A brief summary of Nepal's country facts is listed below for quick reference.
Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world and the poorest in Asia with wide discrepancies among the Nepalese people depending on geographic location, ethnicity, caste and gender. More than 50 pct. of its 28 million people live on less than USD 1.25 a day.
The decade-long civil war between Government forces and the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) claimed more than 16,000 lives and displaced thousands more. The war was finally brought to a halt when seven political parties and the Maoists signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) in November 2006. Nepal is thus in a post conflict phase of development but also at a historic moment of transition. The key challenges at this juncture are to sustain the peace while rebuilding the legitimacy of the state, improving rule of law, and deliver benefits to those traditionally excluded and to society as a whole. However, Nepal also has a considerable development potential since the country has a large and relatively cheap labor force, easy access to raw materials (especially in the agro-industry), easy access to the Indian and Chinese markets, and a large income from tourists.
Capital: Kathmandu. Population of about 990,000 in the city itself. Approximately 1.8 million in the Kathmandu ValleyArea: 147,200 sq.km (43,000 sq.km Denmark)Population: 29.8 millionPopulation growth per year: 1.9% (2003-9)Population: 86% hindus, 8% buddhist, 4% muslim, 2% otherLanguage: Nepali is the official languageReligion: Hinduism, buddhism, islam International dialling code: +977Time: GMT +5.45 hrsTerrain: Terai - the flat river plain of the Ganges in the south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in the north.
GDP: 15.1 billion USD (2011)GDP per capita: 536 USD (2011)Annual growth in GDP per capita: 3 percent in 2010 (estimate) Debt situation: 3.4 billion USD (external public debt - 27% of GDP) (2009)Development assistance per capita: 21 USD (2008)Danish project/program support: 2008: 191 million DKK; 2009: 187 million DKK; 2010: 166 million DKK; 2011: 199 million DKKMain exports: Carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grainsInflation: 10.5% estimate 2011 Major trading partners: India 64%, EU 27 11%, US 7%, Bangladesh 7%, China 3% Major industries: Tourism; carpets, textiles and handicrafts; small rice, jute, sugar and oilseed mills; cigarettes; cement and brick productionMembership of international groupings/organisations: United Nations, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Council of Democracies
Nepal is a parliamentary democracy with a largely ceremonial President as Head of State and a Prime Minister as Head of Government. The Prime Minister currently leads a coalition government. Elections for a 601-seat Constituent Assembly was held on 10 April 2008. General elections will be held when a new constitution has been promulgated.Head of State President: Dr. Ram Baran YadavHead of Government Prime Minister: Dr. Baburam BhattaraiForeign Minister: Mr. Narayan Kaji ShresthaFinance Minister: Mr. Barsha Man PunMajor political parties: Unified Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist (Chairman: Pushpa Kamal Dahal/'Prachanda'), Nepali Congress (President: Sushil Koirala), Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) (Chairman: Jhalanath Khanal), Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic (MJF-D) (Chairman: Bijay Gachchhadar)