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Country Background
Located between India and China, the Kingdom of Nepal sits at the cultural and geographic crossroads of Asia. Its 22 million people comprise more than 75 ethnic groups, many of which speak their own languages. Hinduism and Buddhism, the country's main religions, express the country's Indian and Chinese influences.
The fertile Gangetic Plain, home to half of the country's population, outlines the southernmost border. Foreshadowing the mountains to the | Nepal at a Glance:
Capital: Kathmandu
System of government: Constitutional Monarchy
Population: 22.8 million
Rural population: 20.3 million
Major Ethnic Groups: Nepali, Newars, Indians, Tibetans, Gurungs and Sherpas
Religions: Hinduism (90 percent), Buddhism (5 percent), Islam (3 percent)
Percentage adults literate (male/female): 54 percent/9 percent
Life expectancy (at birth): 58 years
Interesting Fact: Nepal is one of the few countries in the world in which a woman's average life span is less than that of a man's. |
north, the Himalaya foothills roll across Nepal's central region. Here, in the heartland, stacked terraces of rice, maize and wheat dot rugged hills and deep valleys. In the north, the icy Himalaya Mountains straddle the frontier between Nepal and Tibetan China. This formidable region encompasses eight of the 10 highest peaks on earth, including Mount Everest.
Nepal has historically remained an independent kingdom, free from foreign domination. In 1769, the Shah dynasty first unified the country. After a period of political instability in the early 19th century, the Rana family gained total control of the government, allowing the king to retain only his title. The Ranas remained in power until 1951, when the people reinstated the king and established a constitutional monarchy. In 1962, the king seized complete control of the government, although democracy was restored after the Popular Revolution of 1990. Today, Nepal is once again a constitutional monarchy, although political unrest continues to trouble the kingdom.
Though ethnically and topographically rich, Nepal is among the world's poorest countries. Because of its rugged terrain, only 18 percent of Nepal's total land area is suitable for farming, yet 81 percent of the population relies mainly on subsistence agriculture. These geographical constraints, combined with rapid population growth have contributed to a downward spiral of soil erosion, soil fertility depletion and decreased agricultural productivity. Many communities -- especially in rural areas -- suffer from myriad problems associated with poverty, including low levels of prenatal care, low literacy rates, widespread nutritional deficiencies, and scant access to safe drinking water and sanitary waste disposal.
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