Nepal

Nepal Background

In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime. In 2001, the Crown Prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for incompetence after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. The country is now governed by the king and his appointed cabinet, which has negotiated a cease-fire with the Maoist insurgents until elections can be held at some unspecified future date.

Nepal Information

• Population: 27,070,666 (July 2004 est.)
• Nationality: noun: Nepalese (singular and plural) adjective: Nepalese
• Location:: Southern Asia, between China and India
• Religions:: Hinduism 86.2%, Buddhism 7.8%, Islam 3.8%, other 2.2% note: only official Hindu state in the world (1995)
• Ethnic Groups:: Brahman, Chetri, Newar, Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Limbu, Sherpa, Tharu, and others (1995)
• Land Boundaries:: total: 2,926 km border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km
• Area: total: 140,800 sq km water: 4,000 sq km land: 136,800 sq km
• Coast Line: 0 km (landlocked)
• Climate: varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south
• Terrain: Terai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north
• Maritime Claims: none (landlocked)
• Land Use: arable land: 21.68% permanent crops: 0.64% other: 77.68% (2001)
• Environmental Issues: deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
• Natural Resources: quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore
• Highways: total: 13,223 km paved: 4,073 km unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)
• Railways: total: 59 km narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2003)
• Ports & Harbours: none
• Airports: 46 (2003 est.)