Axion 3D Atlas/ATLAS.iso/stats/168.txt

Text File | 1998-01-23 | 13KB | 331 lines

{bitmap= 26,50,"flags\Nepal.bmp"}
{bigtext=150,120,"Nepal"}



{1}Geography{4}
{4}To see a map of Nepal, click {z,"79.533270,24.292370,89.544867,31.952393",here}{4}!

{2}Location:{4} Southern Asia, between China and India

{2}Area:{4}
{3}total area:{4} 140,800 sq km
{3}land area:{4} 136,800 sq km
{3}comparative area:{4} slightly larger than Arkansas

{2}Land boundaries:{4}
{3}total:{4} 2,926 km
{3}border countries:{4} China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

{2}Coastline:{4} 0 km (landlocked)

{2}Maritime claims:{4} none (landlocked)

{2}International disputes:{4} none

{2}Climate:{4} varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild
winters in south

{2}Terrain:{4} Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in
north
{3}lowest point:{4} Kanchan Kalan 70 m
{3}highest point:{4} Mount Everest 8,848 m

{2}Natural resources:{4} quartz, water, timber, hydropower potential, scenic beauty, small deposits of
lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

{2}Land use:{4}
{3}arable land:{4} 17%
{3}permanent crops:{4} 0%
{3}meadows and pastures:{4} 13%
{3}forest and woodland:{4} 33%
{3}other:{4} 37%

{2}Irrigated land:{4} 9,430 sq km (1989)

{2}Environment:{4}
{3}current issues:{4} the almost total dependence on wood for fuel and cutting down trees to expand
agricultural land without replanting has resulted in widespread deforestation; soil erosion; water
pollution (use of contaminated water presents human health risks)

{2}natural hazards:{4} severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the
timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

{2}international agreements:{4} party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Nuclear
Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified -
Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

{2}Geographic note:{4} landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's
10 highest peaks


{1}People{4}

{2}Population:{4} 22,094,033 (July 1996 est.)

{2}Age structure:{4}
{3}0-14 years:{4} 42% (male 4,776,245; female 4,563,000)
{3}15-64 years:{4} 55% (male 6,172,821; female 5,945,626)
{3}65 years and over:{4} 3% (male 320,350; female 315,991) (July 1996 est.)

{2}Population growth rate:{4} 2.45% (1996 est.)

{2}Birth rate:{4} 37 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Death rate:{4} 12.56 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Net migration rate:{4} 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)

{2}Sex ratio:{4}
{3}at birth:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}under 15 years:{4} 1.05 male(s)/female
{3}15-64 years:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female
{3}65 years and over:{4} 1.01 male(s)/female
{3}all ages:{4} 1.04 male(s)/female (1996 est.)

{2}Infant mortality rate:{4} 79 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)

{2}Life expectancy at birth:{4}
{3}total population:{4} 53.63 years
{3}male:{4} 53.35 years
{3}female:{4} 53.93 years (1996 est.)

{2}Total fertility rate:{4} 5.06 children born/woman (1996 est.)

{2}Nationality:{4}
{3}noun:{4} Nepalese (singular and plural)
{3}adjective:{4} Nepalese

{2}Ethnic divisions:{4} Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Bhotias, Rais, Limbus,
Sherpas

{2}Religions:{4} Hindu 90%, Buddhist 5%, Muslim 3%, other 2% (1981)
{3}note:{4} only official Hindu state in world, although no sharp distinction between many Hindu and
Buddhist groups

{2}Languages:{4} Nepali (official), 20 other languages divided into numerous dialects

{2}Literacy:{4} age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
{3}total population:{4} 27.5%
{3}male:{4} 40.9%
{3}female:{4} 14%


{1}Government{4}

{2}Name of country:{4}
{3}conventional long form:{4} Kingdom of Nepal
{3}conventional short form:{4} Nepal

{2}Type of government:{4} parliamentary democracy as of 12 May 1991

{2}Capital:{4} Kathmandu

{2}Administrative divisions:{4} 14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri,
Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

{2}Independence:{4} 1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

{2}National holiday:{4} Birthday of His Majesty the King, 28 December (1945)

{2}Constitution:{4} 9 November 1990

{2}Legal system:{4} based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

{2}Suffrage:{4} 18 years of age; universal

{2}Executive branch:{4}
{3}chief of state:{4} King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev (succeeded to the throne 31 January 1972
following the death of his father King MAHENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev, crowned king 24
February 1975) is a constitutional monarch; Heir Apparent Crown Prince DIPENDRA Bir Bikram
{3}head of government:{4} Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA (since 12 September 1995); note - in
1994, the king appointed Man Mohan ADHIKARI to be prime minister using the standard criterion -
he was the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives following the last election;
however, in September 1995, a parliamentary coalition of the Nepali Congress Party, the Rastriya
Prajantra Party, the Nepal Sadbhavana Party, and independents voted against Prime Minister
ADHIKARI; Sher Bahadur DEUBA, the leader of the Nepali Congress Party, then formed the new
government and was appointed the new prime minister by the king
{3}cabinet:{4} Cabinet was appointed by the king on recommendation of the prime minister

{2}Legislative branch:{4} bicameral Parliament
National Council: consists of 60 members (50 appointed by House of Representatives and 10 by
the king)
House of Representatives: elections last held 15 November 1994 (next to be held NA); results -
NCP 33%, CPN/UML 31%, NDP 18%, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 3%, NWPP 1%; seats -
(205 total) CPN/UML 88, NCP 83, NDP 20, NWPP 4, Terai Rights Sadbhavana Party 3,
independents 7

{2}Judicial branch:{4} Supreme Court (Sarbochha Adalat), chief justice is appointed by the king on
recommendation of the Constitutional Council, the other judges are appointed by the king on the
recommendation of the Judicial Council

{2}Political parties and leaders:{4} Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist and Leninist (CPN/UML),
Man Mohan ADHIKARI, president; Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Krishna Prasad BHATTARAI
(president), Girija Prasad KOIRALA, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA; National Democratic
Party (NDP), leader NA; Terai Rights Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party, Gajendra Narayan SINGH;
Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP), leader NA; Nepal Sadbhavana Party, leader NA;
Rastriya Prajantra Party, leader NA

{2}Other political or pressure groups:{4} numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital;
several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups

{2}International organization participation:{4} AsDB, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM,
SAARC, UN, UNCRO, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIH, UNPROFOR, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)

{2}Diplomatic representation in US:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Basudev Prasad DHUNGANA
{3}chancery:{4} 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
{3}telephone:{4} [1] [phone]
{3}consulate(s) general:{4} New York

{2}US diplomatic representation:{4}
{3}chief of mission:{4} Ambassador Sandra L. VOGELGESANG
{3}embassy:{4} Pani Pokhari, Kathmandu
{3}mailing address:{4} use embassy street address
{3}telephone:{4} [977] (1) 411179
{3}FAX:{4} [977] (1) 419963

{2}Flag:{4} 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


{1}Economy{4}

{2}Economic overview:{4} Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world.
Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population
and accounting for about one-half of GDP. Industrial activity is limited, mainly involving the
processing of agricultural produce (jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain). Production of textiles and
carpets has expanded recently and accounted for 85% of foreign exchange earnings in FY93/94.
Apart from agricultural land and forests, exploitable natural resources are mica, hydropower, and
tourism. Agricultural production in the late 1980s grew by about 5%, as compared with annual
population growth of 2.6%. More than 40% of the population is undernourished. Since May 1991,
the government has been moving forward with economic reforms particularly those that encourage
trade and foreign investment, e.g., by eliminating business licenses and registration requirements
in order to simplify investment procedures. The government has also been cutting public
expenditures by reducing subsidies, privatizing state industries, and laying off civil servants. (In
1995 little progress was made in these areas because the communist government had trouble
formulating and implementing policies.) The new coalition government is planning to pick up the
pace of reforms in 1996, focusing primarily on raising revenues to develop the rural sector by
increasing taxation and privatization. Prospects for foreign trade and investment, particularly in
areas other than power development and tourism, will continue to remain poor because of the
small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, and its susceptibility
to natural disaster. The international community provides funding for 62% of Nepal's
developmental budget and for 34% of total budgetary expenditures.

{2}GDP:{4} purchasing power parity - $25.2 billion (1995 est.)

{2}GDP real growth rate:{4} 2.3% (1995 est.)

{2}GDP per capita:{4} $1,200 (1995 est.)

{2}GDP composition by sector:{4}
{3}agriculture:{4} 49.3%
{3}industry:{4} 18.4%
{3}services:{4} 32.3% (1993)

{2}Inflation rate (consumer prices):{4} 6.7% (FY94/95)

{2}Labor force:{4} 8.5 million (1991 est.)
{3}by occupation:{4} agriculture 93%, services 5%, industry 2%
{3}note:{4} severe lack of skilled labor

{2}Unemployment rate:{4} NA%; substantial underemployment (1995)

{2}Budget:{4}
{3}revenues:{4} $645 million
{3}expenditures:{4} $1.05 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (FY94/95 est.)

{2}Industries:{4} tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and
brick production

{2}Industrial production growth rate:{4} 14.7% (FY94/95 est.)

{2}Electricity:{4}
{3}capacity:{4} 280,000 kW
{3}production:{4} 920 million kWh
{3}consumption per capita:{4} 41 kWh (1993)

{2}Agriculture:{4} rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

{2}Illicit drugs:{4} illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic and international drug markets; transit
point for heroin from Southeast Asia to the West

{2}Exports:{4} $430 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.) but does not include unrecorded border trade with India
{3}commodities:{4} carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
{3}partners:{4} India, US, Germany, UK

{2}Imports:{4} $1.4 billion (c.i.f., 1995 est.)
{3}commodities:{4} petroleum products 20%, fertilizer 11%, machinery 10%
{3}partners:{4} India, Singapore, Japan, Germany

{2}External debt:{4} $2.3 billion (FY94/95 est.)

{2}Economic aid:{4}
{3}recipient:{4} ODA, $310 million (1993)
{3}note:{4} western and Japanese bilateral aid $215 million; multilateral aid $43 million (1994-95)

{2}Currency:{4} 1 Nepalese rupee (NR) = 100 paisa

{2}Exchange rates:{4} Nepalese rupees (NRs) per US$1 - 56.636 (January 1996), 51.890 (1995),
49.398 (1994), 48.607 (1993), 42.718 (1992), 37.255 (1991)

{2}Fiscal year:{4} 16 July - 15 July


{1}Transportation{4}

{2}Railways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 101 km; note - all in Terai close to Indian border
narrow gauge: 101 km 0.762-m gauge

{2}Highways:{4}
{3}total:{4} 9,933 km
{3}paved:{4} 3,421 km
{3}unpaved:{4} 6,512 km (1995 est.)

{2}Ports:{4} none

{2}Airports:{4}
{3}total:{4} 43
{3}with paved runways over 3,047 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 3
{3}with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 1
{3}with paved runways under 914 m:{4} 27
{3}with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m:{4} 1
{3}with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m:{4} 10 (1995 est.)


{1}Communications{4}

{2}Telephones:{4} 82,774 (1995 est.)

{2}Telephone system:{4} poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication
service
{3}domestic:{4} NA
{3}international:{4} radiotelephone communications; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

{2}Radio broadcast stations:{4} AM 88, FM 0, shortwave 0

{2}Radios:{4} 690,000 (1992 est.)

{2}Television broadcast stations:{4} 1 (1988 est.)

{2}Televisions:{4} 45,000 (1992 est.)


{1}Defense{4}

{2}Branches:{4} Royal Nepalese Army, Royal Nepalese Army Air Service, Nepalese Police Force

{2}Manpower availability:{4}
{3}males age 15-49:{4} 5,329,345
{3}males fit for military service:{4} 2,768,887
males reach military age (17) annually: 254,590 (1996 est.)

{2}Defense expenditures:{4} exchange rate conversion - $36 million, 1.2% of GDP (FY92/93)