Nepal
in Figures 2004
Situated in the lap of Himalaya, 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 country is bordering between the two most populous
countries of the world, India in the east, south, west and
China in the north. Nepal is a land locked country and home
place of natural beauty with traces of artifacts. The northern
range (Himalaya) is covered with snow over the year where
the highest peak of the world, the Mount Everest, stands.
The middle range (Hill) is captured by gorgeous mountains,
high peaks, hills, valleys and lakes. The Southern range
(Terai) is the gangaitic plain of alluvial soil and co nsist
of dense forest area, national parks, wildlife reserves
and conservation areas. The temperature and rainfall differ
from place to place. In the geographic diversity and varied
climatic conditions 24.8 million people of more than 60
caste/ethnic groups are accommodated in the country. Nepal
presents an example of being united in diversity over the
history and has maintained its pride to be an independent
and sovereign state. There is constitutional monarchy where
people exercise rights of adult franchise. The executive,
Legislative and Judiciary bodies function and exercise their
rights independently. There is two tier system of legislation,
the Upper House, called the Rastriya Sabha, consists of
60 members and the Lower House, called the Pratinidhi Sabha,
is the House of Representatives for which members are elected
from 205 electoral constituency distributed in 75 districts
of the country. According to the constitution of Nepal 2047
B.S. The government is headed by the elected Prime Minister.
Geographically, the country is divided in three regions:
Mountain, Hill and Terai accommodating 7.3, 44.3 and 48.4
percent of the population respectively. Based on area of
districts these regions constitute 35, 42 and 23 percent
of the total land area. There are 5 development regions
and 75 administrative districts. Districts are further divided
into smaller units, called Village Development Committee
(VDC) and Municipality. Currently, there are 3,915 VDCs
and 58 Municipalities in the country. Each VDC is composed
of 9 wards, Municipality ward ranges from 9 to 35. Kathmandu
is the capital city.
There are number of peaks, rivers and lakes in the country.
Major peaks are - the Mount Everest (8848 m.), Mt. Kanchanjangha
the third highest peak of the world and the second highest
in the country (8586 m.), Mt. Lhotse (8516 m.), Mt. Makalu
(8463 m.), Mt. Choyoyu (8201 m.), Mt. Dhawalagiri (8167m.),
Mt. Manaslu (8163 m.), Mt. Annapurna (8091m.), Mt. Gaurisankar
(7134 m.), Mt. Machhapuchhre (6996 m.) and many other gracious
peaks.
Economic growth of the country has not improved substantially
over time to overtake population growth. As the current
population growth is 2.25 percent per annum, the gain achieved
by development activities has been overshadowed by growing
population. Little over half (58.2%) of the population of
working age reported usually economically active in 2001.
Population Census 2001 reports that 53.1 percent population
of age 10 years & over are employed and 5.1 percent
are unemployed. Contribution of non agricultural activities
are gradually increasing in the GDP. The revised estimates
of per capita GDP and per capita GNP in terms of US dollar
are 242 and 250 respectively for the year 2002/03. The currency
is Nepalese Rupee.
Total Area of the Kingdom
147181 Sq.Km.
Total Agricultural Holdings(1) (2001/02)
3364139 Ha.
Population (1)
2001 2004
Total
23151423 24797059
Male
11563921 12406222
Female
11587502 12390837
No. of Households
4253220
Literacy Rate -(2001 Census)
Male 65.5% Female 42.8% Total 54.1%
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