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South Asia :: Nepal

- ## Introduction :: NEPAL

- Background:
  In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoists broke out in 1996. The ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and the re-assumption of absolute power by the king in 2002. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a late 2006 peace accord and the 2007 promulgation of an interim constitution. Following 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. After the CA failed to draft a constitution by a May 2012 deadline set by the Supreme Court, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. Months of negotiations ensued until March 2013 when the major political parties agreed to create an interim government headed by then-Chief Justice Khil Raj REGMI with a mandate to hold elections for a new CA. Elections were held in November 2013, in which the Nepali Congress won the largest share of seats in the CA and in February 2014 formed a coalition government with the second place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist and with Nepali Congress President Sushil KOIRALA as prime minister. The new government failed to meet its January 2015 deadline for a new constitution primarily due to continuing disagreement over federal restructuring.

- ## Geography :: NEPAL

- Location:
  Southern Asia, between China and India
  Geographic coordinates:
  28 00 N, 84 00 E
  Map references:
  Asia
  Area:
  total: 147,181 sq km
  land: 143,351 sq km
  water: 3,830 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Area - comparative:
  slightly larger than Arkansas
  Land boundaries:
  total: 3,159 km
  border countries (2): 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 extremes:
  lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
  highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m (highest peak in Asia and highest point on earth above sea level)
  Natural resources:
  quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 28.8%
  arable land 15.1%; permanent crops 1.2%; permanent pasture 12.5%
  forest: 25.4%
  other: 45.8% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  11,680 sq km (2003)
  Total renewable water resources:
  210.2 cu km (2011)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 9.5 cu km/yr (2%/0%/98%)
  per capita: 334.7 cu m/yr (2006)
  Natural hazards:
  severe thunderstorms; 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
  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 :: NEPAL

- Nationality:
  noun: Nepali (singular and plural)
  adjective: Nepali
  Ethnic groups:
  Chhettri 16.6%, Brahman-Hill 12.2%, Magar 7.1%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.8%, Newar 5%, Kami 4.8%, Muslim 4.4%, Yadav 4%, Rai 2.3%, Gurung 2%, Damai/Dholii 1.8%, Thakuri 1.6%, Limbu 1.5%, Sarki 1.4%, Teli 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.3%, Koiri/Kushwaha 1.2%, other 19%
  note: 125 caste/ethnic groups were reported in the 2011 national census (2011 est.)
  Languages:
  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%, unspecified 0.2%
  note: 123 languages reported as mother tongue in 2011 national census; many in government and business also speak English (2011 est.)
  Religions:
  Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other 0.5%, unspecifed 0.2% (2011 est.)
  Population:
  31,551,305 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 42
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 30.72% (male 4,937,627/female 4,755,972)
  15-24 years: 22.51% (male 3,580,083/female 3,522,047)
  25-54 years: 36.5% (male 5,552,621/female 5,964,599)
  55-64 years: 5.67% (male 874,350/female 913,683)
  65 years and over: 4.6% (male 668,760/female 781,563) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 61.8%
  youth dependency ratio: 52.9%
  elderly dependency ratio: 9%
  potential support ratio: 11.1% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 23.4 years
  male: 22.8 years
  female: 24 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  1.79% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 64
  Birth rate:
  20.64 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80
  Death rate:
  6.56 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Net migration rate:
  3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 33
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 18.6% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 3.18% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  KATHMANDU (capital) 1.183 million (2015)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
  total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 39.14 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 39.24 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 39.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 67.52 years
  male: 66.18 years
  female: 68.92 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 166
  Total fertility rate:
  2.24 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Contraceptive prevalence rate:
  49.7% (2011)
  Health expenditures:
  6% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 125
  Hospital bed density:
  5 beds/1,000 population (2006)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 90.9% of population
  rural: 91.8% of population
  total: 91.6% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 9.1% of population
  rural: 8.2% of population
  total: 8.4% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 56% of population
  rural: 43.5% of population
  total: 45.8% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 44% of population
  rural: 56.5% of population
  total: 54.2% of population (2015 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  0.2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  38,800 (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 63
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  2,600 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Major infectious diseases:
  degree of risk: high
  food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
  vectorborne disease: Japanese encephalitis, malaria, and dengue fever (2013)
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  2.9% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Children under the age of 5 years underweight:
  29.1% (2011)
  country comparison to the world: 17
  Education expenditures:
  4.7% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Literacy:
  definition: age 15 and over can read and write
  total population: 63.9%
  male: 76.4%
  female: 53.1% (2015 est.)
  School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):
  total: 12 years
  male: 12 years
  female: 12 years (2011)
  Child labor - children ages 5-14:
  total number: 2,467,549
  percentage: 34% (2008 est.)

- ## Government :: NEPAL

- Country name:
  conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
  conventional short form: Nepal
  local long form: Sanghiya Loktantrik Ganatantra Nepal
  local short form: Nepal
  Government type:
  federal democratic republic
  Capital:
  name: Kathmandu
  geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
  time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
  Independence:
  1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)
  National holiday:
  Republic Day, 28 May (2008), the abdication of Gyanendra SHAH, last Nepalese monarch, and the establishment of a federal republic
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest approved by the Constituent Assembly 16 September 2015, entered into force 20 September 2015 (2015)
  Legal system:
  English common law and Hindu legal concepts
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: President Ram Baran YADAV (since 23 July 2008); Vice President Paramananda JHA (since 23 July 2008)
  head of government: Prime Minister Sushil KOIRALA (since 11 February 2014)
  cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister; cabinet dominated by the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist-Leninist
  elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by the Constituency Assembly; term extends until the new constitution is promulgated; president elected on 21 July 2008 (next election NA); prime minister indirectly elected by the Constituent Assembly
  election results: Ram Baran YADAV elected president; Constituent Assembly vote count in second round - Ram Baran YADAV (Nepali Congress) 308, Ram Jaja Prasad SINGH (UCPN(M)) 282
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral Constituent Assembly or Sambidhan Sabha (601 seats; 240 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 335 directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by proportional representation (PR) vote and 26 appointed by the cabinet (Council of Ministers); note - political parties allocated more than 30 percent of the PR seats are obliged to follow specified quotas for ethnic groups and within them equal percentages of men and women
  elections: last held on 19 November 2013 (next to be held NA)
  election results: percent of vote by party - NC 26%, CPN-UML 24%, Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) 15%, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal 7%; other 28%; seats by party - NC 196, CPN-UML 175, UCPN(M) 80, Rastriya Prajantantra Party Nepal 24, other smaller parties 100; note - 26 seats filled by the new Cabinet have not yet been appointed
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of the chief justice and up to 14 judges)
  judge selection and term of office: the Supreme Court chief justice appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council; other judges appointed by the prime minister on the recommendation of the Judicial Council; judges serve until age 65
  subordinate courts: appellate and district courts
  note: Nepal's judiciary was restructured under its 2007 Interim Constitution
  Political parties and leaders:
  note: 120 political parties participated in the 19 November 2013 election and the 30 parties listed below were elected to serve in the Constituent Assembly
  Akhanda Nepal Party [Kumar KHADKA]
  Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist Leninist [C.P. MAINALI]
  Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist or UML [Jhalanath KHANAL]
  Communist Party of Nepal (United) [Chandra Dev JOSHI]
  Dalit Janajati Party [Bishwendra PASHWAN]
  Federal Socialist Party [Ashok RAI]
  Jana Jagaran Party Nepal [Lok Mani DHAKAL]
  Khambuwan Rastriya Morcha-Nepal [Ram Kumar RAI]
  Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHCHADAR]
  Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]
  Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Republican [Raj Kishore YADAV]
  Madhes Samata Party Nepal [Meghraj SAHANI]
  National Madhes Socialist Party [Sharat Singh BHANDARI]
  Nepal Pariwar Dal [Ek Nath DHAKAL]
  Nepal Workers and Peasants Party [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]
  Nepali Congress [Sushil KOIRALA]
  Nepali Janata Dal [Hari Charan SAH]
  Nepa Rastriya Party [Keshav Man SHAKYA]
  Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]
  Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]
  Rastriya Prajatantra Party [Surya Bahadur THAPA]
  Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal [Kamal THAPA]
  Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]
  Samajbadi Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]
  Sanghiya Sadbhavana Party [Anil JHA]
  Sanghiye Lokatantrik Rastriya Manch [Rukmini CHAUDARY]
  Terai Madhes Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]
  Terai Madhes Sadbhavana Party-Nepal [Mahendra YADAV]
  Tharuhat Terai Party Nepal [Bhanuram CHAUDARY]
  Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) or UCPN(M) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  other: various groups advocating regional autonomy such as the Federal State Limbuwan Council in far eastern Nepal
  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, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Arjun Kumar KARKI (since 18 May 2015)
  chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
  telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
  FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
  consulate(s) general: Cleveland (OH), New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador Peter W. BODDE (since 10 September 2012)
  embassy: Maharajgunj, Kathmandu
  mailing address: use embassy street address
  telephone: [977] (1) 423-4000
  FAX: [977] (1) 400-7272
  Flag description:
  red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle displays a white 12-pointed sun; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies
  note: Nepal is the only country in the world whose flag is not rectangular or square
  National symbol(s):
  rhododendron blossom; national color: red
  National anthem:
  name: "Sayaun Thunga Phool Ka" (Hundreds of Flowers)
  lyrics/music: Pradeep Kumar RAI/Ambar GURUNG
  note: adopted 2007; after the abolition of the monarchy in 2006, a new anthem was required because of the previous anthem's praise for the king

- ## Economy :: NEPAL

- Economy - overview:
  Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Nepal is heavily dependent on remittances, which amount to as much as 22%-25% of GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for more than 70% of the population and accounting for a little over one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of commercially feasible capacity, but political uncertainty and a difficult business climate have hampered foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, persistent power shortages, underdeveloped transportation infrastructure, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The lack of political consensus in the past several years has delayed national budgets and prevented much-needed economic reform, although the government passed a full budget in 2013 and 2014. Nepal and India signed trade and investment agreements in 2014 that will increase Nepal’s hydropower potential.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $66.78 billion (2014 est.)
  $63.31 billion (2013 est.)
  $60.96 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 97
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $19.64 billion (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  5.5% (2014 est.)
  3.9% (2013 est.)
  4.8% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $2,400 (2014 est.)
  $2,300 (2013 est.)
  $2,200 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Gross national saving:
  33.5% of GDP (2014 est.)
  33.1% of GDP (2013 est.)
  34.9% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 21
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 78.1%
  government consumption: 11.2%
  investment in fixed capital: 23.1%
  investment in inventories: 13.9%
  exports of goods and services: 13.9%
  imports of goods and services: -40.3%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 30.7%
  industry: 13.6%
  services: 55.7% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat
  Industries:
  tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2.7% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Labor force:
  14.76 million
  note: severe lack of skilled labor (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 39
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 75%
  industry: 7%
  services: 18% (2010 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  46% (2008 est.)
  42% (2004 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 195
  Population below poverty line:
  25.2% (2011 est.)
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: 3.2%
  highest 10%: 29.5% (2011)
  Distribution of family income - Gini index:
  32.8 (2010)
  47.2 (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Budget:
  revenues: $4.085 billion
  expenditures: $3.834 billion (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  1.3% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 19
  Public debt:
  30% of GDP (FY 2012/13 est.)
  32% of GDP (FY 2011/12 est.) (FY11/12)
  country comparison to the world: 126
  Fiscal year:
  16 July - 15 July
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  8.4% (2014 est.)
  10.2% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Central bank discount rate:
  8% (31 October 2014)
  8% (31 December 2013)
  country comparison to the world: 36
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  10.9% (31 December 2014 est.)
  12.4% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Stock of narrow money:
  $3.808 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.356 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 113
  Stock of broad money:
  $14.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $12.55 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $13.35 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $11.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 96
  Market value of publicly traded shares:
  $9.671 billion (31 October 2014 est.)
  $5.812 billion (31 October 2013 est.)
  $5.235 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 76
  Current account balance:
  $908 million (2014 est.)
  $805.7 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 50
  Exports:
  $1.124 billion (2014 est.)
  $991.5 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 159
  Exports - commodities:
  clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, jute goods
  Exports - partners:
  India 59.7%, US 8.6%, China 4.6% (2014)
  Imports:
  $7.282 billion (2014 est.)
  $6.502 billion (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 114
  Imports - commodities:
  petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine
  Imports - partners:
  India 57%, China 29.6% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $5.439 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  $4.434 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 94
  Debt - external:
  $3.549 billion (31 December 2014 est.)
  $3.648 billion (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 138
  Stock of direct foreign investment - at home:
  $103 million (31 July 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 111
  Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad:
  $NA
  Exchange rates:
  Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -
  97.4 (2014 est.)
  93 (2013 est.)
  85.2 (2012 est.)
  74.02 (2011 est.)
  73.16 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: NEPAL

- Electricity - production:
  3.431 billion kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 128
  Electricity - consumption:
  2.832 billion kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Electricity - exports:
  31 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 89
  Electricity - imports:
  721 million kWh (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 72
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  746,000 kW (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  7.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  92.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 11
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 110
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 106
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 173
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 182
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  19,260 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  21,960 bbl/day (2010 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 101
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 180
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 154
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 178
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  3.638 million Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 137

- ## Communications :: NEPAL

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 840,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 3 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 85
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 23.2 million
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 75 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 52
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile-cellular telephone network
  domestic: mobile-cellular telephone subscribership base is increasing with roughly 90% of the population living in areas covered by mobile carriers
  international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave and fiber landlines to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  state operates 2 TV stations, as well as national and regional radio stations; roughly 30 independent TV channels are registered with only about half in regular operation; nearly 400 FM radio stations are licensed with roughly 300 operational (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 6, FM 80, shortwave 4 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  9 (plus 9 repeaters) (2008)
  Internet country code:
  .np
  Internet users:
  total: 3.8 million
  percent of population: 12.1% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 80

- ## Transportation :: NEPAL

- Airports:
  47 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 95
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 11
  over 3,047 m: 1
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
  914 to 1,523 m: 6
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 36
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 6
  under 914 m:
  29 (2013)
  Railways:
  total: 53 km
  narrow gauge: 53 km 0.762-m gauge (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 131
  Roadways:
  total: 10,844 km
  paved: 4,952 km
  unpaved: 5,892 km (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 132

- ## Military :: NEPAL

- Military branches:
  Nepal Army (2012)
  Military service age and obligation:
  18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2014)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 6,941,152
  females age 16-49: 7,618,397 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 5,260,878
  females age 16-49: 5,947,512 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 380,172
  female: 367,103 (2010 est.)
  Military expenditures:
  NA% (2012)
  1.41% of GDP (2011)
  NA% (2010)

- ## Transnational Issues :: NEPAL

- Disputes - international:
  joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities
  Refugees and internally displaced persons:
  refugees (country of origin): 23,059 (Bhutan); 15,000 (Tibet/China) (2014)
  IDPs: 59,433 (remaining from ten-year Maoist insurgency that officially ended in 2006; figure does not include people displaced since 2007 by inter-communal violence and insecurity in the Terai region; 2015 earthquakes) (2015)
  stateless persons: undetermined (2013); note - in 2007-2008 the government distributed 2.6 million citizenship certificates to the 3.4 million people without one; the remaining 800,000 without citizenship certificates are not necessarily stateless, and the UNHCR is working with the Nepali Government to clarify their situation; lesser numbers of Bhutanese Hindu refugees of Nepali origin (the Lhotsampa) who were stripped of Bhutanese nationality and forced to flee their country in the late 1980s and early 1990s - and undocumented Tibetan refugees who arrived in Nepal prior to the 1990s - are considered stateless
  Illicit drugs:
  illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West

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