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General Information
Location
Nepal is a land-locked country bordering with the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China in the north and surrounded by India in the east, south and west.
Language
Nepali is the national language of Nepal. Educated people understand and speak English as well. There are hundreds of local dialects spoken by people from various ethnic groups.
Climate
Nepal has four major seasons, namely,(1) Winter: December-February, (2) Spring: March-May, (3) Summer: June-August and (4) Autumn: September-November. Nepal can be visited all the year round.
People & Religion
Nepalese people are mainly divided into two distinct groups, the Indo-Aryans and the Mangoloids (the Kirats). Before 2007 AD, Nepal was regarded as the only Hindu Kingdom in the world. But after that the Government of Nepal has already announced the country to be secular country. The Hindu Temples and Buddhist Shrines are scattered all over the Kingdom. Nepal is the birthplace of Lord Buddha, Herald of Peace, the Light of Asia. Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims and Christians live together in harmony. And other nature worshippers, too, exist here.
Currency & Foreign exchange
Nepali Rupee notes come in Rs. 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000 denominations. Coins come in Rs. 1, 2 , 5 and 10 denominations.
Foreign currencies must be exchanged only through banks or authorized money exchangers. The receipts of such transaction are to be obtained and retained. Visitors can exchange foreign currency at the foreign exchange counter at the airport upon arrival. Visitors other than the Indian nationals have to make the payment in foreign currency (non-Indian currency) in hotel, trekking agencies or travel agencies and for air tickets.
| Genereal Information | |
|---|---|
| Location | Southern Asia between China and India |
| Geographic Information | 28 00 N, 84 00 E |
| Map references | Asia |
| Area | Total: 147,181 sq. km Land: 143, 151 sq. km Water: 4,000 sq. km |
| Area – comparative | Slightly larger than Arkansas |
| Land boundaries | total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 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 | Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north |
| Elevation extremes | lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m highest point: Mount Everest 8,848 m |
| Natural resources | quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore |
| Land use | arable land: 16.07%
permanent crops: 0.85% other: 83.08% (2005) |
| Irrigated land | 11,700 sq km (2003) |
| Total renewable water resources | 210.2 cu km (1999) |
| Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) | total: 10.18 cu km/yr (3%/1%/96%)
per capita: 375 cu m/yr (2000) |
| 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 – on the borders with China and India respectively |
| People | |
| Population | 28,901,790 (July 2007 est.) |
| Age structure | 0-14 years: 38.3% (male 5,721,720/female 5,360,391)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 8,597,037/female 8,134,115) 65 years and over: 3.8% (male 528,113/female 560,414) (2007 est.) |
| Median age | total: 20.5 years
male: 20.3 years female: 20.6 years (2007 est.) |
| Population growth rate | 2.132% (2007 est.) |
| Birth rate | 30.46 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Death rate | 9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Net migration rate | 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) |
| Sex ratio | at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.067 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.057 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.942 male(s)/female |
| Total population | 1.056 male(s)/female (2007 est.) |
| Infant mortality rate | total: 63.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 61.87 deaths/1,000 live births female: 65.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) |
| Life expectancy at birth | total population: 60.56 years
male: 60.78 years female: 60.33 years (2007 est.) |
| Total fertility rate | 4.01 children born/woman (2007 est.) |
| Nationality | Nepalese |
| Ethnic groups | Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census) |
| Religions | Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
note: only official Hindu state in the world |
| Languages | Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English (2001 est.) |
| Literacy | definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.6% male: 62.7% female: 34.9% (2001 census)) |
| Government | |
| 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 bears a white 12-pointed sun |