern Nepal gets about 2,500 mm (100 in) annually; the
Kathmandu area about 1,400 mm (55 in) and western Nepal about 1,000 mm (40 in). This pattern is
modified by adiabatic effects as rising air masses cool and drop their moisture content on windward
slopes, then warm up as they descend so relative humidity drops. Annual precipitation reaches
5,500 mm (18 ft) on windward slopes in the Annapurna Himalaya beyond a relatively low stretch of
the Mahabharat Range. In rainshadows beyond the high mountains, annual precipitation drops as
low as 160 mm (6 in).
Seasons[edit]
The year is divided into a wet season from June to September—as summer warmth over Inner Asia
creates a low pressure zone that draws in moist air from the Indian Ocean—and a dry season from
October to June as cold temperatures in the vast interior creates a high pressure zone causing dry
air to flow outward. April and May are months of intense water stress when cumulative effects of the
long dry season are exacerbated by temperatures rising over 40 °C (104 °F) in the tropical climate
belt. Seasonal drought further intensifies in the Siwaliks hills consisting of poorly consolidated,
coarse, permeable sediments that do not retain water, so hillsides are often covered with drought-
tolerant scrub forest. In fact much of Nepal's native vegetation adapted to withstand drought, but less
so at higher elevations where cooler temperatures mean less water stress.
The summer monsoon may be preceded by a buildup of thunderstorm activity that provides water for
rice seedbeds. Sustained rain on average arrives in mid-June as rising temperatures over Inner
Asia creates a low pressure zone that draws in moist air from the Indian Ocean, but this can vary up
to a month. Significant failure of monsoon rains historically meant drought and famine while above-
normal rains still cause flooding and landslides with losses in human lives, farmland and buildings.
The monsoon also complicates transportation with roads and trails washing out while unpaved roads
and airstrips may become unusable and cloud cover reduces safety margins for aviation. Rains
diminish in September and generally end by mid-October, ushering in generally cool, clear, and dry
weather, as well as the most relaxed and jovial period in Nepal. By this time, the harvest is
completed and people are in a festive mood. The two largest and most important Hindu festivals—
Dashain and Tihar (Dipawali)—arrive during this period, about one month apart. The post monsoon
season lasts until about December.
After the post monsoon comes the winter monsoon, a strong northeasterly flow marked by
occasional, short rainfalls in the lowlands and plains and snowfalls in the high-altitude areas. In this
season the Himalayas function as a barrier to cold air masses from Inner Asia, so southern Nepal
and northern India have warmer winters than would otherwise be the case. April and May are dry
and hot, especially below 1,200 meters (4,000 ft) where afternoon temperatures may exceed 40 °C
(104 °F).

Environment[edit]
The dramatic changes in elevation along this transect result in a variety of biomes, from tropical
savannas along the Indian border, to subtropical broadleaf and coniferous forests in the hills,
to temperate broadleaf and coniferous forests on the slopes of the Himalaya, to montane grasslands
and shrublands, and finally rock and ice at the highest elevations.
This corresponds to the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion.
Subtropical forests dominate the lower elevations of the Hill region. They form a mosaic running
east–west across Nepal, with Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests between 500 and 1,000
meters (1,600 and 3,300 ft) and Himalayan subtropical pine forests between 1,000 and 2,000 meters
(3,300 and 6,600 ft). At higher elevations, to 3,000 meters (10,000 ft), are found temperate broadleaf
forests: eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests to the east of the Gandaki River and western
Himalayan broadleaf forests to the west.
The native forests of the Mountain region change from east to west as precipitation decreases. They
can be broadly classified by their relation to the Gandaki River. From 3,000 to 4,000 meters (10,000
to 13,000 ft) are the eastern and western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests. To 5,500 meters
(18,000 ft) are the eastern and western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows.
Environmental issues[edit]
Main article: Environmental issues in Nepal
Natural hazards
Earthquakes, severe thunderstorms (tornadoes are rare[4]), flooding and
flash 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
 Existing and proposed dams, barrages and canals for flood control, irrigation and
hydroelectric generation

River systems[edit]
See also: List of rivers of Nepal
Nepal has three categories of rivers. The largest systems -— from east to west
the Koshi, Gandaki/Narayani, Karnali/Goghra and Mahakali—originate in
multiple tributaries rising in or beyond the high Himalaya that maintain
substantial flows from snowmelt through the hot, drought stricken spring before
the summer monsoon. These tributaries cross the highest mountains in deep
gorges, flow south through the Middle Hills, then join in candelabra-like
configuration before crossing the Mahabharat Range and emerging onto the
plains where they have deposited megafans exceeding
10,000 km2 (4,000 sq mi) in area.
The Koshi is also called Sapta Koshi for its seven Himalayan tributaries in
eastern Nepal: Indrawati, Sun Koshi, Tama Koshi, Dudh Koshi, Liku, Arun,
and Tamor. The Arun rises in Tibet some 150 kilometers (100 mi) beyond
Nepal's northern border. A tributary of the Sun Koshi, Bhote Koshi also rises in
Tibet and is followed by the Arniko Highway connecting Kathmandu and Lhasa.
The Gandaki/Narayani has seven Himalayan tributaries in the center of the
country: Daraudi, Seti Gandaki, Madi, Kali, Marsyandi, Budhi, and Trisuli also
called Sapta Gandaki. The Kali Gandaki rises on the edge of the Tibetan
Plateau and flows through the semi-independent Kingdom of Mustang, then
between the 8,000 meter Dhaulagiri and Annapurna ranges in the world's
deepest valley. The Trisuli rises north of the international border inside Tibet.
After the seven upper tributaries join, the river becomes the Narayani inside
Nepal and is joined by the East Rapti from Chitwan Valley. Crossing into India,
its name changes to Gandak.
The Karnali drains western Nepal, with the Bheri and Seti as major tributaries.
The upper Bheri drains Dolpo, a remote valley beyond the Dhaulagiri Himalaya
with traditional Tibetan cultural affinities. The upper Karnali rises inside Tibet
near sacred Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash. The area around these
features is the hydrographic nexus of South Asia since it holds the sources of
the Indus and its major tributary the Sutlej, the Karnali—a Ganges tributary—
and the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra. It is the center of the universe
according to traditional cosmography. The Mahakali or Kali along the Nepal-
India border on the west joins the Karnali in India, where the river is known
as Goghra or Ghaghara.
Second category rivers rise in the Middle Hills and Mahabharat Range, from
east to west the Mechi, Kankai and Kamala south of the Kosi; the Bagmati that
drains Kathmandu Valley between the Kosi and Gandaki systems, then
the West Rapti and the Babai between the Gandaki and Karnali systems.
Without glacial sources, annual flow regimes in these rivers are more variable
although limited flow persists through the dry season.
Third category rivers rise in the outermost Siwalik foothills and are mostly
seasonal.
None of these river systems support significant commercial navigation. Instead,
deep gorges create obstacles to establishing transport and communication
networks and de-fragmenting the economy. Foot-trails are still primary
transportation routes in many hill districts.

Nepal's towns, villages, rivers and peaks

River management[edit]
 Rivers in all three categories are capable of causing serious floods. Koshi River
in the first category caused a major flood in August 2008 in Bihar state, India
after breaking through a poorly maintained embankment just inside Nepal. The
West Rapti in the second category is called "Gorakhpur's Sorrow" for its history
of urban flooding. Third category Terai rivers are associated with flash floods. [5]
Since uplift and erosion are more or less in equilibrium in the Himalaya, at least
where the climate is humid,[6] rapid uplift must be balanced out by annual
increments of millions tonnes of sediments washing down from the mountains;
then on the plains settling out of suspension on vast alluvial fans over which
rivers meander and change course at least every few decades, causing some
experts to question whether manmade embankments can contain the problem
of flooding.[7] Traditional Mithila culture along the lower Koshi in Nepal and Bihar
celebrated the river as the giver of life for its fertile alluvial soil, yet also the taker
of life through its catastrophic floods.[8]
Large reservoirs in the Middle Hills may be able to capture peak flows and
mitigate downstream flooding, to store surplus monsoon flows for dry season
irrigation and to generate electricity. Water for irrigation is especially compelling
because the Indian Terai is suspected to have entered a food bubble where dry
season crops are dependent on water from tube wells that in the aggregate are
unsustainably "mining" groundwater. [9]
Depletion of aquifers without building upstream dams as a sustainable
alternative water source could precipitate a Malthusian catastrophe in
India's food insecure states Uttar Pradesh[citation needed] and Bihar,[10] with over 300
million combined population. With India already experiencing a Naxalite–Maoist
insurgency[11] in Bihar, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh, Nepalese reluctance to
agree to water projects could even seem an existential threat to India. [12]
As Nepal builds barrages to divert more water for irrigation during the dry
season preceding the summer monsoon, there is less for downstream users
in Bangladesh and India's Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states. The best solution
could be building large upstream reservoirs, to capture and store surplus flows
during summer monsoon as well as providing flood control benefits to
Bangladesh and India. Then water sharing agreements could allocate a portion
of the stored water to be left to flow into India during the following dry season.
Nevertheless, building dams in Nepal is controversial for several reasons. First,
the region is seismically active. Dam failures caused by earthquakes could
cause tremendous death and destruction downstream, particularly on the
densely populated Gangetic Plain.[13] Second, global warming has led to the
formation of glacial lakes dammed by unstable moraines. Sudden failures of
these moraines can cause floods with cascading failures of manmade
structures downstream.[14]
Third, sedimentation rates in the Himalaya are extremely high, leading to rapid
loss of storage capacity as sediments accumulate behind dams. [15] Fourth, there
are complicated questions of cross-border equity in how India and Nepal would
share costs and benefits that have proven difficult to resolve in the context of
frequent acrimony between the two countries.[16]

Area[edit]
 Total: 147,181 km2 (56,827 sq mi)
 Land: 143,181 km2 (55,282 sq mi)
 Water: 4,000 km2 (1,544 sq mi)
Coastline
0 km (landlocked)
Elevation extremes

 Lowest point: Kechana Kawal, jhapa district 59 m

 Highest point: Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) 8,848 m

Resources and land use[edit]

Natural resources
Quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits
of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
Land use

 Arable land: 16.0%

 Permanent crops: 0.8%
 Other: 83.2% (2001)
Irrigated land
11,680 km² (2003) Nearly 50% of arable land
Total renewable water resources
210.2 km3 (2011)

Land cover[edit]

A land cover map of Nepal using

Landsat 30 m (2010) data.

ICIMOD’s first and most complete

national land cover[17] database of
Nepal prepared using public
domain Landsat TM data of 2010
shows that show that forest is the
dominant form of land cover in
Nepal covering 57,538 km2 with a
contribution of 39.09% to the total
geographical area of the country.
Most of this forest cover is
broadleaved closed and open
forest, which covers 21,200 km2 or
14.4% of the geographical area.
Needleleaved open forest is the
least common of the forest areas
covering 8267 km2 (5.62%).
Agriculture area is significant
extending over
43,910 km2 (29.83%). As would be
expected, the high mountain area
is largely covered by snow and
glaciers and barren land.

Terraced farmland in Nepal.

The Hill region constitutes the

largest portion of Nepal, covering
29.5% of the geographical area,
and has a large area (19,783 km2)
of cultivated or managed lands,
natural and semi natural
vegetation (22,621 km2) and
artificial surfaces (200 km2). The
Tarai region has more cultivated
or managed land (14,104 km2)
and comparatively less natural
and semi natural vegetation
(4280 km2). The Tarai has only
267 km2 of natural water bodies.
The High mountain region has
12,062 km2 of natural water
bodies, snow/glaciers and
13,105 km2 barren areas.
Forests[edit]
25.4% of Nepal's land area, or
about 36,360 km2 (14,039 sq mi)
is covered with forest according
to FAO figures from 2005. FAO
estimates that around 9.6% of
Nepal's forest cover consists
of primary forest which is relatively
intact. About 12.1% Nepal's forest
is classified as protected while
about 21.4%
is conserved according to FAO.
About 5.1% Nepal's forests are
classified as production forest.
Between 2000 and 2005, Nepal
lost about 2,640 km2 (1,019 sq mi)
of forest. Nepal's 2000–2005 total
deforestation rate was about 1.4%
per year meaning it lost an
average of 530 km2 (205 sq mi) of
forest annually. Nepal's total
deforestation rate from 1990 to
2000 was 920 km2 (355 sq mi) or
2.1% per year. The 2000–2005
true deforestation rate in Nepal,
defined as the loss of primary
forest, is −0.4% or
70 km2 (27 sq mi) per year. Forest
is not changing in the plan land of
Nepal, forest fragmenting on the
"Roof of the World".[18]
According to ICIMOD figures from
2010, forest is the dominant form
of land cover in Nepal covering
57,538 km2 with a contribution of
39.09% to the total geographical
area of the country.[19] Most of this
forest cover is broadleaved closed
and open forest, which covers
21,200 km2 or 14.4% of the
geographical area. Needleleaved
open forest is the least common of
the forest areas covering
8,267 km2 (5.62%). At national
level 64.8% area is covered by
core forests of > 500 ha size and
23.8% forests belong to patch and
edge category forests. The patch
forest constituted 748 km2 at
national level, out of which
494 km2 of patch forests are
present in hill regions. Middle
mountains, Siwaliks and Terai
regions have more than 70% of
the forest area under core forest
category > 500 ha size. The edge
forests constituted around 30% of
forest area of High Mountain and
Hill regions.[19] Forest Resource
Assessment (FRA) which was
conducted between 2010 and
2014 by the Ministry of Forest and
Soil conservation with the financial
and technical help of Government
of Finland shows that 40.36% land
of Nepal is forested. 4.40% of the
land has shrubs and bushes.
Deforestation is driven by multiple
processes.[20] Virtually throughout
the nation, over-harvest
of firewood remains problematic.
Despite the availability of liquefied
petroleum gas in towns and cities,
firewood is sold more at energy-
competitive prices because cutting
and selling it is a fallback when
better employment opportunities
aren't forthcoming. Firewood still
supplies 80% of Nepal's energy
for heating and cooking.
Harvesting construction timber
and lopping branches for fodder
for cattle and other farm animals
are also deforestation/degradation
drivers in all geographic zones.
Illegal logging is a problem in the
Siwaliks, with sawlogs smuggled
into India.[21] Clearing for
resettlement and agriculture
expansion also causes
deforestation as does urban
expansion, building infrastructure
such as schools, hospitals,
electric transmission lines, water
tanks, police and army barracks,
temples and picnic areas.
In the Middle Hills road
construction, reservoirs,
transmission lines and extractive
manufacturing such as cement
factories cause deforestation. In
the mountains building hotels,
monasteries and trekking trails
cause deforestation while timber-
smuggling into the Tibet
Autonomous Region and over-
grazing cause degradation.
 Boundaries[edit]

Crossing Crossing Provi

Nepal town District India town District State
Name Location nce

Provi
Pashupati Pashupatina West
26°56′54″ Ilam nce Sukhiapokhri Darjeeling
nagar gar Bengal
N 88°07′20″E No. 1

Provi
Naxalbari (Panit Darjeeling West
Mechi 26°38′41″ Kakarbhitta Jhapa nce
anki) district Bengal
N 88°09′43″E No. 1

Provi
Jhapa
26°32′50″ Bhadrapur nce Galgalia Kishanganj Bihar
district
N 88°06′36″E No. 1

Provi
Biratnagar 26°24′09″ Biratnagar Morang nce Jogbani Araria Bihar
N 87°15′57″E No. 1

Provi
Sunsari 26°31′07″ Sunsari nce Bhimnagar Supaul Bihar
N 86°57′04″E No. 1

Provi
Supaul
Rajbiraj 26°27′00″ Rajbiraj Saptari nce Kunauli Bihar
District
N 86°47′34″E No. 2

Provi
Siraha 26°36′22″ Siraha Siraha nce Jayanagar Madhubani Bihar
N 86°08′14″E No. 2

Provi
Dhanus Madhubani
26°39′29″ Thadi Jhijha nce Laukaha Bihar
a district
N 86°04′04″E No. 2
 Provi
Mahotta
Jaleshwar Jaleswar nce Sursand Sitamarhi Bihar
ri
No. 2

Provi
Sitamarhi
Malangawa Sarlahi nce Sonbarsa Bihar
district
No. 2

Provi
Rautaha Sitamarhi
Gaur Gaur nce Bairgania Bihar
t district
No. 2

Provi
East
Birganj Birganj Parsa nce Raxaul Bihar
Champaran
No. 2

Maharajga Uttar
Parasi Mahespur Thutibari
nj Pradesh

Siddharthan
Provi
Bhairaha agar Rupand Maharajga Uttar
nce Nautanwa
wa (Bhairahawa ehi nj Pradesh
No. 5
)

Taulihawa
Provi
- Kapilva Siddhartha Uttar
27°27′30″ Taulihawa nce Khunwa
Siddharth stu nagar Pradesh
N 82°59′40″E No. 5
nagar

Kapilva Provi Siddharthn

Krishnana Krishnanaga Uttar
stu nce Barhni agar
gar r Pradesh
District No. 5 district

Provi
Uttar
Koilabas Koilabas Dang nce Jarwa Balrampur
Pradesh
No. 5

Nepalgan Nepalganj Banke Provi Rupaidiha Bahraich Uttar

j nce
 No. 5 Pradesh

Provi
Bahraich Uttar
Rajapur Rajapur Bardiya nce Katerniyaghat
district Pradesh
No. 5

Provi
Prithivipur Lakhimpur Uttar
Kailali nce Tikonia
(Sati) Kheri Pradesh
No. 7

Provi Lakhimpur
Kailali Uttar
Dhangadhi nce Gauriphanta Kheri
District Pradesh
No. 7 district

Bhim Datta Provi

Kancha Champawa Uttarakh
(Mahendra nce Banbasa
npur t and
nagar) No. 7

Provi
Jhulaghat (Pitho Pithoragar Uttarakh
Mahakali Mahakali Baitadi nce
ragarh) h and
No. 7

Provi
Darchul Pithoragar Uttarakh
Darchula nce Dharchula
a h district and
No. 7

 Total: 2,926 km
 Border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
Border crossings with
India[edit]
While India and Nepal have
an open border with no
restrictions on movement of
their citizens on either side,
there are 23 checkpoints for
trade purposes. These are
listed in clockwise order, east
to west. The six in italics are
also used for entry/exit by
third country nationals.[22]
 Border crossings
with Tibet Autonomous
Region, China

Demographics of Nepal
Nepal Population 2020

28,938,532
The population of Nepal, as of late 2012 and early 2013, was estimated to be 29,860,686. Today,
in 2020 however, it is only 29.14 million, which ranks 49th in the world.

Nepal Area and Population Density

The total surface area of Nepal is at 147,181 square kilometers which converts to approximately
56,826.90 square miles. With the above population in mind, this translates to a total population
density of approximately 201 people per square kilometer, or 77 people per square miles. Much
of the population is concentrated in Kathmandu however, at 52,000 people per square miles or
20,288 per square kilometer.

Largest Cities in Nepal

The largest cities in Nepal are Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Patan. Kathmandu has nearly 1.5
million residents, while Pokhara and Patan both hover around 200,000 in population.

Nepal Demographics

Nepal has a host of ethnicities present. East Asian mixed people, as well as Indo-Aryans, live in
the mountains and hilly regions of the country, while Tibetans inhabit the central and western
part of Nepal. As a result, Nepal can boast of a multi-ethnic population that also houses a host of
different cultures that are shared by its inhabitants.

The languages used in Nepal include Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%,
Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Magar 3%, Bajjika 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%,
Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, other 10.4%, and unspecified at 0.2%.

Nepal Religion, Economy and Politics

,
It also has many different religions present, most significantly Hinduism and Buddhism, but
minorities of Muslims and Christians are present as well. The World Factbook gives us a
breakdown of Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other
0.5%, and unspecified faiths 0.2% being practiced among the population from a 2011 estimation.

All of the above factors have also resulted in a lax growth of fundamental institutions such as
basic education for everyone in the country. This has resulted in a meager literacy
ratehttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/np.html (of those over 15
years of age) of only 63.49% in Nepal, of which 76.4% are males and 53.1% are females.
Moreover, life expectancy in Nepal lies at 66.51 years. Specifically, male life expectancy is at
65.26 years, while female life expectancy is at 67.82 years.

Additional factors that influence quality of life can also be considered. This includes the low
access to improved sanitation, only at 45.8% of the population. Access to clean drinking water is
higher, at 91.6% of the population. In terms of health care, 5.8% of the GDP is spent on the
health sector, resulting in a physician density of approximately .6 physicians per 1,000 residents
and 3 hospital beds being available per 1,000 residents.

Nepal Population History

Growth rates were a bit out of control, coming to close to 3% in the latter half of the 20  century,
th

but started to become more manageable around the turn of the century. Causes of the rampant
growth have been thought to be a combination of poverty, illiteracy, early marriage, religious
beliefs, and growing internal migration.

Nepal Population Growth

Nepal is showing signs of an average healthy growth rate of 1.07%. The average age of its
citizens is 21.6 years, of which the median age of men is 20.7 years and for women it is 22.5
years. Only 4% or less of the populations are estimated to be over the age of 65 years, while
about 57.9% of the population lies in the 15-65 age bracket. As Nepal is a developing economy,
the burgeoning numbers of young individuals within its ranks it has the potential to really help its
economy if sufficient opportunities are created for its youngsters to utilize. Among the total
population estimate, the majority of Nepalís inhabitants are women. Moreover, about 34.1% of
the total population lies in the 25-54 year old age bracket, providing Nepal with a significant
working force in its ranks.

A high number of marriages consequently gives rise to a higher birth rate, which was around 22
births per population of 1000 peoples. On the other hand, the number of deaths was less, with
around 7 deaths per population of 1000 people. Due to mainly Hindu practices, the marriage rate
throughout the country is increasing at a rate of two percent. This is leading the population of
Nepal to double every three decades and this growth is threatening its still developing economy
as it continuously resorts to deforestation to create more space to accommodate its growing
population. This in turn threatens low lying areas, which have become prone to excessive
flooding. Because of that, many Nepalese have begun to migrate out of the country in search of a
better livelihood, seeking countries such as India, Pakistan and the Middle East as possible
destinations. In the last few years, the number of migrants to these countries has risen as Nepal
faces difficulties in providing sufficient jobs to complement its population boom.

Nepal Population Projections

Nepal's growth rate seems to be under control and is even expected to decrease in the years to
come. the current growth rate of 1.07% is predicted to come down to 1% by 2025 and should get
down to 0.5% by 2040. The population is projected to be 30,260,244 in 2020, and 33,167,612 in
2030.

Components of Population Change

One birth every 56 seconds

One death every 3 minutes

One net migrant every 6 minutes

Net gain of one person every 1 minutes

In the 2011 census, Nepal's population was approximately 26 million people with a population
growth rate of 1.35% and a median age of 21.6 years.[1] In 2016, the female median age was
approximately 25 years old and the male median age was approximately 22 years old. [2] Only 4.4%
of the population is estimated to be more than 65 years old, comprising 681,252 females and
597,628 males. 61% of the population is between 15 and 64 years old, and 34.6% is younger than
14 years. In 2011, the Birth rate is estimated to be 22.17 births per 1,000 people with an infant
mortality rate of 46 deaths per 1,000 live births. Compared to the infant mortality rate in 2006 of 48
 deaths per 1000 live births, the 2011 IMR is a slight decrease within that 5-year period. Infant
mortality rate in Nepal is higher in rural regions at 44 deaths per 1000 live births, whereas in urban
regions the IMR is lower at 40 deaths per 1000 live births. This difference is due to a lack of delivery
assistance services in rural communities compared to their urban counterparts who have better
access to hospitals and neonatal clinics.[3] Life expectancy at birth is estimated to be 67.44 years for
females and 64.94 years for males. The mortality rate is estimated to be 681 deaths per 100,000
people. Net migration rate is estimated to be 61 migrants per 100,000 people. According to the 2011
census, 65.9% of the total population is literate.[4]

Contents

 1Population Growth
 2Vital statistics
o 2.1UN estimates
2.2Structure of the population [9]
o
o 2.3Life expectancy
 3Demographic statistics
 4Nepal Demographic and Health Survey
o 4.1CIA World Factbook
 5Languages
 6Religion
 7Ethnic and regional equity
 8Nepalese diaspora
o 8.1Nepalese in the U.K.
o 8.2Nepalese in Hong Kong
o 8.3Nepalese overseas
 9Foreign population in Nepal
 10See also
 11References
 12External links

Population Growth[edit]
The population of Nepal has been steadily rising in recent decades. In the June 2001 census, there
was a population of about 23 million in Nepal. [5] The population increased by 5 million from the
preceding 1991 census; the growth rate is 2.3%. [5] The current population is roughly 30 million which
contributes to an increase of about 3 million people every 5 years.
Sixty caste and linguistic subgroups have formed throughout time with the waves of migration from
Tibet and India.[6] There was a moderate amount of immigration early in Nepal's history, then the
population essentially remained the same without any significant fluctuations for over one hundred
years.[6] Natural disasters and the following government resettlement programs in the 1950s led to a
spike in internal migration from the hills to the Terai region. [6] In the 1980s the Western Chitwan
Valley became a major transportation hub for all of Nepal. Along with this major change came a
dramatic increase in government services, business expansion, and growing employment, especially
in the agricultural industry. The valley's population grew rapidly through both in-migration and natural
increase.[6]
 This section is empty. You can
help by adding to it. (April 2018)

Vital statistics[edit]
UN estimates[edit]
Live Natural
Deaths
Period births change CBR1 CDR1 NC1 TFR1 IMR1
per year
per year per year

1975–
597 000 254 000 343 000 42.2 19.3 22.9 5.80
1980

1980–
651 000 253 000 398 000 41.2 16.9 24.3 5.62
1985

1985–
707 000 249 000 458 000 39.6 14.3 25.3 5.33
1990

1990–
767 000 244 000 523 000 37.2 11.6 25.6 4.97
1995

1995–
805 000 224 000 581 000 34.3 9.4 24.9 4.41
2000

2000–
797 000 201 000 596 000 29.7 7.8 21.9 3.64
2005

2005–
732 000 177 000 555 000 25.2 7.0 18.2 2.96
2010

2010–
20.9 6.5 14.4 2.32
2015

2015–
19.5 6.2 13.3 2.08
2020
 2020–
18.1 6.1 12.0 1.93
2025

2025–
16.3 6.2 10.1 1.83
2030

2030–
14.5 6.3 8.2 1.76
2035

2035–
13.0 6.5 6.5 1.72
2040

1
 CBR = crude birth rate (per 1000); CDR = crude death rate (per 1000); NC = natural change (per 1000); TFR = total fertility rate (number
of children per woman); IMR = infant mortality rate per 1000 births

Source:[7]
Births and deaths [8]

Crude Crude Rate of

Populatio Live Natural
Year Deaths birth death natural TFR
n (x1000) births increase
rate rate increase

2011 326 725 129 978 196 747 11.4 4.5 6.9 2.52

Structure of the population  [edit] [9]

Structure of the population (22.06.2011) (Census) :

Age
Male Female Total %
Group

12 849 26 494
Total 13 645 463 100
041 504

0-4 1 314 957 1 253 006 2 567 963 9.69

5-9 1 635 176 1 569 683 3 204 859 12.10

10-14 1 764 630 1 710 794 3 475 424 13.12

15-19 1 443 191 1 488 789 2 931 980 11.07

20-24 1 043 981 1 314 090 2 358 071 8.90

25-29 917 243 1 162 111 2 079 354 7.85

30-34 770 577 964 728 1 735 305 6.55

35-39 740 200 864 119 1 604 319 6.06

40-44 660 290 725 831 1 386 121 5.23

45-49 575 101 597 858 1 172 959 4.43

50-54 505 864 499 612 1 005 476 3.80

55-59 412 892 405 371 818 263 3.09

60-64 368 451 388 376 756 827 2.86

65-69 277 782 276 667 554 449 2.09

70-74 199 610 195 543 395 153 1.49

75-79 117 358 117 777 235 135 0.89

 80-84 62 787 65 990 128 777 0.49

85-89 25 810 26 716 52 526 0.20

90-94 8 940 11 395 20 335 0.08

95+ 4 201 7 007 11 208 0.04

Age
grou Male Female Total Percent
p

0-14 4 714 763 4 533 483 9 248 246 34,91

15-64 7 437 790 8 410 885 15 848 675 59,82

65+ 696 488 701 095 1 397 583 5,27

Life expectancy[edit]
Life expectancy
Life expectancy in
Period in Period
Years
Years

1950– 1985–
34.0 52.1
1955 1990

1955– 1990–
34.6 56.4
1960 1995

1960– 1995–
36.2 60.5
1965 2000

1965– 39.1 2000– 64.0

 1970 2005

1970– 2005–
42.0 66.7
1975 2010

1975– 2010–
44.9 68.9
1980 2015

1980–
48.3
1985

Source: UN World Population Prospects[10]

Demographic statistics[edit]

Nepali boy from caste Chhetri, the largest caste group in Nepal

Populatio
Most Populous Caste/Ethnic groups (Census 2011)[11][12] % of total
n

Chhetri (khas) 4,398,053 16.6%

Brahmin (Khas) 3,226,903 12.2%

Magar 1,877,733 7.3%

 Populatio
Most Populous Caste/Ethnic groups (Census 2011)[11][12] % of total
n

Tharu 1,737,470 6.6%

Tamang 1,539,830 5.9%

Newar 1,321,933 5%

Sanyasi/Dasnami 1,287,633 4.8%

Khas-Kami 1,258,554 4.7%

Muslim (taken as a single religious group) 1,164,255 4.4%

Yadav 1,054,458 4.0%

Rai 620,004 2.3%

Gurung 522,641 1.9%

Damai/Dholi 472,862 1.8%

Thakuri 425,623 1.6%

Limbu 387,300 1.4%

Sarki 374,816 1.41%

 Populatio
Most Populous Caste/Ethnic groups (Census 2011)[11][12] % of total
n

Teli 369,688 1.4%

Chamar/Harijan/Ram 335,893 1.3%

Koiri/Kushwaha 306,393 1.1%

Musahar 234,490 0.88%

Kurmi 231,129 0.87%

Dhanuk 219,808 0.82%

Dusadh/Pasawan 208,910 0.79%

Sherpa 112,946 0.42%

Sunuwar 100,000 0.38%

Kumal 121,196 0.46%

Other (more than 100 caste/ethnic groups) 4,229,290 15.96%

Nepal Demographic and Health Survey[edit]

Total Fertility Rate (TFR) (Wanted Fertility Rate) and Crude Birth Rate (CBR):[13]

CBR TFR CBR TFR CBR

Year TFR (Rural)
(Total) (Total) (Urban) (Urban) (Rural)

199
37 4.64 (2,9) 27 2.85 (1,9) 38 4.83 (3,1)
6
 200
33.5 4.1 (2,5) 20.6 2.1 (1,4) 34.9 4.4 (2,6)
1

200
28.4 3.1 (2,0) 21.9 2.1 (1,4) 29.5 3.3 (2,1)
6

201
24.3 2.6 (1,8) 16.6 1.6 (1,2) 25.5 2.8 (1,8)
1

201
22.4 2.3 (1.7) 19.9 2.0 (1.5) 26.3 2.9 (2.1)
6

The following demographic statistics are from the 2011 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey
(NDHS).[14]
Median birth intervals (Median number of months since preceding birth)
Total: 36.2
Rural: 35.9
Urban: 40.3 (2011)
Median age at first birth
Median age: 20.1 (2011)
Fertility rate - past trend and present
Total fertility rate: 4.6 children born/woman (1996)
Total fertility rate: 4.1 children born/woman (2001)
Total fertility rate: 3.1 children born/woman (2006)
Total fertility rate: 2.6 children born/woman
Rural fertility rate: 2.8 children born/woman
Urban fertility rate: 1.6 children born/woman (2011)
Ideal family size - Mean ideal number of children
Overall (female/male): 2.1 / 2.3
Currently married (female/male): 2.2 / 2.3
Urban (female/male): 1.9 / 2.0
Rural (female/male): 2.2 / 2.3 (2011)
Ideal family size by gender and age
group
Below is a table of the ideal family size by gender and age for 2011.

Age Women Men

15-19 1.9 2.2

 20-24 1.9 2.1

25-29 2.1 2.1

30-34 2.2 2.3

35-39 2.3 2.4

40-44 2.5 2.4

45-49 2.6 2.6

CIA World Factbook[edit]

The following demographic statistics
are from the CIA World Factbook,
unless otherwise indicated.
Nationality
Noun: Nepali, Nepalese, Gorkhali (singular and plural)
Adjective: Nepali, Nepalese, Gorkhali
Religions
Hindu 81.34%, Buddhist 9.04%, Muslim 4.38%, Kirant 3.04%, other 2.2% (2011 census).
Literacy
Definition: age 15 and over can read and write
Total population: 48.6%
Male: 62.7%
Female: 34.9% (2001 census)
Populati
on
29,033,914 (July 2016 est.)
Age
struc
ture
0-14 years: 30.93% (male 4,646,048/female 4,333,105)
15-24 years: 21.86% (male 3,176,158/female 3,169,721)
25-54 years: 35.99% (male 4,707,264/female 5,740,985)
55-64 years: 6.22% (male 877,288/female 927,202)
65 years and over: 5.02% (male 723,523/female 732,620) (2016 est.)
Median age
total: 23.6 years
male: 22.4 years
female: 24.8 years (2016 est.)
Population gro
1.24% (2016 est.)
Birth rate
19.9 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Death rate
5.7 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Net migration r
-1.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)
Total fertility ra
2.18 children born/woman (2016 est.)
Urbanization
urban population: 18.6% of total population (2015)
rate of urbanization: 3.18% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Sex ratio
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
0-14 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-24 years: 1 male(s)/female
25-54 years: 0.82 male(s)/female
55-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2016 est.)
Language
Main article: Lan
Nepal's diverse
Aryan, Tibeto-Bu
2001 national ce
"unspecified"). B
Nepal[16] (percen
Nepali (derived
and is written in 
late 18th century
franca among N
regional dialects
in the southern T
people who und
schools are Eng
engineering field
widely used and
across Nepal.
Other languages
country's pre-un
gorges. These la
Beyond that dist
unification, vario
government of N
Nepali as the off
threatened inclu
however, the go
Tribhuvan Unive
government inte
census.[17]

Religion[e
Religion in Nepal

  Hinduism (81.3%
  Buddhism (9.0%
  Islam (4.4%)
  Kiratism (3.0%)
  Christianity (1.42
  Other (0.9%)

As of the 2011 c
4.4% Muslim, 3.

Nepali Hindu Brid

Nepal defines its

many Hindus in
traditions. The n
Western countri
celebrations, wh
There is a gener
transcendental "
constant presen
the country, this
affliction, for whi
time and space
Kathmandu Vall
is located inside
[20]
 Individual hom
displaying flowe
Kathmandu Vall
protect the city f
majority of stree
compete based
areas.[19] The are
disordered natur
gods through pu
The Hindu god V
shortcomings in
[20]
 Shiva is destr
Vishnu must ste
a rise in political
the widespread
struggles they fi
Nepal's constitu
other religions (b
the Hindu god V
House of Repre
declared Nepal
However, the 20
as Buddhist (alth
of Hinduism, Bu
population follow
0.45% of the po
Buddhist and Hi
Certain animist p

Ethnic an
Ethnic groups of N

  Chhetri (16.6%)
  Brahman-Hill (12
  Magar (7.1%)
  Tharu (6.6%)
  Tamang (5.8%)
  Newar (5%)
  Kami (4.8%)
  Nepalese Muslim
  Yadav (4%)
  Rai (2.3%)
  Others (31.2%)

Pahari Hill Hindu
the civil service,
2008). Nepali wa
Children who sp
chances of pass
had better emplo
natively spoke lo
high mountains
poor prospects f
communities suc
the mid-western
other armed Ma
War. The negoti
ethnic and regio
government and
conflict, the upp
(Indo-Aryan) hav
living habitat giv
Development In
in every sector.
mobility compar
due to their pred
educational and

Nepalese
Main article: No

Nepalese in
Main article: Ne
In the 2001 cens
figure from Offic
resident in the U
by the Nepalese
applications for

Nepalese in
Main article: So
The Nepali peop
born in Hong Ko
which was base
people can be fo
army. Many ex-G
sponsorship of t
Nepalese of mid
in security, while
industry.
Mostly the peop
in Hong Kong an

Nepalese o
Nepalese migra
in the Middle Ea
Foreign p
According to the
them were of Ind
include the refug