Country Profile: Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked country in Southern Asia, situated between China and India. It is known for its diverse terrain, including the rugged Himalayas, home to Mount Everest, and the flat plains of the Tarai. With a population of over 31 million, it experiences a low population density overall, divided between urban and rural areas. The economy is characterized as low-income, heavily reliant on agriculture and remittances, with efforts to stabilize following a decade-long civil conflict. Nepal operates as a federal parliamentary republic, having transitioned from a monarchy in 2008.

Geography

Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, slightly larger than New York State, and shares land borders with China (1,389 km) and India (1,770 km). The country features a variety of climates, from cool summers and severe winters in the north to subtropical summers in the south. As a landlocked nation, it is strategically significant, being home to eight of the world’s ten highest peaks, including Mount Everest.

Highest Point: Mount Everest at 8,849 m.
Land Use: 43.5% forest, 26.1% agricultural land (2023 est.).
Climate: Ranges from cool summers in the north to subtropical in the south.
Natural Hazards: Prone to severe thunderstorms, flooding, and landslides.
Natural Resources: Includes hydropower, timber, and minerals like copper and iron ore.

People and Society

Nepal has an estimated population of 31,122,387 (2024), with a diverse ethnic mix and a predominant Hindu culture. The median age is 27.6 years, with a significant youthful demographic; about 25.8% of the population is below 15 years. The country recognizes Nepali as the official language, but many other languages are spoken throughout its varied ethnic groups. Urbanization is slowly increasing, with 21.9% of the population residing in urban areas.

Religions: 81.2% Hindu, 8.2% Buddhist, and 5.1% Muslim.
Life Expectancy: 73 years at birth (2024 est.).
Literacy Rate: 68.7% overall (2019 est.).
Dependency Ratio: Total of 47.4 (2024 est.).
Urban Growth Rate: 3.09% annual increase in urban population (2020-2025 est.).

Economy

Nepal’s economy is classified as low-income, heavily dependent on agriculture and tourism, with a GDP per capita estimated at $5,000 (2024). The economy is increasingly stable post-conflict, although it faced setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The agricultural sector contributes about 21.9% to the GDP, while services dominate at 55.2%. Remittances play a significant role, constituting 33.1% of GDP (2024).

GDP (PPP): Estimated at $149.643 billion (2024).
Unemployment Rate: 10.8% (2024 est.).
Current Account Balance: $1.954 billion (2024 est.).
Exports: Approximately $3.744 billion (2024 est.).
Imports: Approximately $17.777 billion (2024 est.).

Government

Nepal is a federal parliamentary republic with a complex political history marked by a transition from a monarchy to a republic in 2008. It has a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, operating under a constitution that came into effect in 2015. The current president is Ram Chandra Poudel, and the Prime Minister is Sushila Karki.

Capital: Kathmandu, coordinates 27 43 N, 85 19 E.
Election Suffrage: Universal at age 18.
Administrative Divisions: 7 provinces.
Constitution: Effective since 20 September 2015.
National Holiday: Constitution Day celebrated on 20 September.

Military and Security

The Nepalese Armed Forces consist of the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force, primarily responsible for internal security and territorial defense. As of 2025, the active military personnel number around 95,000. Nepal has also maintained a tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.

Military Expenditures: 1% of GDP (2024 est.).
Deployment: Over 6,000 personnel on UN missions.
Military Equipment: Includes older equipment mainly from British and Chinese origins.
Service Age: Voluntary military service begins at 18 years.
Security Partners: Key relationships with China, India, and the US.

Energy

Nepal has a growing energy sector primarily reliant on hydropower, which constitutes 99% of its electricity generation capacity. As of 2023, electricity access is reported at 91.3% for the total population, with higher accessibility in urban areas.

Installed Capacity: 2.853 million kW (2023).
Electricity Consumption: 9.806 billion kWh (2023).
Electricity Imports: 1.846 billion kWh (2023).
Electricity Exports: 1.1 billion kWh (2023).
Energy Consumption per Capita: 6.604 million Btu/person (2023 est.).

Environment

Nepal faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, soil erosion, and pollution from industrial effluents. Despite these issues, the country is a party to multiple international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these concerns.

Total Water Resources: 210.2 billion cubic meters (2022 est.).
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: 11.357 million metric tons (2023 est.).
Urban Population: 21.9% of total population (2023).
Deforestation Issues: Mostly due to the overuse of wood for fuel.
Solid Waste Recycling Rate: Only 4.6% of municipal waste is recycled (2022 est.).

Transportation

Nepal’s transportation infrastructure is developing, with 51 airports and a limited railway network. The mountainous terrain poses challenges to transportation efficiency.

Railways: 59 km (2018).
Airports: 51 (2025).
Heliports: 14 (2025).
Civil Aircraft Registration: Prefix 9N.

Communications

The communications sector in Nepal includes increasing mobile phone subscriptions, a growing internet user base, and a state-operated media framework.

Internet Users: 56% of the population (2023 est.).
Mobile Cell Subscriptions: 38.2 million (2021).
Fixed Telephone Subscriptions: 726,000 (2021).
Broadband Subscriptions: 1.44 million (2022).
Television Broadcasting: 117 channels licensed as of 2019.

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	31,122,387 (2024 est.)
Area	147,181 sq km
GDP (PPP)	$149.643 billion (2024)
Electricity Access	91.3%
Unemployment Rate	10.8% (2024 est.)
Birth Rate	17 births/1,000 population (2024 est.)
Life Expectancy	73 years (2024 est.)
Inflation Rate	7.1% (2023 est.)
Urban Population	21.9% of total population (2023)
Military Expenditures	1% of GDP (2024 est.)