NEPAL

Lokendra Bahadur Chand
Prime Minister

(pronounced "low-ken-DRA ba-ha-DOOR CHAND")

"There should be a balance in every life in order to achieve a balance in society, and as a whole, of life in the entire country."

The Kingdom of Nepal is a small, land-locked country in South Asia which lies between the Tibetan region of China to the north and India to the east, south, and west. Occupying an area of 140,800 sq km (54,362 sq mi), Nepal is well known for its rugged and scenic beauty.

Nepal had an estimated population of 25.8 million in 2002. Ethnically, 80% of the people belong to the Indo-Nepalese group that includes Paharis, Newars, Tharus, and recent Indian immigrants. Those of Tibetan origin make up the remainder of the population. While 90% of the population speaks the official language, Nepali, there are dozens of local languages and around 30 major dialects as well. A majority (86.2%) of the population practices the country's official religion, Hinduism. In fact, Nepal is the only official Hindu state in the world. Buddhists comprise the largest religious minority (7.8%), followed by Muslims (3.8%). Nepal's economy is primarily agrarian, with almost 90% of the population employed in subsistence farming and related activities. The manufacturing and service sectors, though small, have grown in recent years. Tourism is a significant source of foreign exchange earnings and shows robust growth potential. With an estimated per capita gross domestic product (GDP) of US $1,400 in 2001, Nepal ranks as one of the least developed countries. The currency unit is the Nepalese rupee.

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