Nepal
|
| Basic Facts |
| Country name |
conventional long and short form: Nepal
local long and short form: Nepal |
| Gevernment type | parliamentary democracy |
| Capital |
name: Kathmandu
geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
| 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 |
| Currency | Nepalese rupee (NPR) |
| Internet country code | .np |
| Ports and terminals | Kheyrabad, Shir Khan |
| Agriculture products | rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat |
| Industries | tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production |
| Geography |
| Location | Southern Asia, between China and India |
| Coordinates | 28 00 N, 84 00 E |
| Continent | Asia |
| Area |
total: 147,181 sq km
land: 143,181 sq km water: 4,000 sq km |
| Boundaries |
total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km |
| Coastline | 0 km (landlocked) |
| Climate | varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south |
| Terrain | Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north |
| Natural resources | quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore |
| Natural hazards | severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons |
| People |
| Population | 28,287,147 (July 2006 est.) |
| 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 |
