Country Profile: Nepal

Nepal, located in Southern Asia between China and India, is a landlocked country characterized by its rugged Himalayas, including Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. With a population of approximately 31.3 million (2025 est.), it has a rich diversity of ethnic groups and languages. The economy is primarily low-income, with significant sectors in agriculture, services, and remittances, while it is governed as a federal parliamentary republic. Nepal's political landscape has undergone significant changes since the establishment of a multiparty democracy in the 1990s, leading to a complex governance structure.

Geography

Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, making it slightly larger than New York State. The country is characterized by a diverse terrain that ranges from the flat plains of the Terai region in the south to the rugged Himalayas in the north. It shares borders with China and India, encompassing some of the world’s highest peaks.

Highest Point: Mount Everest at 8,849 meters.
Land Boundaries: Total of 3,159 kilometers with 1,389 km bordering China and 1,770 km bordering India.
Climate: Varies from cool summers and severe winters in the north to subtropical summers and mild winters in the south.
Natural Hazards: Features severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, and earthquakes.

People and Society

Nepal has an estimated population of 31,334,402 (2025 est.), with a diverse ethnic composition including Chhettri, Brahman-Hill, and Magar, among others. The official language is Nepali, spoken by 44.9% of the population, while Hinduism is the predominant religion, practiced by 81.2%.

Urbanization Rate: 21.9% of the population lives in urban areas (2023).
Median Age: Approximately 28.1 years (2025 est.).
Literacy Rate: Estimated at 68.7% (2019).
Life Expectancy: 73 years (2024 est.).

Economy

Nepal's economy is classified as low-income, with a growing focus on fiscal federalism post-conflict. The GDP has been impacted by global events such as COVID-19, affecting trade and tourism.

GDP (PPP): Estimated at $149.643 billion (2024).
Real GDP Growth Rate: Projected at 3.7% (2024).
Unemployment Rate: Approximately 10.8% (2024).
Remittances: Account for 33.1% of GDP (2024).

Government

Nepal is a federal parliamentary republic with a complex political structure, consisting of 7 provinces. The latest constitution was promulgated in 2015, establishing a framework for governance that has seen multiple elections and changes in leadership.

Current President: Ram Chandra Poudel (since March 2023).
Next Election Date: Scheduled for March 5, 2026.
Suffrage: Universal at 18 years of age.

Military and Security

The Nepalese Armed Forces consist of the Nepali Army and the police, with a total personnel strength of around 95,000.

Military Expenditures: Approximately 1% of GDP (2024).
Peacekeeping Missions: Significant contributor to UN missions worldwide with 150,000 personnel deployed on over 40 missions.
Voluntary Military Service Age: Minimum 18 years for enlistment.

Energy

Nepal's energy sector is predominantly reliant on hydroelectric power, accounting for 99% of its installed generating capacity.

Electricity Access: 91.3% of the population has access to electricity (2022).
Installed Capacity: 2.853 million kW as of 2023.
Energy Consumption per Capita: Estimated at 6.604 million Btu/person (2023).

Environment

Nepal faces several environmental challenges, including deforestation, soil erosion, and pollution. The government participates in various international environmental agreements aimed at addressing these issues.

Forested Area: Approximately 43.5% of land area (2023).
Total Renewable Water Resources: Estimated at 210.2 billion cubic meters (2022).
Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Approximately 11.357 million metric tonnes (2023).

Transportation

The country has a developing transportation infrastructure, which includes various modes of transport including roads, air transport, and limited railway systems.

Airports: 51 in total (2025).
Railways: 59 km of rail, primarily narrow gauge (2018).
Civil Aircraft Registration Code: 9N.

Communications

Nepal's communication sector is rapidly evolving, with a significant increase in mobile subscriptions and internet usage.

Mobile Cellular Subscriptions: Approximately 29.6 million (2024).
Internet Users: 56% of the population (2023).
Fixed-line Telephone Subscriptions: Roughly 726,000 (2021).

Key Metrics

Metric	Value	Note
Population	31,334,402	Estimated for 2025
Area	147,181 sq km	Total area
GDP (PPP)	$149.643 billion	Estimated for 2024
Unemployment Rate	10.8%	Estimated for 2024
Life Expectancy at Birth	73 years	Estimated for 2024
Birth Rate	16.66 births/1,000	Estimated for 2025
Energy Consumption per Capita	6.604 million Btu/person	Estimated for 2023
Electricity Access	91.3%	Population with electricity access (2022)
Total Fertility Rate	1.82 children/woman	Estimated for 2025
Infant Mortality Rate	23.4 deaths/1,000 live births	Estimated for 2025