STATISTICS: NEPAL

Nepal Official name: Nepal Adhirajya (Kingdom of Nepal). Form of government: constitutional monarchy with a bicameral parliament consisting of two legislative houses (National Council ; House of Representatives ). Chief of state: King. Head of government: Prime Minister. Capital: Kathmandu. Official language: Nepali. Official religion: Hinduism. Monetary unit: 1 Nepalese rupee (NRs) = 100 paisa (pice); valuation (Sept. 25, 1998) 1 U.S.$ = NRs 67.93; 1 = NRs 115.65. Demography Population (1998): 21,959,000. Density (1998): persons per sq mi 386.4, persons per sq km 149.2. Urban-rural (1997): urban 15.0%; rural 85.0%. Sex distribution (1997): male 50.20%; female 49.80%. Age breakdown (1991): under 15, 42.3%; 15-29, 25.7%; 30-44, 16.7%; 45-59, 9.7%; 60-74, 4.7%; 75 and over, 0.9%. Population projection: (2000) 23,042,000; (2010) 28,698,000. Doubling time: 25 years. Ethnic composition (1991): Nepalese 53.2%; Bihari (including Maithili and Bhojpuri) 18.4%; Tharu 4.8%; Tamang 4.7%; Newar 3.4%; Magar 2.2%; Abadhi 1.7%; other 11.6%. Religious affiliation (1991): Hindu 86.5%; Buddhist 7.8%; Muslim 3.5%; Kirat 1.7%; Christian 0.2%; other 0.3%. Major cities (1993 est.): Kathmandu 535,000; Lalitpur 190,000; Biratnagar 132,000; Bhaktapur 130,000. Vital statistics Birth rate per 1,000 population (1997): 36.6 (world avg. 25.0). Death rate per 1,000 population (1997): 11.2 (world avg. 9.3). Natural increase rate per 1,000 population (1997): 25.4 (world avg. 15.7). Total fertility rate (avg. births per childbearing woman; 1996): 5.0. Life expectancy at birth (1991): male 57.0 years; female 57.0 years. Major causes of death per 100,000 population: n.a.; however, the leading causes of mortality are infectious and parasitic diseases, diseases of the respiratory system, and diseases of the nervous system. National economy Budget (1996). Revenue: NRs 30,303,000,000 (taxes on goods and services 39.7%, taxes on international trade 27.9%, income taxes 12.9%, state property revenues 7.9%, taxes on property 3.6%). Expenditures: NRs 49,485,000,000 (education 13.9%, transport and communications 11.9%, agriculture 7.7%, housing 6.2%, health 5.0%, defense 4.4%, public order 4.4%, general public services 3.2%). Public debt (external, outstanding; 1996): U.S.$2,349,000,000. Land use (1994): forested 42.0%; meadows and pastures 14.6%; agricultural and under permanent cultivation 17.2%; other 26.2%. Tourism (1995): receipts from visitors U.S.$117,000,000; expenditures by nationals abroad U.S.$136,000,000. Production (metric tons except as noted). Agriculture, forestry, fishing (1996): rice 3,578,830, sugarcane 1,568,700, corn (maize) 1,331,060, wheat 1,012,930, potatoes 898,350, millet 282,440, pulses 185,640; livestock (number of live animals) 7,008,420 cattle, 5,783,140 goats, 3,302,200 buffalo, 859,000 sheep, 670,340 pigs; roundwood (1995) 20,822,000 cu m; fish catch (1995) 21,148. Mining and quarrying (1995): limestone 350,000; salt 7,000; talc 1,500. Manufacturing (value added in U.S.$'000,000; 1994): food products 70; textiles 70; wearing apparel 50; tobacco products 37; nonmetal mineral products 32. Construction: n.a. Energy production (consumption): electricity (kW-hr; 1994) 908,000,000 (940,000,000); coal (metric tons; 1994) none (115,000); petroleum products (metric tons; 1994) none (343,000). Gross national product (1996): U.S.$4,710,000,000 (U.S.$210 per capita). Population economically active (1991): total 7,339,586; activity rate of total population 39.7% (participation rates: ages 10 years and over, 57.0%; female 45.5%; unemployed 5.5%). Household income and expenditure (1984-85). Average household size (1991) 5.6; income per household NRs 14,796 (U.S.$853); sources of income: self-employment 63.4%, wages and salaries 25.1%, rent 7.5%, other 4.0%; expenditure: food and beverages 61.2%, housing 17.3%, clothing 11.7%, health care 3.7%, education and recreation 2.9%, transportation and communications 1.2%, other 2.0%. Foreign trade{2} Imports (1994-95): NRs 65,587,000,000 (basic manufactured goods 38.7%; machinery and transport equipment 19.7%; chemicals 11.6%; food and live animals, chiefly for food 7.9%; mineral fuels and lubricants 7.2%; crude materials except fuels 6.0%). Major import sources: other Asia 70.3%; European Economic Community 15.3%{3}; Oceania 5.3%. Exports (1994-95): NRs 17,940,000,000 (basic manufactures 51.6%; miscellaneous manufactures 32.7%; food and live animals, chiefly for food 9.1%; crude materials except fuels 2.9%; chemicals and drugs 1.7%). Major export destinations: Germany 45.8%; U.S. 36.0%; India 13.3%{3}; Switzerland 3.3%. Transport Transport. Railroads (1993-94): route length (1996) 101 km; passengers carried 653,000; freight handled 9,151 metric tons. Roads (1995): total length 7,550 km (paved 41%). Vehicles (1990-91): passenger cars 4,949; trucks and buses 3,363. Air transport (1993-94): passenger-km 769,000,000; metric ton-km cargo 93,126,000; airports (1996) with scheduled flights 24. Education and health Educational attainment (1981). Percentage of population age 25 and over having: no formal schooling 41.2%; primary education 29.4%; secondary 22.7%; higher 6.8%. Literacy (1995): total population age 15 and over literate 27.5%; males literate 40.9%; females literate 14.0%. Health (1995): physicians 1,478 (1 per 13,777 persons); hospital beds 3,188 (1 per 6,387 persons); infant mortality rate per 1,000 live births (1997) 83. Food (1995): daily per capita caloric intake 2,367 (vegetable products 94%, animal products 6%); 108% of FAO recommended minimum requirement. Military Total active duty personnel (1996): 43,000 (army 99.5%, air force 0.5%). Military expenditure as percentage of GNP (1995): 0.9% (world 2.8%); per capita expenditure U.S.$2. {1} Includes 10 members nominated by the king. {2} Import figures are f.o.b. in balance of trade and c.i.f. for commodities and trading partners. {3} 1993-94.