In 1951, the Nepali monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system that brought political parties into the government. That arrangement lasted until 1960, when political parties were again banned, but was reinstated in 1990 with the establishment of a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. An insurgency led by Maoists broke out in 1996. The ensuing 10-year civil war between Maoist and government forces witnessed the dissolution of the cabinet and parliament and the re-assumption of absolute power by the king in 2002. Several weeks of mass protests in April 2006 were followed by several months of peace negotiations between the Maoists and government officials, and culminated in a late 2006 peace accord and the 2007 promulgation of an interim constitution. Following a nationwide Constituent Assembly (CA) election in 2008, the newly formed CA declared Nepal a federal democratic republic, abolished the monarchy, and elected the country's first president. After the CA failed to draft a constitution by a May 2012 deadline set by the Supreme Court, then-Prime Minister Baburam BHATTARAI dissolved the CA. Months of negotiations ensued until March 2013 when the major political parties agreed to create an interim government headed by then-Chief Justice Khil Raj REGMI with a mandate to hold elections for a new CA. Elections were held in November 2013, in which the Nepali Congress won the largest share of seats in the CA and in February 2014 formed a coalition government with the second place Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist and with Nepali Congress President Sushil KOIRALA as prime minister. The new government failed to meet its January 2015 deadline for a new constitution primarily due to continuing disagreement over federal restructuring.

Southern Asia, between China and India

28 00 N, 84 00 E

Asia

slightly larger than Arkansas

0 km (landlocked)

none (landlocked)

varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south

Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south; central hill region with rugged Himalayas in north

quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

arable land 15.1%; permanent crops 1.2%; permanent pasture 12.5%

11,680 sq km (2003)

210.2 cu km (2011)

severe thunderstorms; flooding; landslides; drought and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

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

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 mountains - on the borders with China and India respectively

Chhettri 16.6%, Brahman-Hill 12.2%, Magar 7.1%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.8%, Newar 5%, Kami 4.8%, Muslim 4.4%, Yadav 4%, Rai 2.3%, Gurung 2%, Damai/Dholii 1.8%, Thakuri 1.6%, Limbu 1.5%, Sarki 1.4%, Teli 1.4%, Chamar/Harijan/Ram 1.3%, Koiri/Kushwaha 1.2%, other 19%

Nepali (official) 44.6%, Maithali 11.7%, Bhojpuri 6%, Tharu 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.2%, Magar 3%, Bajjika 3%, Urdu 2.6%, Avadhi 1.9%, Limbu 1.3%, Gurung 1.2%, other 10.4%, unspecified 0.2%

Hindu 81.3%, Buddhist 9%, Muslim 4.4%, Kirant 3.1%, Christian 1.4%, other 0.5%, unspecifed 0.2% (2011 est.)

31,551,305 (July 2015 est.)

1.79% (2015 est.)

20.64 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)

6.56 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)

3.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)

KATHMANDU (capital) 1.183 million (2015)

2.24 children born/woman (2015 est.)

49.7% (2011)

6% of GDP (2013)

5 beds/1,000 population (2006)

urban: 90.9% of population

rural: 91.8% of population

total: 91.6% of population

urban: 9.1% of population

rural: 8.2% of population

total: 8.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban: 56% of population

rural: 43.5% of population

total: 45.8% of population

urban: 44% of population

rural: 56.5% of population

total: 54.2% of population (2015 est.)

0.23% (2013 est.)

38,800 (2013 est.)

3,300 (2013 est.)

2.9% (2014)

29.1% (2011)

4.7% of GDP (2010)

federal democratic republic

14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan SHAH)

Republic Day, 28 May (2008), the abdication of Gyanendra SHAH, last Nepalese monarch, and the establishment of a federal republic

several previous; latest entered into force 15 January 2007 (interim); note -a Constituent Assembly (CA) elected in 2008 to draft and promulgate a new constitution was unsuccessful and was dissolved in mid-2012; a new CA was elected in late 2013 and the parties have committed to promulgating a new constitution by mid-February 2015 (2014)

English common law and Hindu legal concepts

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt

18 years of age; universal

Akhanda Nepal Party [Kumar KHADKA]

Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist Leninist [C.P. MAINALI]

Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist or UML [Jhalanath KHANAL]

Communist Party of Nepal (United) [Chandra Dev JOSHI]

Dalit Janajati Party [Bishwendra PASHWAN]

Federal Socialist Party [Ashok RAI]

Jana Jagaran Party Nepal [Lok Mani DHAKAL]

Khambuwan Rastriya Morcha-Nepal [Ram Kumar RAI]

Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Democratic [Bijay Kumar GACHCHADAR]

Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Nepal [Upendra YADAV]

Madhesi People's Rights Forum-Republican [Raj Kishore YADAV]

Madhes Samata Party Nepal [Meghraj SAHANI]

National Madhes Socialist Party [Sharat Singh BHANDARI]

Nepal Pariwar Dal [Ek Nath DHAKAL]

Nepal Workers and Peasants Party [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE]

Nepali Congress [Sushil KOIRALA]

Nepali Janata Dal [Hari Charan SAH]

Nepa Rastriya Party [Keshav Man SHAKYA]

Rastriya Janamorcha Nepal [Chitra Bahadur K.C.]

Rastriya Janamukti Party [Malwar Singh THAPA]

Rastriya Prajatantra Party [Surya Bahadur THAPA]

Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal [Kamal THAPA]

Sadbhavana Party [Rajendra MAHATO]

Samajbadi Janata Party Nepal [Prem Bahadur SINGH]

Sanghiya Sadbhavana Party [Anil JHA]

Sanghiye Lokatantrik Rastriya Manch [Rukmini CHAUDARY]

Terai Madhes Democratic Party [Mahantha THAKUR]

Terai Madhes Sadbhavana Party-Nepal [Mahendra YADAV]

Tharuhat Terai Party Nepal [Bhanuram CHAUDARY]

Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) or UCPN(M) [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRACHANDA]

ADB, BIMSTEC, CD, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (NGOs), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSMA, MINUSTAH, MONUSCO, NAM, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIL, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

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 displays a white 12-pointed sun; the color red represents the rhododendron (Nepal's national flower) and is a sign of victory and bravery, the blue border signifies peace and harmony; the two right triangles are a combination of two single pennons (pennants) that originally symbolized the Himalaya Mountains while their charges represented the families of the king (upper) and the prime minister, but today they are understood to denote Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's two main religions; the moon represents the serenity of the Nepalese people and the shade and cool weather in the Himalayas, while the sun depicts the heat and higher temperatures of the lower parts of Nepal; the moon and the sun are also said to express the hope that the nation will endure as long as these heavenly bodies

rhododendron blossom; national color: red

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with about one-quarter of its population living below the poverty line. Nepal is heavily dependent on remittances, which amount to as much as 22%-25% of GDP. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for more than 70% of the population and accounting for a little over one-third of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural products, including pulses, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower, with an estimated 42,000 MW of commercially feasible capacity, but political uncertainty and a difficult business climate have hampered foreign investment. Additional challenges to Nepal's growth include its landlocked geographic location, persistent power shortages, underdeveloped transportation infrastructure, civil strife and labor unrest, and its susceptibility to natural disaster. The lack of political consensus in the past several years has delayed national budgets and prevented much-needed economic reform, although the government passed a full budget in 2013 and 2014. Nepal and India signed trade and investment agreements in 2014 that will increase Nepal’s hydropower potential.

$66.78 billion (2014 est.)

$63.31 billion (2013 est.)

$60.96 billion (2012 est.)

$19.64 billion (2014 est.)

5.5% (2014 est.)

3.9% (2013 est.)

4.8% (2012 est.)

$2,400 (2014 est.)

$2,300 (2013 est.)

$2,200 (2012 est.)

33.5% of GDP (2014 est.)

33.1% of GDP (2013 est.)

34.9% of GDP (2012 est.)

(2014 est.)

pulses, rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, jute, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

tourism, carpets, textiles; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production

2.7% (2014 est.)

14.76 million

46% (2008 est.)

42% (2004 est.)

25.2% (2011 est.)

32.8 (2010)

47.2 (2008 est.)

20.8% of GDP (2014 est.)

1.3% of GDP (2014 est.)

30% of GDP (FY 2012/13 est.)

32% of GDP (FY 2011/12 est.) (FY11/12)

16 July - 15 July

8.4% (2014 est.)

10.2% (2013 est.)

8% (31 October 2014)

8% (31 December 2013)

10.9% (31 December 2014 est.)

12.4% (31 December 2013 est.)

$3.808 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.356 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$14.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$12.55 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$13.35 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$11.82 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$9.671 billion (31 October 2014 est.)

$5.812 billion (31 October 2013 est.)

$5.235 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

$908 million (2014 est.)

$805.7 million (2013 est.)

$1.124 billion (2014 est.)

$991.5 million (2013 est.)

clothing, pulses, carpets, textiles, juice, jute goods

India 53.7%, US 9.2%, China 5%, Bangladesh 4.2%, Germany 4.2% (2013)

$7.282 billion (2014 est.)

$6.502 billion (2013 est.)

petroleum products, machinery and equipment, gold, electrical goods, medicine

India 50.6%, China 35% (2013)

$5.439 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$4.434 billion (31 December 2012 est.)

$3.549 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

$3.648 billion (31 December 2013 est.)

$103 million (31 July 2013 est.)

$NA

Nepalese rupees (NPR) per US dollar -

97.4 (2014 est.)

93 (2013 est.)

85.2 (2012 est.)

74.02 (2011 est.)

73.16 (2010 est.)

3.431 billion kWh (2012 est.)

2.832 billion kWh (2011 est.)

31 million kWh (2011 est.)

721 million kWh (2011 est.)

746,000 kW (2011 est.)

7.6% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

92.4% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0% of total installed capacity (2011 est.)

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 bbl (1 January 2014 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

19,260 bbl/day (2013 est.)

0 bbl/day (2010 est.)

21,960 bbl/day (2010 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (2012 est.)

0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)

3.638 million Mt (2012 est.)

state operates 2 TV stations, as well as national and regional radio stations; roughly 30 independent TV channels are registered with only about half in regular operation; nearly 400 FM radio stations are licensed with roughly 300 operational (2007)

AM 6, FM 80, shortwave 4 (2008)

9 (plus 9 repeaters) (2008)

.np

47 (2013)

29 (2013)

Nepal Army (2012)

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2014)

NA% (2012)

1.41% of GDP (2011)

NA% (2010)

joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of boundary with India, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities

illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West