Nepal's Political Development : : Nepal Constituent Assembly Portal

Country Fact Sheet

Capital:

Kathmandu. The capital, with a population density of approximately 2.2 million is a broad valley at 1, 310 meters elevation.

Geography:

Flanked by India in the South and the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China in the North, Nepal is a landlocked country. Nepal is located in between the latitude 260 22' N to 300 27' North and longitude 800 4' E to 880 12' East and elevation ranges from 90 to 8848 meters. The average length being 885 km. east to west and average breadth is about 193 km. north to south. The high Himalayas stand in the northern belt, including the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest (29,035 ft; 8,850 m). Along its Southern border is the flat and fertile Terai region. The central hills have terraced cultivation and swiftly flowing mountain rivers. Eight of the world's highest peaks including Mount Everest are in Nepal.

Land boundaries:

52,819 sq mi (136,801 sq km); Total area: 56,136 sq mi (147,181 sq km)

Climate:

Subtropical in the south to cool summers and severe winters in the northern mountains. The monsoon season is from June through September, during which showers occur almost every day, bringing 75 to 150 centimeters (30-60 in.) of rainApril 21, 2006.

Natural resources:

Water, hydropower, scenic beauty, limited but fertile agricultural land, timber, quartz, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore.

Cultivated land:

25%

Population:

26, 427, 399 (2007 est.)

Birth Rate:

30.5/1000 (2007 est)

Population growth rate:

2.1% (2007 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

63.7 deaths/1,000 live births

Life Expectancy:

62.9 years for males and 63.7 years for females (2007 est.)

Monetary Unit:

Nepalese Rupees

Economy:

Nepal figures among world's poorest counties. There are various factors that have contributed to the economic backwardness of Nepal. Its topography, lack of resource endowment, land locked position, lack of institutions for modernization, weak infrastructure, and lack of policies conducive to development are some of the factors that have hindered the Nepalese economy. Due to its landlocked situation, Nepal relies heavily on its neighbors India and China for its trade, especially on India. Nepal's economy has been subject to fluctuations resulting from changes in its relationship with India as a result of its geographical position and the scarcity of natural resources.

Industries:

tourism, carpet, textile, jute, sugar, rice and flour mills, oilseed mills, cigarettes, handicraft, readymade garments, cement and brick production

Exports:

carpets, pashmina, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Imports:

gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer

Work Force:

Agriculture-71%; services-11%; industry-3%; others-15%.

Former System of government:

Monarchy- Hereditary
Prime Minister - elected through legislative parliament

Administrative Divisions:

5 development regions,
14 zones, and
75 district development committees,
58 municipalities,
3,913 village development committees, and 36,023 ward committees.

Current System of government:

The Constituent Assembly is a unicameral Parliament, consisting of 601 members. 240 members of the Assembly were elected through a direct electoral process representing single-member constituencies across the country. 335 members were nominated from party lists through a proportional representation system and 26 were nominated by the cabinet.

On May 28, 2008 the newly elected Constituent Assembly declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic, abolishing 240 years of monarchy. With the changes, the President is the head of state and the Prime Minister the head of government.

Main Political Parties:

Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist, Nepali Congress Party, Communist Party of Nepal-United Marxist Leninist, Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Tarai Madhes Democratic Party, Sadhbavana Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party.

State Bodies:

1. Executive: President (Head of state), Prime Minister (Head of government),

2. Legislative: According to the election held in April 10, 2008:

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists)	220
Nepali Congress	110
Communist Party of Nepal (U.M.L.)	103
Madhesi People's Rights Forum, Nepal	52
Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party	20
Sadhvawana Party	9
Rastriya Prajatantra Party	8
Communist Party of Nepal (M.L.)	8
Janamorcha Nepal	7
Communist Party of Nepal (United)	5
Rastriya Prajatantra Party Nepal	4
Rastriya Janamorcha	4
Nepal Workers and Peasants Party	4
Rastriya Janshakti Party	3
Federal Democratic National Forum	2
Nepal Sadhvawana Party (Anandidevi)	2
Rastriya Janamukti Party	2
Nepali Janata Dal	2
Communist Party of Nepal (Unified)	2
Independent	2
Dalit Janajati Party	1
Nepa: Rastriya Party	1
Samajwadi Prajatantrik. Janata Party, Nepal	1
Chure Bhawar Rastriya Ekata Party Nepal	1
Nepal Lokatantrik Samajbadi Dal	1
Nepal Pariwar Dal	1
Nominated by Government	26

3. Judiciary: Chief Justice (Head of Supreme Court)

Ethnic Groups:

Brahmans-(Hill) 12.74%, Chettri 15.8%, Magar 7.14%, Tharu 6.75%, Tamang 5.64%, Newar 5.48%, Muslim 4.27%, Kami 3.94%, Yadav 3.94%,Rai 2.79 other 41.51(2001)

Religions:

Hindu 81%, Buddhist 11%, Islam 4%, Kirant 4% (2001). There is also a small Christian population in Nepal. The interim constitution promulgated on January 15, 2007, declared Nepal a secular state.

Languages:

Nepali 48% (official), Maithali 12%, Bhojpuri 7%, Tharu 6%, Tamang 5%, others. English spoken by many in government and business (2001)

Literacy:

49% (63% male, 35% female)

Sources:
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5283.htm

http://www.nepalhomepage.com/dir/general/