Contents
Country Overview
Nepal is a landlocked South Asian federal parliamentary republic between India and China, extending from the lowland Terai through middle hills to the high Himalayas. It abolished its monarchy in 2008 and adopted a federal constitution in 2015. The March 2026 general election produced a decisive House of Representatives majority for the Rastriya Swatantra Party, followed by Balendra Shah’s appointment as prime minister. Nepal combines agriculture, tourism, hydropower and remittance-dependent household incomes; extreme topographic differences create both biodiversity and exposure to earthquakes, floods and landslides. Census counts and annual population estimates must be identified separately.
CapitalKathmanduFederal government and principal urban center [1]
GDPUS$45.49 billionWorld Bank 2025 current dollars [2]
2024 goods importsUS$13.49 billionWTO; export series shown separately for 2022 [10]
UNESCO World Heritage4 properties2 cultural and 2 natural [14]
Data and status note: The 2021 census recorded 29,164,578 residents, whereas the World Bank 2025 estimate was 29,618,118; these are different dates and techniques. Nepal’s WTO profile displays 2024 goods imports but 2022 goods exports, so the two figures cannot be subtracted into a same-year trade deficit. March 5, 2026 election results replaced the 2022 lower house: RSP won 182/275 seats and Balendra Shah became prime minister March 27, 2026. The country has four UNESCO World Heritage inscriptions, distinct from 15 tentative sites and living-heritage inventories.
Identity & State Formation
- Full state name
- Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. [9]
- Common name
- Nepal. [1]
- Capital
- Kathmandu. [1]
- UN geographic region
- Southern Asia. [1]
- Geographic position
- Himalayan landlocked state between India and China. [1] [12]
- National day
- Constitution Day commemorates promulgation of the 2015 Constitution. [9]
- Unification heritage
- Eighteenth-century expansion under Prithvi Narayan Shah shaped the modern state. [9]
- Monarchy until 2008
- Nepal was a kingdom until the constituent assembly declared a republic. [6]
- Republic proclaimed
- May 28, 2008, ending the monarchy. [6]
- 2006 democracy movement
- Popular mobilization and peace negotiations preceded the constitutional transition. [6]
- Federal Constitution
- Promulgated September 20, 2015, replacing the interim constitutional order. [9]
- Government model
- Federal democratic parliamentary republic. [9]
- Head of state
- President Ramchandra Paudel, in office since March 13, 2023. [6]
- Head of government
- Prime Minister Balendra Shah, in office from March 27, 2026. [5]
- Government change
- Early House election in March 2026 produced a new parliamentary majority. [7]
- Official language
- Nepali in Devanagari script for federal government use. [9]
- Other languages
- Constitution recognizes linguistic diversity and rights to mother-tongue use. [9] [15]
- Currency
- Nepalese rupee (NPR). [20]
- Central bank
- Nepal Rastra Bank. [20]
- Primary legislature
- Federal Parliament is bicameral. [9] [7] [8]
- Lower house
- House of Representatives, 275 seats. [7]
- Upper house
- National Assembly, 59 seats. [8]
- Political leader 2026
- Balendra Shah leads the Rastriya Swatantra Party government. [5] [7]
- Provincial structure
- Seven constitutional provinces. [9]
- Administrative districts
- 77 districts. [9]
- Local governments
- 753 local levels under the contemporary federal framework. [9]
- National flag
- Red double-pennant with blue border and moon/sun emblems. [9]
- State secularism
- Constitution characterizes the state as secular while addressing cultural traditions. [9]
- Independence status
- Nepal did not gain independence through twentieth-century decolonization from a Western colonial ruler. [9]
- UN membership
- Admitted to the United Nations on December 14, 1955. [17]
- WTO membership
- Nepal joined the WTO in April 2004. [10]
- Border relations
- India and China are Nepal’s only land neighbors. [1]
Geography & Population
- Area
- About 147,516 square kilometres under widely used national reference. [1]
- North border
- Tibet Autonomous Region of China. [1]
- South border
- India. [1]
- East and west borders
- India borders the east and west as well as much of the south. [1]
- Himalayan region
- Northern high mountains include many peaks above 8,000 metres. [12]
- World’s highest summit
- Mount Everest/Sagarmatha/Chomolungma at 8,848.86 metres. [16]
- Everest joint measurement
- Nepal and China jointly announced the height in December 2020. [16]
- Middle hills
- Central belt includes valleys, ridges and cultivated terraces. [12]
- Terai
- Lower southern plains have major towns, farms and wetlands. [12]
- Kathmandu Valley
- Major historic and urban basin in central Nepal. [14]
- Pokhara
- Major city and gateway to the Annapurna region. [13]
- Major river basins
- Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali systems drain toward the Ganges. [12]
- Snow and glaciers
- Himalayan ice provides important seasonal water storage. [12]
- Monsoon rainfall
- Summer monsoon supplies a large share of annual precipitation. [12]
- Winter pattern
- Higher mountains experience cold snowfall; lower elevations are milder. [12]
- Floods
- Monsoon floods threaten lowland settlements and infrastructure. [12]
- Landslides
- Steep terrain and intense rain increase slope failures. [12]
- Glacial lake hazard
- Warming and glacier retreat can increase outburst-flood risks. [12]
- Earthquake exposure
- Nepal lies within an active Himalayan collision zone. [12]
- 2015 earthquake legacy
- Large earthquake and aftershocks damaged housing and heritage in 2015. [14] [13]
- Biodiversity
- Terai subtropical ecosystems and alpine habitats create strong ecological contrasts. [14]
- Chitwan National Park
- UNESCO natural site protecting lowland wildlife and habitats. [14]
- Sagarmatha National Park
- UNESCO natural site covering Mount Everest mountain landscape. [14]
- Population counted 2021
- 29,164,578 in official national census. [3]
- Population estimated 2025
- 29,618,118 in World Bank annual series. [2]
- Households 2021
- 6,666,937 households in census release. [3]
- Average household size
- 4.37 people in 2021 census. [3]
- Census population density
- 198 persons per square kilometre in census reporting. [3]
- Census annual growth
- 0.92% in the 2021 census intercensal analysis. [3]
- World Bank growth 2025
- Approximately −0.1% in annual international estimate. [2]
- World Bank life expectancy
- Approximately 71 years at birth for 2024. [2]
- Internal migration
- Rural-to-urban and international mobility influence settlement patterns. [3] [13]
- Climate change
- Glacier retreat, changing monsoon variability and heat exposure affect resilience planning. [12]
- Seismic building standards
- Disaster-risk reduction and construction resilience are important national priorities. [13] [12]
- Rural access
- Mountain terrain complicates road, electricity and medical-service delivery. [13]
- Cross-border watersheds
- Himalayan rivers link Nepal’s environment to downstream South Asia. [12]
Population, geography and census figures
Census enumeration and later annual estimates are different measures. Everest height is the jointly announced snow-surface elevation. [3] [2] [16]
| Measure | Value | Source/year |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 census total | 29,164,578 | National Statistics Office |
| 2025 population estimate | 29,618,118 | World Bank |
| 2021 households | 6,666,937 | National Statistics Office |
| 2021 average household size | 4.37 | National Statistics Office |
| Mt Everest height | 8,848.86 metres | Nepal–China 2020 |
Economy & International Trade
- GDP 2025
- US$45.49 billion at current U.S. dollars (World Bank). [2]
- GDP per capita 2025
- Approximately US$1,536, current-dollar World Bank series. [2]
- GDP growth 2025
- Approximately 4.4% World Bank annual estimate. [2]
- Inflation 2025
- Approximately 2.7% consumer-price inflation in World Bank series. [2]
- Remittance ratio
- Personal remittances received were about 26.0% of GDP in 2024. [2]
- Economic sectors
- Agriculture, services, trade, tourism and hydropower are important. [13]
- Agricultural employment
- Farming remains a substantial source of livelihoods especially outside cities. [13]
- Major crops
- Rice, maize, wheat and vegetables are broadly cultivated. [13]
- Tea production
- Eastern hill districts are known for tea cultivation. [13]
- Cardamom exports
- Large cardamom is a recognized export commodity. [10]
- Carpets
- Knotted wool carpets appear in WTO export categories. [10]
- Textiles
- Garments, yarn and related manufactures contribute export earnings. [10]
- Oil-processing exports
- Soybean and palm-oil-related products appear in some historical WTO export categories. [10]
- Hydropower potential
- Himalayan rivers offer considerable generation resources. [13]
- Electricity exports
- Cross-border electricity trade with India has developed. [13]
- Tourism
- Trekking, mountaineering and cultural visits provide foreign exchange. [14] [13]
- Everest tourism
- Mountain guiding and trekking services are concentrated around highland routes. [14]
- Visitor seasonality
- Trekking demand varies by monsoon and seasonal weather. [12]
- 2024 goods imports
- US$13.491 billion reported in WTO profile. [10]
- 2022 goods exports
- US$1.3005 billion reported in WTO profile; older export reference year. [10]
- Trade-year caution
- Imports (2024) and exports (2022) cannot produce a valid same-year trade deficit. [10]
- 2024 import origin
- India provided approximately 59.4% of goods imports. [10]
- 2024 China import share
- Approximately 18.9%. [10]
- 2024 Argentina import share
- Approximately 5.5%. [10]
- 2022 India export share
- Approximately 71.9% in WTO profile. [10]
- 2022 US export share
- Approximately 11.3%. [10]
- 2022 EU export share
- Approximately 6.8%. [10]
- National currency
- Nepalese rupee (NPR). [20]
- Central bank
- Nepal Rastra Bank directs monetary and banking policy. [20]
- Indian rupee linkage
- Nepalese rupee has a long-standing fixed exchange-rate arrangement with the Indian rupee. [20]
- Banking sector
- Banks, cooperatives and microfinance connect urban and rural credit. [20]
- Public budget
- Federal fiscal policy includes transfers to provincial and local governments. [21] [9]
- Infrastructure
- Roads, transmission lines and airports are development priorities. [13]
- Energy security
- Hydropower expansion reduces some fuel dependence but seasonal water supply matters. [13] [12]
- Worker migration
- Overseas employment supports household incomes and foreign exchange. [13] [2]
- Development risks
- Employment, natural hazards and trade concentration present economic challenges. [11] [13]
- Monetary accounting
- Nepalese fiscal-year data differ from calendar-year international GDP statistics. [20] [2]
World Bank macroeconomic indicators
World Bank calendar series; remittance share refers to 2024, not 2025. [2]
| Indicator | Value | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Nominal GDP | US$45.49 billion | 2025 |
| GDP per capita | US$1,536 | 2025 |
| GDP growth | 4.4% | 2025 |
| Inflation | 2.7% | 2025 |
| Remittances/GDP | 26.0% | 2024 |
WTO merchandise trade, different reporting years
Export statistics and import statistics are from different years; no trade deficit is calculated from this table. [10]
| Indicator | Value | Reference year |
|---|---|---|
| Goods imported | US$13,491.1 million | 2024 |
| Goods exported | US$1,300.5 million | 2022 |
| Imports from India | 59.4% | 2024 |
| Imports from China | 18.9% | 2024 |
| Exports to India | 71.9% | 2022 |
| Exports to United States | 11.3% | 2022 |
People & Society
- Population composition
- Nepal has diverse ethnic, caste, linguistic and regional communities. [3] [15]
- Major language
- Nepali is widely spoken and used for central administration. [9]
- Maithili
- Widely used in eastern Terai communities. [15] [3]
- Bhojpuri
- Spoken in parts of the southern plains. [15] [3]
- Tharu languages
- Spoken in communities across parts of the Terai. [15] [3]
- Tamang language
- Used in central Himalayan and hill communities. [15] [3]
- Nepal Bhasa
- Also called Newar/Newari in older references; central in Kathmandu Valley cultural traditions. [15] [3]
- Other languages
- UNESCO describes more than 123 languages in contemporary national documentation. [15]
- Hindu affiliation 2021
- 81.19% of population in the 2021 census. [4]
- Buddhist affiliation 2021
- 8.21% of population in the 2021 census. [4]
- Muslim affiliation 2021
- 5.09% of population in the 2021 census. [4]
- Kirat affiliation 2021
- Approximately 3.17% in the 2021 census. [4]
- Christian affiliation 2021
- Approximately 1.76% in the 2021 census. [4]
- Religion data year
- These percentages are from 2021 enumeration, not 2026 extrapolations. [4]
- Buddhist birthplace
- Lumbini is a major pilgrimage center associated with the Buddha’s birthplace. [14]
- Hindu heritage
- Pashupatinath and other sacred areas form part of Kathmandu Valley heritage. [14]
- Newar urban culture
- Kathmandu Valley cities preserve temples, crafts, festivals and distinctive urban architecture. [14]
- Mountain communities
- Sherpa and other highland communities maintain diverse livelihoods and traditions. [14]
- Cultural festivals
- Dashain and Tihar are widely celebrated Hindu-linked festivals. [15]
- Buddhist festivals
- Buddha Jayanti and regional festivals are observed in many communities. [15]
- Community festivals
- Indra Jatra and other Kathmandu Valley festivals highlight local traditions. [15]
- Heritage inventory
- UNESCO launched national intangible-heritage inventory work in April 2026. [15]
- UNESCO intangible caution
- National safeguarding inventory is not equivalent to an inscribed World Heritage property. [15] [14]
- Education
- Education is shared across national, provincial and local implementation responsibilities. [9]
- Higher education
- Tribhuvan University and other institutions serve large student populations. [13]
- Healthcare
- Urban and remote health access differs due to terrain and household resources. [18] [13]
- Maternal and child care
- Health outreach and local facilities are important in highland and rural communities. [18]
- Overseas workers
- Families commonly have relatives working abroad who send remittances. [2]
- Urbanization
- Kathmandu Valley and other municipalities have expanded through internal migration. [3]
- Domestic migration
- Movement between hills, Terai and cities changes local demographics. [3]
- Gender and representation
- Constitutional provisions support women’s representation in elected institutions. [9] [7]
- Social inclusion
- Caste, language, geography and income shape unequal access to opportunities. [13]
- Mountain tourism work
- Guides, porters, hospitality and transport support local economies. [14]
- Terai livelihoods
- Agriculture, markets and cross-border connections shape lowland communities. [13]
- Traditional architecture
- Pagodas, monasteries, courtyards and woodcraft are visible in Kathmandu’s heritage zones. [14]
- Seismic cultural loss
- Earthquake damage and repairs require specialized heritage conservation. [14]
- National identity
- Cultural identities overlap regional, religious, caste and linguistic affiliations. [15] [3]
Religion reported in 2021 population census
Census answers reflect declared religious affiliation in 2021 and do not represent a 2026 count. [4]
| Affiliation | Population share | Data vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Hindu | 81.19% | 2021 census |
| Buddhist | 8.21% | 2021 census |
| Muslim | 5.09% | 2021 census |
| Kirat | 3.17% | 2021 census |
| Christian | 1.76% | 2021 census |
Government & Institutions
- Constitution
- Constitution of Nepal, promulgated September 20, 2015. [9]
- State form
- Federal democratic republic. [9]
- Executive type
- Parliamentary executive headed by prime minister and cabinet. [9]
- President
- Ramchandra Paudel, head of state since March 13, 2023. [6]
- Prime minister
- Balendra Shah, sworn in March 27, 2026. [5] [7]
- Prime minister predecessor context
- Political transition followed early March 2026 parliamentary election. [7]
- Government party
- Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). [7]
- Election date
- March 5, 2026, for House of Representatives early election. [7]
- House seats
- 275 members. [7]
- Direct constituency seats
- 165 House seats elected in constituencies. [7]
- Proportional seats
- 110 House seats filled through party-list voting. [7]
- RSP election seats
- 182 of 275, approximately 66.2%. [7]
- Nepali Congress seats
- 38 in March 2026. [7]
- CPN-UML seats
- 25 in March 2026. [7]
- Nepali Communist Party seats
- 17 in March 2026. [7]
- Shram Sanskriti Party seats
- 7 in March 2026. [7]
- Rastriya Prajatantra Party seats
- 5 in March 2026. [7]
- Independent elected
- One independent won a seat in March 2026. [7]
- RSP simple majority
- The 182-seat result exceeds the 138 seats needed for a simple majority. [7]
- Speaker
- Dol Prasad Aryal became Speaker of the new House in April 2026. [7]
- House inaugural session
- April 2, 2026, following swearing-in March 26. [7]
- National Assembly
- Upper federal chamber, 59 members. [8]
- Upper-house elections
- 56 members indirectly elected by electoral colleges across seven provinces. [8]
- Upper-house presidential appointments
- Three National Assembly seats filled by appointment on government recommendation. [8]
- Upper-house term
- Six-year terms, one-third renewed every two years. [8]
- Provincial level
- Seven provinces with elected assemblies and executive governments. [9]
- Districts
- 77 administrative districts. [9]
- Local level
- 753 municipalities and rural municipalities under federal arrangements. [9]
- Separation of powers
- Courts and constitutional bodies exercise distinct formal mandates. [9]
- Election Commission
- Constitutional election-management institution. [19] [9]
- Judicial apex
- Supreme Court of Nepal is the highest regular court. [9]
- Civic rights
- Constitutional rights cover speech, assembly and other civil liberties. [9]
- Secular constitutional order
- Federal constitution declares secularism. [9]
- Public finance
- Ministry of Finance coordinates national fiscal administration. [21]
- Central bank
- Nepal Rastra Bank serves banking and monetary roles. [20]
- Public-policy priorities
- Jobs, corruption oversight, public services and infrastructure were central in 2026 campaigns. [7] [13]
- Election recency
- 2022 parliamentary party-seat tables are superseded by March 2026 results. [7]
March 5, 2026 House election results
IPU final reported seat allocation for the March 2026 election. [7]
| Party/affiliation | Seats | House total |
|---|---|---|
| Rastriya Swatantra Party | 182 | 275 |
| Nepali Congress | 38 | 275 |
| CPN (Unified Marxist–Leninist) | 25 | 275 |
| Nepali Communist Party | 17 | 275 |
| Shram Sanskriti Party | 7 | 275 |
| Rastriya Prajatantra Party | 5 | 275 |
| Independent | 1 | 275 |
Federal institutions and seat composition
Legislative seat numbers derive from IPU, administrative framework from national constitutional system. [7] [8] [9]
| Institution | Seats / units | Arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| House of Representatives | 275 | 165 direct, 110 proportional |
| National Assembly | 59 | 56 indirectly elected, 3 appointed |
| Provinces | 7 | Federal structure |
| Districts | 77 | Administrative subdivisions |
| Local governments | 753 | Urban and rural municipal units |
International Profile
- UN member
- Nepal joined the United Nations in December 1955. [17]
- UN statistical group
- Southern Asia. [1]
- WTO membership
- Joined in 2004. [10]
- India relations
- Open and intensive land-border, transport, trade and family links. [10] [13]
- China relations
- Northern Himalayan border and trade/transit links. [10] [16]
- Landlocked trade
- Seaport access depends on agreements and transport through neighboring states. [13]
- Mount Everest diplomacy
- Nepal and China jointly announced Everest’s 8,848.86-metre height in 2020. [16]
- Cross-border hydropower
- Electricity exports to India support regional energy integration. [13]
- South Asian cooperation
- Nepal participates in South Asian regional diplomatic frameworks. [17]
- International worker migration
- Large overseas labor communities link Nepal to Gulf and Asian economies. [13] [2]
- Remittances
- World Bank estimates personal remittances at about 26% of GDP in 2024. [2]
- International tourism
- Cultural and mountain heritage attract visitors and foreign exchange. [14] [13]
- Climate negotiations
- Glacial change and adaptation are major issues in international climate discussions. [12]
- Transboundary flood risk
- Rivers drain from Himalayan uplands into wider Ganges basin. [12]
- Earthquake resilience
- International disaster risk and reconstruction partnerships are important. [13]
- UNESCO World Heritage total
- Four inscribed properties as of November 2026. [14]
- Cultural World Heritage
- Kathmandu Valley and Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha. [14]
- Natural World Heritage
- Chitwan and Sagarmatha National Parks. [14]
- Kathmandu Valley inscription
- UNESCO inscription from 1979. [14]
- Lumbini inscription
- UNESCO inscription from 1997. [14]
- Chitwan inscription
- UNESCO inscription from 1984. [14]
- Sagarmatha inscription
- UNESCO inscription from 1979. [14]
- World Heritage cultural count
- Two cultural properties. [14]
- World Heritage natural count
- Two natural properties. [14]
- Tentative list
- Fifteen properties on UNESCO tentative list; not counted as inscribed. [14]
- Living heritage program
- Nepal is documenting intangible heritage across all seven provinces. [15]
- Intangible versus tangible
- An inventory project does not add properties to the World Heritage List. [15] [14]
- Protected areas
- Conservation supports wildlife, habitats and tourism. [14]
- Foreign trade dependence
- India represented approximately 59.4% of 2024 goods imports. [10]
- China import contribution
- Approximately 18.9% of imports in WTO 2024 profile. [10]
- Historic export partner data
- India took approximately 71.9% of recorded 2022 goods exports. [10]
- Merchandise-statistics warning
- 2022 exports and 2024 imports must not be combined into an annual goods deficit. [10]
- IMF engagement
- International macroeconomic assistance and surveillance focus on fiscal and external stability. [11]
- World Bank engagement
- Development programs focus on energy, infrastructure, services and jobs. [13]
- WHO cooperation
- Public-health programs are coordinated with international health partners. [18]
- Federal diplomacy
- International agreements remain a federal government function under the constitution. [9]
- Humanitarian geography
- Mountain terrain can complicate international relief and emergency logistics. [12] [13]
- Cross-border biodiversity
- Conservation of Himalayan ecosystems has regional significance. [12] [14]
Inscribed UNESCO World Heritage sites
Four inscribed properties; the 15 tentative sites and the 2026 intangible-heritage inventory are separate programs. [14] [15]
| Property | Type | Inscribed |
|---|---|---|
| Kathmandu Valley | Cultural | 1979 |
| Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha | Cultural | 1997 |
| Chitwan National Park | Natural | 1984 |
| Sagarmatha National Park | Natural | 1979 |
Sources and Methodology
Methodology: Country profile combines official 2021 census, 2025 World Bank model-based demographic and economic series, IPU results of the March 2026 election, official officeholder pages, WTO merchandise profiles and UNESCO registers. Label 2021 religious shares as census data; do not infer 2026 percentages. WTO exports dated 2022 and imports dated 2024 cannot be used to calculate an annual balance. UNESCO tentative lists and the new national intangible inventory are distinct from four inscribed World Heritage properties.
Editorial cutoff: November 6, 2026 (Pacific Time). All stated population counts, prices, elections, and legal statuses have specific reference dates or qualifications. This page should be updated following major new statistical releases or changes of government.
- UN Statistics Division — M49 statistical classification — Southern Asia and national identifiers.
- World Bank — Nepal country data — 2025 population and macroeconomic series; 2024 remittance ratio.
- National Statistics Office Nepal — 2021 Population and Housing Census results — 2021 population, density, household count and growth.
- National Statistics Office — Nepal religious composition 2021 — 2021 census share by religious affiliation.
- Office of the Prime Minister — Balendra Shah official profile — prime minister in office from March 27, 2026.
- Office of the President of Nepal — Ramchandra Paudel — head of state since March 13, 2023.
- Inter-Parliamentary Union — Nepal March 5, 2026 House election — party results, majority, election structure and speaker.
- Inter-Parliamentary Union — Nepal National Assembly — 59-seat upper chamber, indirect elections and appointments.
- Nepal Law Commission — Constitution of Nepal 2015 — federal parliamentary republic and rights framework.
- WTO — Nepal tariff and merchandise trade profile — 2024 imports, 2022 exports and associated partners/products.
- International Monetary Fund — Nepal — fiscal, macroeconomic and policy context.
- World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal — Nepal — flood, glacier, landslide, precipitation and warming risks.
- World Bank — Nepal country overview — infrastructure, development constraints, hydropower and jobs.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Nepal property register — two cultural and two natural inscriptions.
- UNESCO — Nepal intangible heritage inventory initiative, May 2026 — living-heritage documentation and language plurality.
- China Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Nepal–China joint Everest height announcement — 2020 joint 8,848.86-metre height.
- United Nations — Member States — UN membership and multilateral frameworks.
- WHO — Nepal country data — health indicators.
- Election Commission Nepal — official website — election administration and electoral framework.
- Nepal Rastra Bank — central bank — Nepalese rupee and financial policy.
- Government of Nepal Ministry of Finance — budget and fiscal administration.