Nationality: Nepalese

Capital: Kathmandu

Head of State: Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Deva

Prime Minister: Girija Prasad Koirala

Government: Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Time zone: GMT +5.75

Country Dialing Code: 977

Internet country code: .np

Total Area: 147,181 sq km (land: 143,181 sq km and water: 4,000 sq km)

Total Population: 28,287,147

Population growth rate: 2.17%

Birth rate: 30.98 births/1,000 population

Death rate: 9.31 deaths/1,000 population

Total life expectancy: 60.18 years (male: 60.43 years and female: 59.91 years)

Border countries: China 1,236 km and India 1,690 km

Climate: Varies from arctic to tropical within a 200km span from north to south.

Elevation extremes: lowest point: 70 m (Kanchan Kalan) and highest point: 8,850 m (Mount                                   Everest)

Coastline: No coastline (landlocked)

Water Resource: 2nd highest in the world

Highest Peaks: 8 out of 10 highest peaks (1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th)

Ethnic groups: Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar                           5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8%

Literacy: 48.6% (male: 62.7% and female: 34.9%)

GDP - per capita (PPP): $1,400

Population below poverty line: 31%

Electricity - production: 2.565 billion kWh

Administrative divisions: 5 developmental region and 14 zones (anchal) from east to west as;                                          Mechi, Koshi, Sagarmatha, Janakpur, Rapti, Narayani, Bagmati,                                          Gandaki, Lumbini, Seti, Dhawalagiri, Bheri, Karnali and Mahakali.

Total No. of Airports: 48

Railways: 59 km

Roadways: 15,905 km

People: There are four casts as; Brahman (the ruling cast), Chetria (the wariors),                  Baishya (lower cast) and Sudra (counted as untouchable cast) and 70 different ethnic                  groups.Some of the major groups are as; Newars, who dominate the area around                  Kathmandu, Thakalis, Gurungs, Magars, Tamangs, Chepangs, Tibetans, Bhotes, Rais,                  Limbus, Jirels, Sherpas, Bahuns, Chhetris and Tharus.

Languages: Nepali is the principal and official language and there are over 70 different tribal                     languages

Religions: 80.6%, Hindu, 10.7% Buddhist, 4.2% Muslim, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9%

Currency: Nepali Rupee (NRs)

Major industries: Tourism, Agriculture, Carpet & Textile weaving, Metal-Working, Cement & Brick                              making

Major Trading Partners: India, US, Germany, UK, Singapore, Japan